Leon “Smitty” Stevenson, 74, was born in DeQuincy and died Monday, Jan. 24, 2022, at Medical City Hospital in Plano, Texas.
Smitty graduated Valedictorian from Grand Avenue High School in 1965. He attended Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, LA., where he participated in the Army ROTC program and became a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. He graduated from Southern University with a B.A. in Marketing.
He served as a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He later received an M.B.A. from Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
Smitty worked in marketing for Shell Oil Company for over 10 years. He opened his first Shell Oil service station in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. He was an entrepreneur and business owner developing businesses in real estate, car dealerships/car rental, beauty and clothing retail enterprises, restaurants, and insurance companies. He opened Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury car dealerships in Texas.
He is survived by his wife, Teddie Stevenson; daughter, Leondria Stevenson; two sisters, Jacqueline Stevenson and Clara Levan, both of DeQuincy; and one brother, Tommy Snell of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Oscar Stevenson, Sr. and Vera Mae Grant-Stevenson; and two brothers.
Interment was in Jeanerette under the direction of Charles W. Smith & Sons Funeral in McKinney, Texas.
