Hamilton Leonard Cessac

Hamilton Leonard Cessac, Jr., age 78, of Blacksburg, Virginia, passed from this life into the eternal arms of the Lord Jesus, who loved him and gave his life for him. Leonard was born in Beaumont, Texas, the second child of Hamilton Leonard Cessac, Sr. and Mary Margaret Barclay. He graduated from French High School in 1964, where he enjoyed team sports and the great outdoors with his camping, fishing, and hunting buddies. Immediately after graduation Leonard attended college in his hometown, where he pledged Sigma Phi Epsilon social fraternity at Lamar Tech. After completing his pre pharmacy studies, he transferred to the University of Houston School of Pharmacy where he graduated in 1971. After a brief stint in the military as a U.S. Army Medic, he resumed his pharmacy career in Corpus Christi, TX and later back in Houston. During that time, he attended night school at the University of Houston where he earned a Bachelor of Accountancy degree in 1976. In 1979, and now living in a beach community outside Jacksonville, FL, he worked as a hospital pharmacist at St. Vincent's Medical Center. During his 9 years there, he served in an administrative capacity as Vice-President of Support Services for Consolidated Healthcare, Inc. During his multi-faceted pharmacy career, Leonard opened and operated retail pharmacies and durable medical equipment outlets. In 1987, single again and now with 2 children, he met the love of his life, Helen "Happy" in church, when she asked to borrow his pen. Three months later they were married. Now with 6 children, they buckled down in love together, determined to make it work for everyone. With God's grace and bountiful help, Happy and Leonard experienced a prosperous and successful blending of two broken families over the next 36+ years. In 1993, a job moved them to Blacksburg, Virginia and had but one contact, a church elder by the name of Paul Ribbe. Paul and Elna welcomed them with open arms and showed them lay of the land. With the help of Molly Dodson, they found the perfect place to live only five minutes from Blacksburg Christian Fellowship. For the next 7 years, they prospered as Happy, the stay-at-home Mom and Leonard, as a hospital pharmacist, all the while looking for a small farm to raise their toddler, Elizabeth, and 12-yearold daughter, Emma. Happy home schooled them both and celebrated when both graduated from college. After 20 years with Lewis Gale hospitals, he retired from pharmacy in 2013, but not before spending the last years of his career building a horse barn and starting a horse boarding business. He continued with his Providence Farm retirement business until 2023, when he turned it all over to his daughter, Ellie. In 2024, Happy succumbed to her lengthy battle with lymphoma. That same year he was diagnosed with advanced metastatic prostate cancer. During his time of illness, Leonard became keenly involved with Body life at BCF. He was a charter member of the R.E.L.I.C.S. (Retired Elderly Legends In Christ Service), which he described as a discipling class lead and instructed by the Holy Spirit as they simply discussed God's word and his personal dealings in each of their lives. Away from BCF, his was a ministry of encouragement to all who would take the time to send him a text. He would say life was meant to be difficult. How else could fallen man know God's all-sufficient grace; a real miraculous strength within us to endure with joy the worst life can dish out. Leonard passed peacefully in his sleep after 14 months of succumbing to this disease and living his life to the fullest. Leonard is survived by 7 children and stepchildren and their spouses: James and Cary Harrison, Spencer and Jackie Harrison, John Harrison, Emma and Paul Williams, Elizabeth "Ellie" Cessac, Len and Jami Cessac, Blythe and Chip Haddock. He is also survived by 2 sisters: Phyllis Pope of Beaumont, Texas and Teresa Clark of Kema, TX; and 6 grandchildren and step-grandchildren: Ayden Cessac, Alyssa Del Angel, Colin Williams, Maise Williams, Christofer Tamiyasu, Kristan Harbin and 2 great-grandchildren: Olivia Harbin and Cisco Del Angel. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, June 26, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Blacksburg Christian Fellowship with a reception immediately following.