Leonita Keen Brawner

Leonita Keen Brawner, 74, of Bonham, Texas, passed away on November 17, 2025, in Honey Grove, Texas, while under hospice care at the home of her son. Born on August 8, 1951, in Allen County, Kentucky, Leonita lived a life marked by devotion to her family, her friends, her church, and the Lord whom she faithfully served.

Leonita was the seventh of ten children born to Eurlee Keen and Angie Francis Shelton Keen. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers Bobby Lee Keen, James Raybon Keen, Richard D. Keen, and Eurlee "Junior" Keen; and her sisters Mary Edna Keen and Barbara Allen Keen Duffer. She is survived by her remaining siblings.

Leonita was married for 57 years to her beloved husband, Calvin L. Brawner, sharing a life grounded in faith, love, and commitment. Together they raised their two children and built a Christian home filled with warmth and hospitality. When Calvin surrendered to the call to preach, Leonita fully committed herself to the work of the ministry alongside him. Wherever the Lord led her husband to pastor, she was faithfully by his side supporting him, serving the church, and ensuring that worship services were carried out with reverence. Wanting to be a help to the congregation, she even learned to play several hymns on the piano so the churches her husband pastored would always have a song service accompanied with music. Her dedication as a pastor's wife was a quiet but powerful testimony of love for the Lord, her husband, and the people they served.

In their later years, as each faced significant health challenges, Calvin and Leonita resided together in a nursing and rehabilitation center in Bonham, Texas, remaining side by side until Calvin's passing on August 21, 2025. Their enduring devotion remains a lasting testimony of steadfast love.

She is survived by her son, Michael Brawner, of Honey Grove, Texas; her daughter, Rita Brawner Doyle, and her husband, Rob Doyle, of Pensacola, Florida; her granddaughters, Katherine Fesler and her husband, Ethan, of Fort Drum, New York, and Emily Lowry and her husband, Michael, of Joint Base Hickam, Hawaii; and her great-grandchildren Bryce, Rhea, Elias, and Charlotte, each of whom brought her great joy.

Leonita was a faithful member of East Side Missionary Baptist Church in Gallatin, Tennessee, where she worshiped, served, and supported the work of the Lord. Her gentle spirit, compassion, and steadfast faith were evident in every season of her life.

Leonita was a gifted homemaker who loved to sew, cook, and host family and friends, especially during the holidays. Gathering loved ones around the table brought her great joy, and her home was always a place of welcome, warmth, and care. She retired from A.O. Smith in Scottsville, Kentucky, and later returned to work for the Sumner County School System as a cook at Westmoreland, where she retired a second time. Through these experiences she made a host of friends and acquaintances whom she loved and cared for deeply, a love that was evident in the way she spoke of them throughout her life.

She will be remembered as a devoted wife, loving mother and grandmother, a caring friend, a pastor's wife who served faithfully, and a Christian woman whose quiet strength and unwavering love blessed everyone who knew her.

Funeral services will be held at Woodard Funeral Home in Westmoreland, Tennessee on Tuesday, November 25th, 2025 at 11AM. Visitation with the family will take place Monday, November 24th from 11AM till 7PM and again on Tuesday, November 25th from 9AM till service time at 11AM at Woodard Funeral Home. Following the funeral Leonita will be laid to rest at Green Grove Cemetery in Macon County, Tennessee, beside her loving husband.

The family has entrusted Woodard Funeral Home with the care of their loved one. "Serving you as we would like to be served."