Leroy Francis Elliott

CAMBRIDGE, Md. - Leroy Francis Elliott of Cambridge departed this life Sunday, Sept. 2, 2007, in Dorchester General Hospital.

The son of, and one of 17 children born to, the late Howard and Rena Elliott, Leroy was raised in Cordtown.

There he began his education, later graduating from the F.D. St. Clair High School.

Leroy enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1953 and was honorably discharged 1955.

At an early age, Leroy drove 26 years for Charles Cornish Bus Transportation and five years for Monroe Lake Bus Transportation transporting children to school near and far.

He also worked 30 years for Nabisco, and 12 years for Pleasant Day Adult Day Care Center, until his health required him to retire.

At an early age, Leroy joined several well known quartets in the community which included the Gospel Travelers.

Later he joined his brothers naming their group, The Sensational Royal Lights, after his father"s group.

On June 28, 1975, he was united in marriage to Linda Jones.

Leroy became a member of Union Chapel AME Church in 1989.

While at Union Chapel, he shared his gift of lifting up the name of Jesus through songs of joy.

Leroy spread God"s message all over the Delmarva Peninsula and abroad singing the songs of Zion for almost 60 years.

He loved to use that bass tone, making loved ones smile.

One of his favorite songs was "When They Ring Those Golden Bells For You and Me."

Leroy is survived by his wife of 32 years, Linda Elliott; two sons, Everett Young Sr. (Pattrick) and Paul Jones Sr. and his wife, Veronica, all of Cambridge; two daughters, Carla Young and Lenette Sampson; a nice he raised as his own, Sandra Coates and her husband, Charles, all of Cambridge; 16 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; five brothers, Randolph Elliott and his wife, Doretha of Annapolis, Embry Elliott of Upper Marlboro, Palestine Elliott and his wife, Mary of Odenton, Robert and his wife, Mary and Frederick and his wife, Constance Elliott, all of Cambridge; a sister, Rev. Marvel Travis and her husband, Kenneth of Cambridge; four sisters-in-law, Pat McNamara and her husband, Donald, Normalee Thompson and her husband, Norvel, Lorraine Palmer and her husband, Thomas and Judy Rhock; two brothers-in-law, Arthur Jones and his wife, Delilah and Wayne Jones and his wife, Agurtha, all of Cambridge; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and many, many special friends.

Services will be 1 p.m. Saturday in the Cambridge-South Dorchester High School Auditorium, Cambridge Beltway, Cambridge.

Interment will be 10 a.m. Monday in the Eastern Shore Veteran"s Cemetery, Hurlock.

The family will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. Friday in Henry Funeral Home, 510 Washington St., Cambridge.