Leona Pickering

Leona Bass Pickering passed away February 18th in Chiefland, Fl. Leona was born on April 28, 1942, in Sarasota, Florida, to Flora Lee Bass and Jim Nathan Bass. She was a devoted daughter, sister, mother, aunt, Nana, and friend who touched the lives of many with her strength, wisdom, and love. Leona was no stranger to hard work. Throughout her life, she held many jobs, most of which required manual laborsomething she never shied away from. All while raising her daughter as a single parent. She spent much of her life in Sebring, Florida, surrounded by family, before later settling in Zephyrhills, where she lived for 20+ years. In her later years, she moved to North Florida to be closer to her daughter and grandchildren, cherishing the time she spent with them. Leona was a woman of deep faith. She not only read the Word but knew it well, sharing scripture and wisdom with those around her. She encouraged everyone to seek God, just as she did. She became a pentecostal evangelist, dedicating her life to spreading His word and guiding others in their faith. Among the many notes in her Bible, she had written down was John 8:51: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, if a man keep my saying, he shall never see death." Leona came from a large family, one of eight siblings, most of whom have passed before her. She leaves behind a legacy of strength, independence, and love. She was the strongest woman we knewtough, independent, and always willing to teach others how to stand on their own. She taught us how to drive, believing that self-sufficiency was important. She was also the reason we all learned how to fish, spending countless hours by the water, rod in hand, passing down her love for the outdoors. Some of our best memories with her were spent fishing. She is survived by her daughter, Glinda Faye Pickering Bolen; grandchildren: Stephanie Daniels, Joshua Daniels (Crystal), Edward Bolen Jr., Kimberly Bolen, Kayla Elliott (Dalton), and Robert Bolen; great grandchildren: Elizabeth, Chloe, Eddie, Ryan, Gemma and Jackson; and her beloved dog Bo. Music was another part of her soul. Leona recorded a single at the age of sixteen. She loved to worship God through praise and worship music. She played guitar, the auto harp, the banjo and sang, and her love for music lives on in all of us. Though we will miss her deeply, we take comfort in knowing she is home with her Heavenly Father. Her spirit lives on in the lessons she taught us, the songs she sang, and the love she shared. A private ceremony will be held in her honor at Arbuckle Creek, Florida, as per her wishes.