Henry "Paul" Leeper

Henry Paulus “Paul” Leeper Jr. of Nashville, Tennessee passed away on January 8, 2023 in Nashville, TN.

Paul was born in Columbia, TN to loving parents, Sarah Katharine Derryberry Leeper and Henry Paulus Leeper Sr. on May 25, 1931. He spent his early childhood attending a one-room schoolhouse where his mother taught classes.  At age 10, he moved to Nashville and attended Cavert School, Waverly Belmont School, and graduated from West High School.  While attending the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, he was drafted into military service and served 2 years in the Korean War as an aviation mechanic in the United States Army.  After his Army discharge, he completed his Agriculture degree at UT and returned to Nashville where he worked for Robert Orr Sysco Company in the food service industry for 37 years.

Paul knew a lot about the early settlement of Middle Tennessee and considered himself to be the resident expert on the subject.  He was quick to engage in friendly debate about any historical account if he felt it was inaccurate.  Because of his friendly and outgoing nature, Paul never met a stranger. Many say he was better than ancestry websites for connecting individuals in some form or fashion to the Leeper Family Tree and often referred to others as “cuz”.  His most passionate interests were fishing, hunting, SEC football, and cooking for family and friends. He could easily boast that he had cooked 60 continuous years of celebratory family holiday meals.

He is survived by his devoted family...wife, Dr. Jennifer Najjar Leeper, and children, Brian Leeper, James (Kim) Leeper, Beth Stewart (Tom Pipkin), Laura (Jeff) Waynick, Jeff (Kim) Leeper, Sarah (Doug) Tate and grandchildren, Olivia and Nolan Leeper, Daniel and Anna Waynick, Gavin Leeper and Katherine Leeper (Tyler) Campbell.

Paul is preceded in death by his parents, first wife Anne D’Armond Leeper, brother Thomas Leeper, son Paul C. Leeper, grandson Josh Waynick, and son-in-law Tom Stewart.

Visitation will be on Feb. 11, 2023 from 9:30-11:00 AM at the Belle Meade United Methodist Church, 121 Davidson Rd. Nashville.

Funeral services will be Feb 11, 2023 at 11:00 AM at the church with a private interment to follow.

Paul was an avid supporter of outdoor youth programs. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to theTennessee Wildlife Resources Foundation at www.twrf.net

Please designate the contribution to his memory ( Paul Leeper) and the donation will be directed to TWRF youth program development.