Leonard Bragg Jr.

Leonard Bragg Jr., 79, of Fayette, passed away on Thursday, December 25, 2025, at Columbia Post Acute in Columbia, Missouri. Services will be held on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at 12:00 PM at Second Baptist Church in Fayette. The visitation will be held from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the church on Saturday. Services will be livestreamed through H.T. May and Son Funeral Home Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/htmayfuneralhome.

"Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God." Psalm 90:2

Leonard Bragg, Jr. entered into an everlasting peace with God on Thursday, December 25, 2025, surrounded by family.

Leonard was born on August 14, 1946, to Leonard Bragg, Sr. and Frances (Grimmett) Bragg. He was one of six siblings. Leonard was blessed to have been raised by two wonderful women: Frances Bragg and later by Aisha Abdelnasser. He graduated from Central High School in Kansas City, Missouri, and finished four years of college at Central College in Warrensburg, Missouri.

Leonard was a mechanic in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War, serving from 1964 to 1968. After his military service, he worked as an Apprentice Journeyman at multiple newspapers. He married Arlena Bragg and together they raised eight children

Some of his favorite hobbies included car and truck restoration, woodworking (such as carving and intarsia), and acrylic painting. He has beautiful pieces and paintings in his home. He consistently was on the lookout for long, uncommon hardwood branches to craft elaborate walking canes, which he took great pride in presenting as gifts to friends and family.

Leonard never met a stranger. His genuine smile, quick-witted humor, and sincere kindness quickly made others feel comfortable; people really liked him.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Virginia (Susie) Bragg, whom he married in 2007; his mom, Aisha Abdelnasser; his mother-in-law, Ms. Louis Williams; daughters Donna (Michael) Reyes, Paula (Daryl) Williams, J. Denise Smith, Gail Perez, Lakeisha (Delta) Beard, and Kizzi Bragg; sons Maurice (Sonya) Conley and Robert (Tasha) Bragg; sisters Marquita (Michael) Taylor, Carmen (Jerry) Gilmore, and Kai (Tempree) Abdelnasser; along with many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Leonard Sr., his first wife Arlene in 2002, two sons, Ernest Daniels Sr. and David O. Ward, sisters Kathy Wright and Betty Shepherd and brothers-in-law Jessie Williams, Sr. and James Kelly.

The funeral services will be held at Second Baptist Church, 309 E. Hackberry St., Fayette, Missouri, on Saturday, January 3, 2026. Visitation begins at 11am, followed by the service at 12 noon, officiated by Rev. Charlie Wright, Sr.

Pallbearers are Jessie Williams II, Ra'von Williams, Ra'vion Williams, Larry Shepherd Jr., and Donnell Harlan. Honorary Pallbearers are Edward (Big E) Williams, James (Banks) Williams, Alen Petty, Calvin Miles, Larry Madison, and David Stemmons.

Repast will be in the church basement immediately following the service.

He will be buried with full military honors at 11 a.m. on Monday, January 5, 2026, at Memorial Cemetery in Bowling Green, Missouri.