Leslie Tuten Gilbert

COLUMBIA - Leslie Tuten Denny Gilbert, 91, of Columbia, South Carolina, entered into the eternal rest of our Heavenly Father on Friday, January 21, 2011. Born in Hampton County, in the town of Furman, South Carolina, on December 19, 1919, Leslie was the fifth child and third daughter of John Jefferson Tuten and Emma Leslie (Powell) Tuten. She was the beloved wife of the late Howard Stone Denny, of Bishopville, South Carolina, as well as the late Robert Claude Gilbert, Jr., of Columbia, South Carolina.

Leslie graduated from Furman High School, earned a B. S. in Business Education from Winthrop College in the Class of 1940, and continued her education at the University of South Carolina in the graduate program for secondary math and guidance. She began her lifetime teaching vocation in Blackville, South Carolina, where she met fellow teacher, Howard Stone Denny. They were happily married for almost 12 years and had four children. Upon his untimely death, she resumed her teaching career in Bishopville, South Carolina. During that time, she met and married Robert Claude Gilbert, Jr., and they were married for almost 43 years. The family moved to Columbia, South Carolina, where Leslie continued her career as a teacher. She retired while last serving at A. C. Flora High School in Columbia, South Carolina.

An exemplary teacher and role model of leadership, Leslie was a member of various professional organizations which included the following: President of Lee County Educational Association, President of Richland county Retired Educators Association, charter member and officer of Kappa Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa, State President of Alpha Delta Kappa, President of the S. C. Retired Educators Association, and served on several educational and community positions of leadership. She was an adult Bible teacher in the Sunday School program of North Trenholm Baptist Church, her church home.

After retirement, Leslie and her husband, Bob, were active in many volunteer organizations which included the following: Meals on Wheels, sitting with Alzheimer patients, members of the Elder Affairs Committee of the Commission on Aging, Advisory Committee of Users of the S. C. Retirement System, and worked with the American Association of Retired Persons. They spent many years traveling the world together.

Surviving their beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother are her four children: Dr. Howard Stone Denny, Jr. (Linda) of Columbia, S. C., Linda Denny Moore (Bruce) of Charleston, S. C., Deborah Denny Gahagen of Columbia, S. C., and Dennis Rockford Denny (Sandy) of Norville, Mich.; her nine grandchildren: Erin Denny Whaley (Cameron) of Canton, Ga., Howard Stone "Tradd" Denny, III, (Sabra) of Lexington, S. C., Dr. Kimberly Moore Martin (Dr. Bill) of Beaufort, S. C., Joshua Bruce Moore of Charleston, S. C., Robert Dallen Gahagen, Richard Dean Gahagen, and Russell Derek Gahagen of Columbia, S. C., John Michael Denny (Danielle) of Sumter, S. C., and Kyle Christian Denny of Norville, Mich.; her six great-grandchildren: Reece Stone and Eva Marie Whaley of Canton, Ga., Taylor Shalyn Denny of Lexington, S. C., Kidron Grace, Kendall Faith, and William Dennis Martin, IV, of Beaufort, S. C.; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A graveside service celebrating the life of Leslie Tuten Denny Gilbert will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, January 24, 2011 in Greenlawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 12:30 p.m. until the hour of the service on Monday at Greenlawn Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Palmetto Health Hospice, 1400 Pickens St # 100, Columbia, SC 29201 in Leslie's memory. On-line condolences may be sent to www.greenlawnmemorialparkandfh.com. The family has entrusted Greenlawn Funeral Home with the arrangements.