Leonard Carlton Young

The Life & Legacy 

Of 

Leonard Carlton Young 

Life, death and eternity are three of the most powerful words in the English language.  Life is given to man in infancy, and he is to care for it and preserve it as far as he is able, until death.  During the course of his life, he has the opportunity to prepare himself for eternity.  At the coming of death, he loses only the earthly body, but the eternal soul of the Christian lives on.

Technical Sergeant (E-6) Leonard Carlton Young, beloved son, father, grandfather and friend transitioned August 11, 2022 at the Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center in Gainesville, Florida.  He was brown on August 19, 1954 to the late Thomas Timothy and Rosa Young.  He was raised in Gainesville, Florida and attended Alachua County Public Schools.  He graduated from Eastside High School Class of 1973.

He was dangerous with a football in his hand.  He was the first African American to receive a football scholarship at Eastside High School.  He was honorable mentioned player of the year; he was the All-Star player of the year that was placed in the Gainesville Sun newspaper.  He was placed in all yearbooks at Eastside High School (1970-1973).  He scored the first TD in a varsity game for EHS (11-5-1970) vs Baldwin H.S.  He was the first African American running back at EHS that has a total career of 26 touchdowns (not including games considered Junior Varsity games).

He was a former employee at Tacachale (formerly Sunland Training Center) in Gainesville, Florida form4 years.  Leonard was a member of the U.S. Military Services and the Department of Air Force for six years.

Leonard is survived by his three children; one daughter, Breetonya Clark of Gainesville, FL; two sons, Troy (Jovanda) Browning of Hawthorne, FL and Leonard R. Young, (Lafreida McWilliams) of Midway, FL; his grandchildren, Salara Perry, Damara Ryles, Travonda Browning, Leilani Young and Laiyah Young.  Eternal memories will

be cherished by his siblings, Ann Young of Jacksonville, FL, Alonzo (Bernadette) Young of Lake Butler, FL, Alvin (Janet) Young and Spencer Young of Atlanta, GA, Joyce Young, Betty (Willie) Cummings, both of Gainesville, FL, Olivia Young of Atlanta, GA; one aunt Juliette Day of Costa Rica.  A host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other loving relatives and friends.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Rosa Young, his sister, Gail Young, and brothers, Thomas Young and Timothy “Lil Tim” Young.

The family will receive friends for visitation on Friday,  August 19, 2022 at 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM at Phillip & Sons: The Funeral Directors at 310 State Rd 26, Melrose, FL 32666.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 20, 2022 at 10:00 AM at Upper Room Ministies , 3575 NE 15th Street, Gainesville, FL 32609.  He will be eulogized by his brother, Clinical Chaplain Alonzo W. Young.

Due to COVID, all in attendance are asked to please wear a facial covering.

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