It’s been a hectic few months in Yentaland, and some readers may know that we lost my mother-in-law at Thanksgiving. It was a very long twilight for this sweet, special lady, and while her passing brings relief from her suffering, she will be greatly missed.
I look forward to peaceful meditations visiting with her at Bonaventure Cemetery, where she was laid to rest along the banks of the Bull River.
Here is the obituary from Gamble Funeral Home:
MARCIA SHARON SMITH LEBOS
Marcia was born June 13, 1942 in Newport News, VA to Mr. Herman and Ruth Smith. She was the valedictorian of her class at Newport News High School, where she participated in Speech & Debate and edited the school newspaper. She was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa chapter at Duke University, where she met her husband, Dr. Harvey Lebos.
The couple wed on June 14, 1964 and moved from Winston Salem, Miami and Tacoma, WA during Dr. Lebos’ medical training and military service. In 1974, they settled in Savannah, GA with their two sons, David and Mark. Marcia was very involved in the Jewish community, volunteering for numerous projects and leading musical programs for children at the Shalom School at Temple Mickve Israel.
One of Marcia’s proudest accomplishments was developing the docent program at the historic Mickve Israel, the third oldest Jewish congregation in the United States.
She earned her teaching certificate and taught French at several local schools, including Hancock, Myers Middle School and Windsor Forest High. Passionate about the language and the people, Marcia chaperoned several student trips to France and led the Windsor Forest French Club—many still remember her lively Bastille Day reenactments.
Marcia traveled the world with her husband, enjoying art museums and restaurants. She worked locally as a guide for Tauck Tours, sharing her knowledge of Savannah and its history. She was a member of the inaugural class of the Savannah College of Art & Design in the Interior Design program. She loved Virginia Beach and Tybee Island and spent many glorious afternoons walking on the beach and bobbing in the ocean waves.
She is survived by her husband, Dr. Harvey Lebos; her sons, David and Mark; her daughter-in-law, Jessica; her two grandchildren, Abraham and Liberty; her sister, Bobbie Horwitz and her husband, Ken; her niece and her nephew.
The funeral service will take place at Congregation Mickve Israel at noon, Sunday, November 29. Interment will follow immediately at Bonaventure Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Savannah Jewish Federation – 5111 Abercorn Street, Savannah, Georgia 31405-5214 or to a memorial fund set up in her name at Congregation Mickve Israel – Post Office Box 816, Savannah, Georgia 31402-0816.
Marcia was my beloved French teacher at Coral Gables Sr. High in 1965-67. She and Harvey took our class to France, which ignited my passion for French language and culture. Marcia was my favorite teacher and it was because of everything about her that I became a French teacher (30 year career). We kept in touch while they lived in Winston-Salem, where I was majoring in French at Wake Forest University. I thought about her often all through the years and hoped to share with her my teaching career. I only wish I could have written to her before time ran out. Her family was blessed to share her beautiful life for so long.