William Steven Leslie

William “Steven” Leslie, 67, passed away suddenly at his home of 40 years in Piedmont, SC.  He is survived by his two children, Erika (25) and Blake (22), his grandson, Ethan Amador (5), uncles, Ray Smith (Piedmont, SC) and Wallace Leslie (Atlanta, GA), an aunt, Shirley Leslie Hood (Columbia, SC), and several cousins.  

Steven was predeceased by his mother, Christine Smith Leslie, and father, William Hendricks “Henry” Leslie, paternal grandparents, Claude and Elizabeth Shirley Leslie, and maternal grandparents, Furman and Thelma Elrod Smith.

After 20 years of marriage to Deanna, Steven maintained a healthy and close relationship with both her and her family and leaves behind father-in-law and wife, Sal and Debby Mayer, mother-in-law, Gloria Mayer, brothers-in-law, Sal, Joe, and Mike, nephews Szaléz, Nondi and Luke Mayer and niece, Murissa Mayer, and her daughter Rory.

Born in Greenville, SC, Steven grew up in the Mount Airy community, graduating from Wren High School in 1974.  He obtained a BS in Marketing and Business from Clemson University in 1978 serving as a Student Senator from 1976-1978.  He loved his Clemson Tigers and was proud to have attended their first National Championship football game in 1981.  

Steven was a member of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, Easley from 1987-1999 and was active in the choir and Men’s Group.  St James Episcopal Church, Greenville, SC, was home from 1999-2007 before he and his family returned to St. Michael’s.  

After graduating from Clemson, Steven followed in his father’s footsteps and worked in the grocery business as a food broker from 1979 until the present.  He was very active in the industry serving as president of GMRA, SC Frozen Food & Dairy Council, and as a board member of the Southeastern Frozen Food & Dairy Council.  For twenty years, he organized and hosted “The Penguin” golf tournament with proceeds benefiting Hidden Treasure Christian School, a private school for children with special needs, in Taylors, SC.  

Golf, working in his yard, and going to the gym were among his favorite hobbies.  His love of playing the piano came from his PaPa Leslie and he was very talented.  In the last few years, he played at various restaurants in downtown Greenville.

Steven was a man of integrity in business and his personal life.  He was well-educated, insightful, a good listener, of sound character with good morals, and loved by many!  He had a dry sense of humor, loved James Bond 007, grilled the best steak around, and enjoyed his J&B scotch.  More than anything, Steven was a doting father who loved nothing more in this world than his children and grandchild.  His absence will be greatly felt, and he will be missed immensely.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, from 11:30 AM until 1:15 PM at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church. A funeral service will follow the visitation at 1:30 PM in the Church Sanctuary. Burial will follow the service in Robinson Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, 1200 Powdersville Road, Easley, SC 29642.

Visit www.RobinsonFuneralHomes.com or Robinson Funeral Home & Crematory – Powdersville Road, Easley.