Leah Darlene Fontenot

Leah Darlene Smith Fontenot, 68, devoted wife of Mark Fontenot from Grays, SC, passed away unexpectedly on December 12, 2025.

Leah was born September 28,1957 in Hampton, SC to Ina Leah Smith-Reed and the late Walker Smith, Jr.

Leah was a graduate of Ridgeland High School. She started her civil service career at MCAS Beaufort in clerical administration. She briefly worked as a property manager when she lived in Florida. She also worked in Facilities Maintenance Administration at MCRD Parris Island. She completed her career and retired from the Naval Hospital. Throughout her career she built life-long friendships with many people she cared deeply.

Leah will always be remembered for her fun-loving attitude and her truly beautiful spirit. When she loved, she loved completely with her entire heart; no matter if it was her family, friends, kitty cats, thrift stores or the newest craft she had discovered. She was an intelligent, take-charge, get things done, determined soul who was passionate and protective, yet comical and fun. She never met a stranger and would always be the first to step in to take care of someone else. She had a servant’s heart and was very involved with her Deep Branch Baptist Church family. She especially enjoyed helping with the church yard sales where her thrifting experience would shine at its brightest. She loved to shop! Between her and her thrift stores, no one in the family was ever out of clothes!

Leah was a true country girl who loved to hunt and fish. She would clean absolutely anything her adoring husband brought home. She could skin a deer in a heartbeat! She loved life and lived it to the fullest. Her very essence will be missed for many years to come by all that knew her.

Left to cherish her memory, along with her husband and mother are: her daughter April Smith Mole (Ricky), her beloved grandchildren, Briley and Jase Mole, her sister, Kathy Smith, brother, Fred Smith (Kim), sister-in-law Marilyn Adams, brothers-in-law, David, Raymond, and Paul Fontenot and many deeply loved nieces, nephews, and cousins. She will especially be missed by her beloved kitty cats, Cheeto and Vader.

Leah was predeceased by her father, her brother, Mike Smith, and her baby sister, Sherri Smith.

A funeral service will be held at 12:00 noon, Tuesday, December 16, 2025 at Deep Branch Baptist Church, 134 Deep Branch Rd, Varnville, SC. The family will receive friends beginning at 11:00 am until the time of the service at the church. Burial will follow in Grimes Cemetery.