Wayne was born in Roanoke, was raised on the family farm in Blue Ridge and graduated from Lord Botetourt High School. Wayne is a retired tractor-trailer driver. He is a jack of all trades. He also installed water pumps, dug graves and worked on the family farm with his late father, Charlie Leonard, who was a deacon at Colonial Baptist Church for many years, and his late mother, Lois Leonard, who was a homemaker and taught him his cooking and sewing skills.
Carol was born in Blue Ridge and was raised on “Wild Cat Knob.” She also graduated from Lord Botetourt High School. Carol, is a retired Master Barber, also sews, bakes and has catered many events including Sunshine Fellowship at Colonial Baptist Church. Her sewing and baking skills were learned from her late mother, Cordelia Gray, who was a homemaker. She learned some very valuable trade skills from her late father, Fred Gray, who was on the Blue Ridge Volunteer Fire Department for many years.
Wayne and Carol have been members of Colonial Baptist Church in Blue Ridge for more than 75 years each. They are the parents of Julie Shelton (David) of Montvale and Heather Switzer (Donald) of Blue Ridge. They are the grandparents of Sara Hollish, Seth Shelton and Dillon Switzer, and great-grandparents of Lyla and Caleb Hollish.
