Lelia (Jones) Hoggard was born into a large and loving family on August 20, 1931 in Delaware, Virginia, a small rural community in South Hampton County.  Always an avid learner, she graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in Norfolk, Virginia before attending Little State College (Norfolk State University) Norfolk, VA.  After college, she worked primarily in the medical field, beginning as a Laboratory Specialist and Blood Bank Technology Specialist at Norfolk Community Hospital.  Later, after moving to Sacramento, California, she worked at Kaiser Permanente Hospital as a Pathology Assistant until she retired. After retirement, she earned a degree in Early Childhood Education from American River College (Sacramento, CA). Later, her entrepreneurial spirit led her to establish her own clothing and childcare businesses.

The greatest joys in Lelia's life were her relationship with God and her love for her children.  From her marriage in 1953 to Mr. Albert R. Hoggard, God blessed them with six children whom she leaves to cherish her memory—three sons: Stanley (Therese, spouse), David and Michael (Gloria, spouse) and three daughters: Cheryl, Wanda and Vita.  She also leaves behind eleven grandchildren, five great grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren and a host of other relatives, friends and loved ones.

She was preceded in death by her parents Lelia Bell (Britt) and Jimmy Jones, brothers: Jerry Jones, General Lee Jones, James Fenton Jones, Joe Montgomery, Andrew Young, Theophalus Jones and Calvin Solomon Jones, and sisters: Mary Jones, Annie Maude, Bessie Young, Goldie Young (Rawlings), Rosa Young, Hattie Young, Dorothy Ree Jones, Rosa Jones and Jessie Jones (Hunt).

Her Christian faith and spiritual walk with God were lifelong. It led her to become an evangelist in her church home of Monticello Baptist Church, Norfolk, VA and to continue her faithful service as a devoted member of Calvary Christian Center, Sacramento, CA.

Studying the Bible, gardening, playing the video game Tetris (to get the space shuttle), baking sweet potato pies and making Jell-O cakes for friends and family during the holidays were some of her favorite things to do.

Because of her loving spirit and kind heart, she leaves this world a better place upon her departure through all the lives she touched and nurtured. She told us not to worry when she was gone because she knew where she was going and that the Lord' had her.  Thank you, Lord, for blessing us with her presence on this earth for 89 years.