Leah Kerby Arlie Leah Kerby, 86, died peacefully at her lifelong home in Columbus on Thursday, April 9, 2009. Visitation will be Monday, April 13, from 1:30-3:30 p.m. at St. Pauls Episcopal Church. Funeral services will be at the church at 3:30 p.m. with interment at Friendship Cemetery afterwards. Leah was born February 25, 1923, in Columbus to the late Michael Kerby and Sadie Bostany Kerby. She graduated from S.D. Lee High School in 1940. In 1944 she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Mississippi State College for Women. Leah began teaching third grade at the Merigold, MS, Public School in 1945. The following two years she taught at the Rolling Fork Public School. She then spent six years teaching at the Barr School in Jackson, MS. Between her teaching assignments she earned a Master of Arts degree in Elementary Education from the University of Alabama in August 1952. In 1954 she returned to her home in Columbus and served as a third grade teacher at Franklin Academy. She retired from Franklin in 1990 after 36 years, having spent a total of 45 years helping scores of young children develop a passion for learning. In May 1990, Mayor Fred Hayslett presented Leah the Certificate of Recognition for Long Term Service to the Children of Our Community. Leah was a life-long member of St. Pauls Episcopal Church. As a young girl she sang in the choir. While living at home she lovingly cared for her parents and sister, Samis, until their deaths from extended illnesses. Leah was the last of two generations of Kerbys in Columbus. The offspring of Middle Eastern immigrants, Leah and her siblings lived lives of irreproachable integrity, hard work, and dedication to God and family. Following the example of her parents, she lived humbly and simply and loved deeply. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her sisters, Samis Kerby and Mary Garrison; and her brother, Mike Kerby. Left to cherish her memories are her nephews, niece and their families: Michael (Katherine) Kerby of Columbus and children Eli and Katherine Maer; Allen (Lisa) Kerby of Columbus and children Mary Douglass and Allie; Young Kerby of Starkville; Dr. Tom Garrison of Ogden, UT, and sons Ben and Jon; Gina (James) Young of Lake Bluff, IL, and children Wesley, Alyssa and Sheridan; and Michael Garrison of Austin, TX. Leah will also be deeply missed by her brother-in-law Ulas Edwin Garrison of Scottsdale, AZ, and her sister-in-law Bettye Jane Kerby of Columbus. Pallbearers will be John Botes, Allen Kerby, Eli Kerby, Keith Miles, Doug Phillips and Jack White. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to your favorite charity or: St. Pauls Episcopal Church 318 College Street Columbus, MS 39701
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