First Lieutenant Leevi Khole Barnard

Army National Guard First Lieutenant Leevi Khole Barnard, 28, of Mount Airy, died in action supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom near Baghdad on May 21, 2009. Lieutenant Barnard was born October 5, 1980. First Lieutenant Barnard was a Field Artilleryman from the 1-113th Battalion supporting the 252nd Battalion as a Fire Support Officer. Leevi began his military career as a cadet in Detachment 1, Alpha Battery located in Statesville, NC. His original plans were to enter active duty as an aviation officer upon receiving his commission from the Army ROTC at UNC Charlotte, as Second Lieutenant in December 2007, after his time spent in the 113th Regiment, Leevi changed his request and became Artillery officer and deploy to Iraq with his brothers-in-arms. He was selected to serve as a Fire Support Officer attached to the 252nd Combined Arms Battalion. With a minor in Arabic Studies from UNC-Charlotte, Leevi could read and write Arabic and inherently understood the people and customs of the region. He was uniquely gifted for his mission because of his superior cultural knowledge, warm personality and genuine desire to help the Iraqi people. Leevi will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him. Leevi leaves behind to cherish his memory his mother and step-father, Pam B. and Larry Payne; his father, Geoffrey Gordon; step-mother, Gloria Gordon; grandparents, Thomas and Daisy Barnard, Ruth and Alvin Payne, and Howard and Becky Gordon; great-grandmother, Alma Burris; four sisters, Lauren Browne, Meredith Browne, Larriett Payne, and Heather Payne; two brothers, Matthew Gordon and Joseph Gordon; a niece, Maddie Browne; and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, and dear friends. The funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM Sunday, May 31, 2009, at Blue Ridge Elementary School, conducted by the Rev. Trent Lyons. Burial will follow in the Barnard Family Cemetery. The family will receive friends Saturday from 5:00 to 8:00 PM also at Blue Ridge Elementary School Gymnasium. Moody Funeral Services will be assisting the Barnard family. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the caretaker c/o Dorothy Noah of Barnard Family Cemetery, 108 Maple Ridge Lane, Ararat, VA 24053.