James Coleman Leslie, 72, of 913 Frederick Street, Shelby, NC passed away on Saturday, December 23, 2023 at Wendover Hospice House, Shelby.

He was born in Cleveland County to the late Ira Leslie and Odessa Byers Leslie on February 26, 1951.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a brother, Walter A. Leslie and a sister, Gracie Leslie Parks.

Mr. Leslie was the eighth of twelve children. He attended Douglas High School in Lawndale. He was a strong, opinionated person, with an outgoing personality, who never met a stranger. In 1985, he started driving trucks and was a passionate truck driver for Dedmon Trucking. After his retirement, he became a charter bus driver because of his continued love for travel and long distance road driving. He also drove dump trucks.

He leaves cherished memories to his wife, Eloise Leach Leslie; daughters, Tanya Leslie, Charlotte Letitia Leslie of Atlanta, GA, and Antonia Chapman of Jacksonville, FL; three grandsons, Darrell Wimbush of Cincinnati, OH, San'tee Eskridge of Jacksonville, FL and Caleb Walker of Charlotte, NC; five great-grandchildren; his siblings, Marie Leslie West of Jamaica, NY, Maggie Leslie Smith, Ben R. Leslie (Sabrina), Marshall R. Leslie (Pam) all of Lawndale, NC, Ruth Leslie Fuller (Robert) of Shelby, NC, Odell C. Leslie(Shirley) of Lawndale, Christine Leslie Howell (Thamon) of Shelby, Carl E. Leslie (Tammy) and Juanita Leslie Lattimore both of Winston-Salem, NC; sister in law Patsy Leslie of Clinton, MD; brother in law James Parks of Lawndale, NC; his last remaining aunt, Narcissus Byers Lowery of Charlotte, NC; special friends Donald Schenck and Forrest Vinson and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held on Sunday, December 31, 2023 at 2 p.m. at S.T. Enloe Memorial Chapel with visitation from 1:30 p.m. until 2 p.m. Mr. Leslie may also be viewed from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM on Saturday evening at the chapel.