Leon Haywood, Sr., was born April 7, 1953 in Mitchell County, Georgia to the late Eugene Haywood, Sr. and Rachel D. Redden Haywood.

At an early age he confessed CHRIST and joined the Friendship Missionary Baptist Church where he served on the deacon board, usher board, and trustee board.

He was a 1971 graduate of Mitchell County High School in Camilla, Georgia.  He was also a graduate of Albany Technical College in Albany, Georgia.

He was united in holy matrimony to the former Ms. Gloria Ross on September 10, 1977.  To this union two children were born, Leon Haywood, Jr. and Dontavius Haywood.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three children, Corey Haywood, Rashida Haywood and Brandon Lynn Spence; a sister, Willo Dean Graham; a brother, Kenneth Morgan.

He departed this life on Wednesday, January 9, 2019.

Leon leaves to cherish his memories a loving wife, Gloria Ross Haywood of Albany, Georgia; five children, Leon Haywood, Jr. (Candice) of Baconton, Georgia, Dontavius Haywood, Khonda Stewart, Andre Stewart of Albany, Georgia, Baron Ross of Morrow, Georgia; grandchildren, Leon Haywood, III, Corey Figgs, Jr., Kyndashia Musgrave, Akerian Florence, Kamyrn Spence, Anthony Stewart, Jamie Williams, Apracia Martin, Baron Ross, Jr., Daron Ross, Kristen Ross, Sydney Ross, Zynia Ross; three great grandchildren, Khylia Ross, Za'Khiya Ross, Kolbie Ross; a son-in-law, James Spence of Albany, Georgia; godchildren, Kendraniya Hill, Desmond Crimley, Jr.; his sidekick, David (Tiger) Barnett, Jr.; five sisters, Chattie Sue Wheeler of Gainesville, Florida, Linda Haywood of Albany, Georgia, Virginia (Veron) Haywood-Jackson, Deidrea Haywood-Edmonds, Tammy Jackson of Camilla, Georgia; five brothers, Eugene Haywood, Jr. of Camilla, Georgia, Clarence (Tracey) Haywood, Sr. of Leesburg Georgia, Dave Haywood of Atlanta, Georgia, Sam (Wanda) Haywood, Sr. of Gainesville, Florida, Harry (Felichia) Morgan of Albany, Georgia; brothers-in-law, Melvin Graham, Douglas Ross, R. J. (Annie) Ross, Henry (Tracy) Ross, Kenneth (Sakita) Ross; sisters-in-law, Johnnie Mae Ross, Dorothy Ross, Margaret Harris, Chenessa Morgan, Tammeron Ross; a special cousin, Darryl Harris; a special friend, John Stubbs; a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends including those at Roses Store in Albany.