Leonard H. Lifsey

Leonard H. Lifsey, Sr.

Augusta, GA – Mr. Leonard H. Lifsey, Sr., 94, husband of the late Mary Balkcom Lifsey, entered into rest Thursday morning, May 8, 2014, at the downtown Charlie Norwood VA Hospital. He had been a resident at the Uptown VA for the past 2 ½ years. Mr. Lifsey is predeceased by his son, Tom Lifsey, who died in January of this year.

Mr. Lifsey was born in Fayette County, GA and grew up in Griffin, GA. He and his family moved to Augusta, GA in 1955, where he was stationed at Fort Gordon. He remained at Fort Gordon until his retirement from the Army in 1964.

He was a member of Hillcrest Baptist Church. Mr. Lifsey’s first job was on an ice wagon and later worked in his father’s ice cream shop. In 1937 he enlisted in the Army. He was a WWII veteran, serving much of his time aboard the USS Marigold, a hospital ship. He had tours to Germany and to South Korea. While still in the Army, he became quite the entrepreneur. He owned the Greene Street St. Hotel, but also raised chickens to sell eggs, and had a farm growing watermelons and cantaloupes for sale. After his retirement he obtained his Real Estate Brokerage License and shortly thereafter opened Lifsey Real Estate Company. Mr. Lifsey opened the Ponderosa Steak House on Deans Bridge Rd. that he later converted to the Cactus Lounge (which eventually became Kittens Corner).

In his 50s he contracted a debilitating disease, myasthenia gravis that left him 100% disabled. That did not stop him! When he was able to finally control this disease with medication, he plowed forward. He built and opened Leonard’s Lounge, the premier night club of that time, famous for its revolving bar and live, star- studded entertainment. After Leonard’s Lounge he owned Club Utopia and returned to the real estate business. He established the Lifsey Group and began developing land for residential use and also began building homes. Mr. Lifsey built over 250 homes in the Augusta area and finally retired at the age of 84.

Family members include daughters: Mary G. Schroer (Tim) and Judith L. Love (fiancé Nathan Youngblood); sons: Leonard H. Lifsey, Jr. (Gay) of Boston, MA and John A. Lifsey (Shahnaz); grandchildren: Monica Lavold (Tim) , Emily Rutherford (William), J.J. Lifsey, Danny Lifsey (Amanda), Rasha Lifsey, Jim Lifsey, Jacob Lifsey and Rachel Love; and great grandchildren: Parker and Noah LaVold, Madeleine and Reece Rutherford, and Alexander Lifsey.

The family wishes to thank the staff at the Palliative Care Center at the downtown VA for the care they provided during his last days and a very very special thank you to all the staff, volunteers, and fellow residents at the uptown VA “Heroes Point” Unit 2B for the extraordinary care and fellowship given to him.

A funeral service will be Monday, May 12, 2014 at 1:00 P.M. in the Chapel at Thomas Poteet & Son. Interment will follow with Full Military Honors in Hillcrest Memorial Park.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Point Ministries at P.O. Box 31064, Augusta, GA 30903. The Point Ministries is a Christian shelter for homeless high school and college-aged girls with children, where his son Tom had been on the Board of Directors.

The family will receive friends beginning at 11:00 A.M. until the time of service at
Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at www.thomaspoteet.com