Wanda Annette Edens Leidig

JONESBOROUGH - Wanda Annette Edens Leidig, 92, 118 Elm Hill Drive, died Monday, January 13, 2014, at Mountain States Medical Center, Johnson City.

Born in Keokee, Va., she was the daughter of the late Beulah McClellan Edens and Elbert Edens, Sr. She was married to the late Sam Leidig, who was a United Methodist minister. The couple served numerous pastorates in the Holston Conference for 46 years - including Nashville, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Upper East Tennessee and Virginia.

Mrs. Leidig attended Hiwassee College and Scarritt College in Nashville.

Throughout her life, she served in numerous leadership positions in churches, with the League of Women Voters, Parent Teachers Associations and other community groups. She taught children's and youth classes in churches the couple served. Additionally, Mrs. Leidig sang in schools and in many church choirs throughout her life. She was known for her quick response to community and church needs with a warm and engaging spirit, working toward civil rights, working as an advocate for better jail conditions in various Tennessee counties and working with her husband to find ways to help the homeless in churches they served. These were a vital testament of living out her Christian faith.

The couple always perceived their ministry together just as they viewed their partnership in marriage for 56 years.

Like her husband, Mrs. Leidig had a great passion for missions. The couple hosted numerous mission conferences in their work, exposing parishioners to personal glimpses of Christian, education and medical work in other countries.

Mrs. Leidig's warm, outgoing personality was always a hallmark in her life with her family and in her service. Her grace, generosity of spirit, humor and enjoyment of music remained an incredible inspiration to her family and friends. This served as a wonderful guide to her daughters as they chose paths in their own lives.

After her husband's retirement, the couple remained active at Gray United Methodist church, where, along with her husband, she taught various Sunday school classes and led prayer groups.

She was preceded in death by three brothers, Elbert Edens, Jr., George Edens and Joe Edens.

Survivors include two daughters and sons-in-law, Cecelia Annette Leidig Wankel and Ron Wankel, Jr., Jonesborough, and Mary Beth Leidig and George Brock Scott, Knoxville; two grandsons, Daniel Leidig Hayes, Lexington, Ky., and Gideon Scott, Knoxville.

A "Service of Worship and Remembrance" will be held Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014, at 2:30 p.m. at Gray United Methodist Church with the Rev. Lloyd Jones officiating. The Rev. J. Spurgeon McCartt will also participate in the service.

The family will receive friends at the church at 1:30 p.m.

Graveside services will be held Monday, Jan. 20, 2014, at 3 pm. at Holston Conference Cemetery on the campus of Emory and Henry College, Emory, Va.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given to a charity of choice.

Pallbearers will include Ron Wankel, Jr., George Brock Scott, Daniel Leidig Hayes and members of the Gray church.