| Sources |
- [S4] Knoxville News-Sentinel (Tennessee), 16 Mar 2003.
LEATH, DAVID R. - age 57 of Knoxville, passed away Thursday, March 13, 2003. A native of Knox County, he was preceded in death by his father, Robert H. Leath and sister, Charlene Hendrix. Survivors include his wife, Raynella D. Leath mother, Mayme Bailey Leath daughter, Cindy Leath Wilkerson Cindy's mother, Peggy Rowe stepdaughters, Maggie Connatser and Katie Dossett grandchildren, Tyler and Lindsey Wilkerson nephew, Bryan Hendrix many relatives and friends. David was a graduate of Knoxville Barber College and was owner and partner of Suburban Barber Shop for 39 years. A memorial service honoring his memory will be held Sunday, March 16, 2003, at Solway United Methodist Church where he was a longtime member, 3300 Guinn Road, Solway, Tenn., with Rev. Henry Lenoir officiating. The family will receive friends at 3 p.m. followed by the service at 3:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to David Leath 's Grandchildren's Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 32852, Knoxville, Tenn. 37930-2852. Arrangements by Cremation Options, Inc. (865) 6WECARE (693-2273).
- [S4] Knoxville News-Sentinel (Tennessee), 14 Mar 2010.
On a cool day, with light rain falling from a darkened sky, and seven years to the day after he was slain, the ashes of David Leath were buried Saturday in Oak Ridge Memorial Gardens.
Leath, a popular West Knoxville barber, was 57 when he died of a single gunshot wound to the head in the home he shared with his wife, Raynella Dossett Leath.
In January, she was convicted of his premeditated murder and sentenced to life in prison. An earlier trial ended with a deadlocked jury.
"(Events of) the last seven years have unfolded like the pages in a book," said family friend John Underwood.
Since his death, David Leath's ashes were kept at the Suburban Barber Shop, where he worked for many years. His daughter by a previous marriage, Cindy Leath Wilkerson, is also a barber and uses the same chair he did.
The brief graveside ceremony was conducted by the Rev. Henry Lenoir, Leath's pastor at Solway United Methodist Church.
At the service were mostly family and close friends. One of those friends was photographer J.W. Nave, whose hair Leath cut for many years.
"I know David did not believe in cremation, there was no way," Nave said. But he said he is comfortable that Leath's Christian faith has placed his soul in God's hands.
Leath's disbelief in cremation was part of the state's theory in the circumstantial case against his widow. They alleged that she staged a suicide scene and had his body cremated to prevent a second autopsy. Dossett Leath has steadfastly maintained that she genuinely loved him and did not kill him.
Tyler Wilkerson, now 19, placed the box containing his grandfather's ashes into the ground. The crowd watched silently as the hole was filled and then packed with dirt.
The service was the latest — but likely not the last — chapter in a story that has drawn national media attention. Dossett Leath's attorneys have moved for a new trial, and the lengthy appeals process has just begun. And she has yet to be tried on a charge that she killed her first husband, Ed Dossett, who was Knox County's attorney general when he died in 1992.
Nevertheless, David Leath's family felt it was time to consign his ashes to the earth.
"I just feel like this is the right time, it's been exactly seven years," Wilkerson said. "And this does help give us some closure."
Jim Balloch may be reached at 865-342-6315.
Caption: PHOTOS BY CHAD GREENE/SPECIAL TO THE NEWS SENTINEL Tyler Wilkerson lays the ashes of his grandfather, David Leath, to rest on Saturday at Oak Ridge Memorial Gardens seven years to the day after his death. His wife, Raynella Dossett Leath, is serving a life sentence for his premeditated murder. Leath's granddaughter, Lindsey Wilkerson, 15, left, and daughter, Cindy Leath Wilkerson, mourn during the graveside service.
- [S87] Death Certificate.
Name Date of Death / Age County of Death County / State of Residence Marital Status Gender Race File #
LEATH DAVID R 03-13-2003 / 57 KNOX KNOX / TN MARRIED M WHITE 17675
- [S147] Find a Grave, (Memorial: 119817396).
- [S58] Marriage Certificate.
Event Type Marriage
Event Date 09 Jan 1993
Event Place Anderson, Tennessee, United States
Gender Female
Spouse's Name Robert David Leath
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