Obituary of Rita Gresham Leech

Rita Gresham Leech, 69, died on September 5, 2015 from complications of brain and lung cancer. Rita was born and raised in Durham, NC, but has lived in San Antonio, Texas since the 1970s. While in San Antonio, Rita became a fixture in the Texas Municipal Bond business working with Rausher Pierce Refsnes, Inc. and then Southwest Securities. Rita was adored by the people in the industry both in and out of Texas. Rita's infectious personality and sense of humor endeared her to all whose paths she crossed. Rita was preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd Lorenzo Leech, III in 2011; and her mother and father, Mary Horton Gresham and Clyde Adams Gresham of Durham, NC. She is survived by her sisters, Flora Penny Gresham Bryant and husband, Richard (Nick), of Durham, NC; Toni Gresham Short and husband, Macon, of Greensboro, NC; five nieces and nephews, Greg Bryant of Chapel Hill, NC; Jason Handler of Concord, NC; Shelby Bryant of Chapel Hill, NC; Holly Smallwood of Austin, TX; and Philip Short of Greensboro, NC. In addition, she is survived by great-nieces and great-nephews: Molly, Lilly, Jake, and Lucy Handler; Gresham and Sander Parrish; and Riley and Avery Smallwood. A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 1, 2015 at Maplewood Cemetery, Section 2, Duke University Road. The family would like to give a heartfelt thank you to the many family members, friends, and co-workers who visited Rita while she fought her sickness. Additional thanks go to the caregivers at Brookdale Alamo Heights Nursing Care Facility, Sheryl and Jo Jo Griffith, and Letty Bonilla. In lieu of flowers and in her honor, contributions can be made to Heart to Heart Hospice, 1000 Central Parkway N, Suite 110, San Antonio, TX 78232 or the charity of one's choice. Walker's Funeral Home of Chapel Hill is honored to serve the Leech family.