Paul Anthony Leary

Paul Anthony Leary, age 68, of South Mills, NC, died at Sentara Albemarle Medical Center on Tuesday, October 7, 2025. He was born in Portsmouth, VA, on February 4, 1957, to the late Johnnie Wiley Leary and Dorothy Elizabeth Winner Leary, and was the widower of Janet Ann Grunawalt Leary. He attended Mt. Sinai Baptist Church in NC. A lifelong farmer, Paul was known as the "butcher man" and was a self-taught taxidermist. He loved chickens and ducks and was a local egg dealer. He enjoyed attending livestock shows and sales every week and was also a member of several hunting clubs.
Paul is survived by his children, Erin Stallings (Delton), Tim Leary, and Shawn Leary; three grandchildren, Nolan Leary, Greyson Stallings, and Clayton Stallings; his brothers, Henry Leary, Eddie Leary (Beverley), Ronnie Leary (Sally), and Gary Leary; his sister-in-law, Rhonda Leary; and a host of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; a brother, Mark Leary; and a sister-in-law, Linda Leary.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, October 10, 2025, at Twiford Memorial Chapel with Pastor Howard Sutton officiating. The service will be live streamed on Paul's obituary page at www.TwifordFH.com. A visitation will take place from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at Twiford Memorial Chapel. Interment will be at Memory Gardens.
Twiford Funeral Homes, 405 E. Church Street, Elizabeth City, NC, is serving the Leary Family. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.TwifordFH.com. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Paul, please visit our floral store.