Veronica Morenike Leigh

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Veronica Morenike Leigh was born on January 6, 1954, to Millicent King and William Leigh in Freetown, Sierra Leone, West Africa. She was raised in a big loving Christian family and grew up with her many cousins as they were all very close in age. Despite a10-year age difference between her and her only sister, Princess, she adored her sister more than anything, and was heartbroken when her sister passed away when Veronica was only 16 years old. Despite experiencing tragedy at a young age, Veronica persevered and went on to attend elementary school at Freetown Secondary School for Girls in Freetown, Sierra Leone. She excelled in school and proceeded on to attend one of the top high schools in Freetown at Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) where she studied home economics. Upon graduation, Veronica worked at Cape Sierra hotel before deciding to immigrate to the United States in 1974.

Upon her arrival in New York City, she lived with her older cousin and during that time she held various jobs working as a home health aide and a sewing merchant in a major factory, all while making plans to attend nursing school. While preparing to apply to nursing school, Veronica welcomed her first daughter Zina and a year later, her second daughter Yasmin was born. The following year, her third daughter Millicent was born and due to the immense happiness and excitement, Veronica’s mother made the trip from Sierra Leone to New York City to meet her granddaughters. Despite experiencing such happiness about the birth of her daughters, Veronica was also going through personal difficulties during this time. Therefore, she took on a job as a certified nursing assistant at a nursing home in order to provide for her family.

It was at this job where one of her colleagues started to minister to her and to speak to her about Jesus Christ. She introduced her to the New Testament Church in Brooklyn, NY. In 1984, she attended her first church service there and she remained a member until her last breath. It was at the New Testament Church where Veronica was given the loving nickname of ‘Sister Leigh’. Sister Leigh loved the Lord and loved her church. Her life’s desire was to do the will of God completely. Due to her passionate desire to do God’s will, Sister Leigh obeyed the Lord in the waters of baptism in 1985 alongside her mother. Thereafter, Sister Leigh transferred to the church branch in Staten Island where she remained a faithful member. She attended all the church services, prayer meetings, retreats, and conventions. During her tenure in Staten Island, she was filled with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking tongues in 1997. She also actively participated in the Sunday school where her desire was to ensure that all the children learned the word of God and developed a strong foundation in Christ. She had such a love for children that every Sunday she brought candy and gifts to church which were handed out after every service. This became her ministry, and she absolutely loved it. She graciously maintained this giving ministry for almost three decades.

In addition to her love for God and for her church, Sister Leigh loved her grandchildren. She loved Adrianna and Michael more than words can express. Her kind, humble, and gentle character was an example to them and every interaction she had with her beloved grandchildren exuded her profound love for them. She was a major figure in their lives and even in their teenager years, she woke them up every morning and helped them get ready for school. She ensured they had breakfast, lunch and dinner every day and also helped them with their laundry. Most of all, she encouraged them to develop a true relationship with God.

As a devoted parent, God enabled Sister Leigh with strength and fortitude to be an outstanding mother to her three daughters. She worked hard for her girls, sometimes working two or three jobs at a time in order to educate and provide for her daughters. She wanted the best for them and gave them the utmost care. Her daughters attended private school from kindergarten until college. She supported them throughout their college years and post-graduate education. Due to her hard work, efforts, and trust in God, her daughters are now high standing leaders in the community as a pulmonary and critical care physician, a hospital nurse administrator, and a psychiatric emergency medicine nurse and nurse educator.

Not a day would go by without Sister Leigh sending a message of prayerful encouragement to her family members, her friends, and her church members. She ended every conversation by saying “God bless you” or “Jesus loves you”. She showed her love by showing the love of Christ. She further strengthened her faith in God by reading her Bible daily and having her own personal time in prayer every morning. She loved to worship and rejoice in the presence of the Lord. At every Sunday service, she would make her way to the front of the church and dance before the Lord at the altar with great passion and boldness. Sister Leigh was truly an example of a woman of God.

Even through times of trials, her faith in Christ never wavered and was never compromised. She knew the Lord would always see her through. She gave her all to Christ and in the end, Christ honored her and took her home to glory peacefully in her sleep four days after turning 70 years old. Her heart’s desire was fulfilled on that day, and we are comforted knowing Sister Leigh is seated at the right hand of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Veronica Morenike Leigh is survived by her daughters Zina, Yasmin, and Millicent, her son-in-law Edwin, her grandchildren Adrianna and Michael, her cousins, her many nieces & nephews, and her church family.

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