WILMINGTON — Martha L. “LeAnne” Jeffords, 49, went to be with her heavenly Father Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2019, after a valiant battle with colon cancer.
LeAnne was born June 14, 1970, in Wilmington to Janice Jeffords and the late Robert “Bobby” Jeffords. She graduated as a proud Buccaneer in 1988, earning the Emsley A. Laney Award for Achievement. She later attended the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, graduating with a psychology degree.
She began working for New Hanover County Schools 17 years ago as a reading interventionist and teacher’s assistant at Dorothy B. Johnson Elementary School. She later worked as a secretary for Student Support Services and most recently as the secretary for Maintenance Operations for New Hanover County Schools. LeAnne’s love for her students and coworkers permeated the workplace, making her home at NHCS part of her close family. She took great pride working with “her guys,” as she called them, and Mr. Peterson at the Maintenance Operations Department. She enjoyed her nightly game shows on TV, snuggling with dogs, football games and watching Wonder Woman reruns. Being raised as a southern woman, she never met a stranger and knew everyone as “Honey,” just like her daddy taught her. Her biggest pride and joy came from being a mom, mema, and aunt to her children, grandchild, niece and nephews.
She is survived by her former husband, Kevin Groves; son, Andrew Groves; two daughters, Audrey Groves and Kayli Groves Johnson, and husband, Matt Johnson, with her grandchild, Lincoln Johnson; “Big Sis,” Cyndi J. Edmonds, and her husband, Bobby Edmonds; along with her two nephews, Trey Edmonds, and his fiance, Tiffany Sanders, and Ryan Edmonds. She was a beloved niece to Debbie Cherry Lorance, and her husband, Dennis. She loved her cousins, Ashley Lorance, and her husband, Gerrit Baumann, and their son, Hugo Baumann; along with her other cousin, Emily L. Rall, and her husband, Toby, with their daughter, Ellie. She was also beloved by her family Jane, W.C., Keith, Jennifer, Wyatt and Shelby Groves. Additional surviving family includes Gail Jeffords Holley, Eddie and Jean Lawler, Juanita Jeffords, as well as several other cousins; and close companion, Bryan Bell. She was also blessed with family including her godmother, Jean Hufham Piner, and her husband, Mike; and four godbrothers, Gurney, Kenneth, David and Mack Hufham.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Monday, Dec. 2, at Andrews Valley Chapel, South College Road, with the Rev. Wray Wheeless and Joe Brown officiating. Visitation will be held at 1 p.m. prior to services at the funeral home.
The family asks that any memorial gifts be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Share online condolences with the family at Andrews Mortuary & Crematory.
