Leila Frazier

On December 25, 1924, Leila Belle Smith, the fourteenth of fifteen children, entered the world of John Henry and Mattie Floyd Smith. Leila grew up in the rural community of Old Kingston, Alabama not far from Prattville, Alabama. She attended Lutheran elementary school and graduated from Autauga County Training School at the age of seventeen. Leila loved learning as evidence by her pursuit of an Associate's Degree in Social Work which she obtained in 1974. She met a young fellow named Amos Frazier while attending Autauga County Training School. She would also run into him at her Aunt Sadie's home as his mother was Aunt Sadie's sister. They hit it off and stayed in touch after he graduated and went into the Navy. After graduating high school, Leila made her way to Pensacola, Florida and worked at the Naval base. A few years later, she went to Detroit where her baby sister, Clara, was living with her husband and worked at the train station for a while. When Amos was honorably discharged from the Navy, Amos asked Mama Matte for Leila's hand and was granted permission to marry her. He went to Chicago to secure employment and find a place to live. They were married at City Hall in Chicago, Illinois on November 12, 1946. Two children were born to this union, Carletta Purnell and Amos Frazier, Jr. As more relatives and friends migrated to Chicago, Leila and Amos' home became the place to stay while securing a job and a place of their own. God blessed Leila with the gifts of hospitality and service. She was active in her community, organizing block parties for the children and serving as secretary and treasurer respectively of the 9200 Emerald Block Club. Leila was also a founding member of the Frank London Brown Negro History Club, which was instrumental in establishing the Du Sable Museum of African American History. Having been reared in a loving Christian home Leila joined St. Phillip's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chicago. In 1965, she transferred her membership to Resurrection Lutheran Church to attend church in the community where she lived. Leila taught Sunday school and served as recording secretary, treasurer, and president of Lutheran Women's Missionary League. In 1983, after her husband Amos retired from the steel mill; she transferred her membership to Coppin Memorial A. M. E. Church where he was a member. There she was involved in the Birthday Club, chaired various programs and served as Stewardess until her move to Colorado in 2004. In Denver, Leila joined her daughter at True Light Baptist Church where she served on the Bulletin Committee and the Decorating Committee. She also helped with office work putting together newsletters. Entertaining, reading, going to plays and movies and out to eat are some of the things Leila liked to do. Traveling was her favorite. Her family often teased that her middle name was "GO". Her last trip was in 2013 to Chicago to meet her great grandson, Aiden. During her life, Leila held various jobs. The two she held the longest were "Crossing Guard" for the Chicago Police Department, 8 years; and Case Worker for State of Illinois Department of Family Services, 20 years. Leila, the last of her siblings to be called home to glory, closed her eyes and breathed her last on November 26, 2015. Her loving husband, Amos, preceded her in death. She leaves to cherish her memory daughter Carletta King of Denver, son Amos Frazier, Jr. of Chicago, granddaughters Carrie Leila King Jones (Nobleton) of Rogers, AR, Jalissa Nicole Frazier of Chicago, great grandson Aiden Carter Frazier of Chicago, son in-law Charles King of Las Vegas, daughter in-law Jeanette Frazier of Chicago and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

Funeral Home: Pipkin Braswell Funerals and Cremation - 2050 Uinta Street, Denver, Colorado
Visitation: 12/4/2015 at 4:00 PM - Pipkin Braswell Chapel of Peace - 6601 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO
Service: 12/5/2015 at 11:00 AM - True Light Baptist Church - 14333 Boiling Drive, Denver, CO
Cemetery: 12/9/2015 - Washington Memorial Cemetery - Homewood IL
Family Gathering: 12/5/2015 - Following the Service True Light Baptist Church Fellowship Hall - 14333 Boiling Drive, Denver, CO