Joan Barland Henderson-Leese

Joan Barland Henderson-Leese went to be with her Lord on April 4, 2025 at River Region Hospital in Vicksburg. She was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi on December 12, 1935 to Norvis and Marguerite Barland. Except for 8 years moving around as a Navy wife, she spent her entire life in Vicksburg. She graduated from Carr Central High School in 1954 and spent a semester at Trinity University in San Antonio, TX before getting married. A talented musician, she taught piano for 42 years, having students compete in the National Piano Guild, Bach Festival, and other competitions as well as performing in recitals every year. As a piano teacher, she was involved with the Matinee Music Club of Vicksburg for many years, serving in various capacities, including as President. Joan played the organ throughout her life for several area churches, including Crawford Street United Methodist Church, Christ Episcopal Church, First Methodist Protestant Church, and St. Alban’s Episcopal Church. She enjoyed many years participating in the Vicksburg Theatre Guild, both as pit accompanist and as actress on stage. She also performed as Madame Pizzicato for Vicksburg’s long-running melodrama Gold in the Hills. Mrs. Leese loved accompanying for the Vicksburg High School choir program for a number of years. She was also involved with the Miss Mississippi Pageant, enjoying her duties as hostess to the contestants.

Joan loved to travel, particularly enjoying cruising on the Caribbean and to Alaska. As a piano teacher, she also spent many years as a judge for the National Piano Guild, traveling all over the country to hear and encourage many young pianists.

She enjoyed many hobbies over the years, including knitting, cross stitch, needlepoint and writing poetry.

Mrs. Leese was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Fran Barland Ross; and her sons, Raymond Reed “Rusty” Henderson, Jr. and Robert Montgomery “Rob” Henderson and stepdaughter Kimberly Leese. She is survived by her husband of 29 years, Allan Leese. She also leaves her son, Randall Ashley Henderson of Robinsonville, MS; her daughter, Laurie Henderson Jones (Irv) of Warren, OH; stepson Christopher Leese of Chicago; her grandchildren: Kelly Henderson of Corsicana, TX; Drew L. Thompson of Picayune, MS; Robert Brandon Henderson (Sara) of Dallas, TX; and Blaire Thompson Kibler (Joshua) of Willowick, OH; stepgrandson Logan Leese of Chicago; Payton Price of Madison, MS. She is also survived by great-grandchildren, Andrew Thompson of Mize, MS and Perry Claire Henderson of Dallas, TX. Additional surviving family include her sisters Betsy Jean Barland Hartley of Bossier City, LA and Linda Sue Cook of Tennessee; nephew Mark Colvin (Kim) of Lexington, KY; niece Allison Hood Mazzola (Anthony) of Texas; and niece Wendy Colvin Bufford (John) of Paducah, KY. She is also survived by her dog, Honey, who spent her days keeping company by her side.

Funeral services will be 11:00 am, Friday, April 11, 2025 at Glenwood Funeral Home in Vicksburg with Reverend Elisabeth Malphurs officiating. Interment will follow in Greenlawn Gardens Cemetery.

Pall bearers are Drew Thompson, Joshua Kibler, Brandon Henderson, Lonnie Henry and Dudley Corner.

Visitation will be 9:00 am Friday until the hour of the service.

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