Glenice "Pappi" Leonard Warner

     Glenice Leonard Warner also known as “Pappi”, was born on January 14th 1944 in Sandy Point, St. Kitts to Mary Demetrius Warner and Sterry Warner.  Leonard suffered with kidney disease for the last 10 years of his life and was called home on Monday May 5th, 2025.  When he passed, he was found in a praying position.  

     As a child, Leonard attended Boys School in Sandy Point.  He was a quiet child who often kept to himself.  In his spare time, he would climb a huge tamarind tree where he sat reading his books for hours. For fun, he would gather bush to catch lizards.  Leonard moved to the U.S. in 1965.  Shortly after, he attempted to join the U.S. Air Force to prevent himself from being drafted.  On October 27th, 1965 he completed basic training for the Air Force and was honorably discharged.  Leonard wanted to flee the States so that he would not be drafted but when his mother found out, she abruptly put a stop to it.  He was indeed drafted into the U.S.  Army, and on September 15th, 1967, while serving in the Army, he received his Food Service Certificate.  He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army on May 1, 1973, and he received his naturalization papers later that month, on May 29, 1973.  Leonard was employed at Hearst Magazine Publishing company for over 20 years.  After retiring, he worked part time as a chef in a few neighborhood restaurants.

     In 1966, Leonard was baptized at Bethel Seventh Day Adventist Church by pastor Everett Alexander of the Northeastern Chapter.  In 2023, he began attending Sunday service at First Pilgrim Baptist Church with his daughter, son in law, and grandson where he always received a warm welcome.

     In 1969, while on a boat ride, he met his wife, Ena. They were married on December 11, 1970.  Together, they would have three daughters.  Leonard and Ena moved to South Florida in 2012, where they resided for 6 years.  On May 2, 2018, Ena lost her battle with cancer leaving Leonard to mourn his beloved wife of 47 years.  In 2019, he moved to Middletown, Delaware with his middle daughter where he was cared for by her and her husband Lew.       

     Throughout Leonard’s life, he was a collector of books, music, photos, foreign currency, stamps, and anything that had sentimental value to him.  Although quiet as a child, Leonard knew how to bring family and long-time friends together.  He knew how to throw and party and how to “throw down” in the kitchen.  He made some of the best Caribbean Cuisine and he had a mean Calypso collection.  Whether it was New Year’s Eve, Independence Day or Labor Day, family and friends knew where the party was going to be. 127 McDonough Street became the place to be for holiday.  If you needed a place to lime after the Labor Day parade, 127 is where you wanted to be for food, drinks, and Soca.  Leonard and his best friend, also known as “De Goon” would also plan yearly family bus rides where family and friends would visit a national park or an amusement park. Those were great times for the family to connect and enjoy one another. The memories are sweet and will forever be embedded in our hearts and minds.  And let us not forget, Leonard was also a stern, strict father and uncle.  He did not play when it came to disobedience or disrespect, and he would not hesitate to discipline you for either.  He may have been quiet and small in size but, his temperament could be big and loud.  Needless to say, a few things you learned from uncle Lenny, as some would call him, was to appreciate good food, good music, a good book, and also, you had no choice but to have a backbone and a strong mind.

     Leonard is preceded in death by his parents, Sterry Warner and Mary Demetria Warner;  his siblings: Dorothy Warner, Roy Warner, Vincent Warner, Sylvia Veronica Warner – Hodge, and lastly, his lovely wife, Ena Louise Warner.  He leaves to mourn, three daughters: Teena Warner-Ezell, Domini Warner-Deal, and Annette Warner; two sisters, Eileen Duggins and Dorothea Warner-Evans; one brother, Basil Winston Warner; one sister-in-law, Dorette Warner; one brother-in-law, Derrick Cooke; and two sons-in-law, Victor Ezell and Lewis Deal; five grandchildren; Eric, Xiomara, Khalique, Zaria, and Alyssa;  a host of nieces and nephews, grand nieces and nephews, cousins and close friends.  Leonard will truly be missed by all of us who spent years of our lives in his presence.  We will miss the experiences we shared with him during the last years of his life.

     A funeral Service will be held on Monday May 19, 2025 at First Pilgrim Baptist Church, 27 S. Caesar Rodney Avenue, (6 Miles Lane), Camden, DE 19934 at 11:00 A.M. where there will be a viewing from 10:00 A.M. until 11:00 A.M. Monday.  Burial will follow at Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Millsboro.  Online condolences may be made via www.pippinfuneralhome.com. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Glenice "Pappi" Leonard Warner, please visit our floral store.