Leila Estelle Barefoot Champion

September 29, 1923- December 5, 2022

Estelle was preceded in death by her parents William Thomas Barefoot and Leila Flossie Leona Mixon, her brothers Thomas Winston Barefoot, William Curtis Barefoot, son-in-law Donald Douglas Davis, and step-grandson Michael Henry Davis.

She is survived by her sister Emma Jennine Kelley Caylor, sister-in-law Mary Brown Barefoot, her children Bertha Rebecca Champion Grove (Alan), Jacob Benjamin Champion, III, and Leila Nancy Champion Davis, seven grandchildren – Jeffrey Alan Grove (Carol), Jessica Aileen Grove, Frank Benjamin Champion (Kristen), Kimberly Ann Champion, Katherine Leigh Champion, Christopher Daniel Davis (Jessica) and Sean Benjamin Davis (Lindsey), step-grandson Mark Edwin Davis (Kimberly), step-grandson Donald Douglas Davis, Jr., eight great-grandchildren, her beloved neighbors Kyle and Lindy Bengtson and "adopted" grandson Timothy Conrad Bodiford.

She earned a BA and MEd from Troy Teachers College and taught English, Spanish, and Physical Education at Florala and Greenville High Schools. She assisted her dear friend Bobbie Gamble with theatrical productions for thirty years and sponsored the junior and senior classes for many years. Upon retirement she operated Champion Garden Center and later settled into fishing, crabbing, and enjoying friends and family. She was an active member of Greenville First United Methodist Church participating in the annual poinsettia decorations, XYZ programs on horticulture, finance committee, Wednesday night suppers, and many other activities.

The pallbearers are grandsons Jeffrey Grove, Frank Champion, Christopher Davis, Sean Davis, and nephews Keith Kelley and Kevin Kelley.

The funeral will be at First UMC, Monday, December 12. Visitation will be at 9 AM. The service officiated by Reverend Ed Shirley will be at 10 AM. The 2 PM interment will be in Bethany Baptist Church Cemetery, 494 County Road 533, New Brockton, Alabama.

Flowers will be accepted. Memorial contributions should be given to the church.