Leslie Howard "Les" Strayhorn Sr.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Leslie "Les" Howard Strayhorn Sr. was born in Trenton, N.C. on June 8, 1936, to Ida Mildred Cox-Strayhorn and William Strayhorn. He attended and graduated from Adkin High School in Kinston, N.C. in 1954. He loved sports and was on the Adkin High School undefeated and un-scored football team that won the championship in 1952. He was later inducted into the Kinston-Lenoir County Sports Hall of Fame in 2010. He married Ada Redmond in 1954 and to this loving union two children were born, Leslie H. Strayhorn Jr. and Lori A. Strayhorn-Gunn. Les joined the Air Force in 1954 and relocated his family to Camden, N.J. and later to Washington, D.C. where they lived for nearly 45 years. He retired from the Department of Defense after more than 20 years of service as a Computer Systems Analyst and 26 years of service from the United States Air Force. In the early years in Washington, D.C. Les was a faithful member of Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church. In 1984, he joined Full Gospel AME Zion Church and later Bride of Christ Church Ministries. In late 2002 in Kinston, N.C. he was lead to Jumping Run Church where he remained until the Lord called his loving wife Ada home. Les once again relocated to the Washington, D.C. are where he lived with his daughter, Lori and grandchildren. The Lord called him home to join Ada on Tuesday, October 1, 2013, at 9:30 a.m. He left behind to carry on his legacy of love and honor, one son, Leslie H. Strayhorn Jr.; his daughter, Lori Strayhorn-Gunn; his brother, William Haywood Strayhorn (Martha); brothers in-law, Matthew Richardson and Henry Redmond Jr. (Diane); sisters in law Delores West, Josephine Childs (John Arthur); five grandchildren, Shawndinae, Terrell, Amber, Zachary (Karen), and Keirra; five great-grandchildren, Kartieir, Kamariyeh, Kamohni, Peyton and London; extended family, Paul Jr. (PJ), Lennard (Nado) Kelly, Kendra, Kelsey, and Jordan; and a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Repast will be at the family home (Lori Gunn) 8911 Helmsley Drive, Clinton Md. Memorial services will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 9, at J.B. Jenkins Funeral Home Chapel, Landover, Md. Sign the guest book at Kinston.com (Paid obituary)