Leanna McCully was born Leanna Barnes on January 11, 1948, in Gary, IN. She was the eighth child of 12 to parents Eddie Lee and Maple Barnes. Leanna graduated from Froebel High School in 1966. She married Collie Henderson, Jr. in 1966 and to their union, two sons were born.
Leanna was a dedicated servant as a Jehovah’s Witness and brought into the truth as a student to LaVerne King in 1974 as a member of the East Congregation in Gary, IN. She served as a regular pioneer for over 40 years at the East Congregation and then at Trail Creek Congregation in Michigan City, IN.
As a Jehovah’s Witness, Leanna remained a single mother until her children were grown. Only then did she begin a relationship with a longtime friend Victor McCully that resulted in their marriage June 10, 2000.
During their 22-year marriage, Leanna thrived when accompanying Victor in volunteer relief work in Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. She supported theocratic construction projects in Indiana and Illinois and shared the good news in rural areas in South Dakota, Iowa and even Australia. They met other Jehovah Witnesses in Germany, Hawaii and Fiji. She was well traveled.
During her travels and daily life, she became quite a collector. She collected dozens of dolls, lighthouses and ceramic frogs. She was also a plant lover. Everywhere she lived, she maintained several plants and gardens.
Leanna suffered from a Brain AVM April 1, 2021. For 18 months, she battled paralysis, ventilators, medicines, and treatments but never gave up on her faith in Jehovah God. She kept her same spirit during her battle. She enjoyed her children and music. She was still very critical if the Bible was being read and a name was mispronounced. Reading the daily text and the Bible was a must during visits along with Zoom meeting attendance. She refused blood transfusions until the end and succumbed to her condition Sunday, October 2, 2022.
Leanna was preceded in death by her parents Eddie Lee and Maple Barnes, brothers Eddie Lee Jr., James, Robert, Limus, George and Aubrey Barnes and sisters Chevy Trice and Verna Barnes.
Leanna leaves to cherish her memories her loving husband, Victor McCully, Sr., her brother Willie Barnes, Sr. of Gary, IN, her two sisters: Rebecca Barnes of Michigan City, IN and Rosa (David) Johnson of Gary, IN her two sons: Coley Henderson of Indianapolis, IN and Eric (Dawna) Henderson of Hammond, IN, her two daughters: Gina (William) Pirtle of Merrillville, IN and Sonya (Robert) Broden of Gary, IN her three stepsons: Victor, Jr., Akil and Abdu (Chennise) McCully along with 20 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren and her faithful field service partner in Christ, Sister Quilla Gene Blackwell who regularly called and left encouraging words and scriptures on a voicemail so that Leanna could hear those words of encouragement during her 18 months of illness. Leanna will be greatly missed.
