LYNCHBURG — B. Leigh Drewry Jr. peacefully died on Friday, Dec. 1, 2017, with his family and friends by his side.

Born in Richmond, Virginia, he was the son of the late Burton Drewry Sr., and Nancy Drewry.

After spending his early years in Drewryville, Virginia, his family moved to South Hill, Virginia, where he graduated from Kenston Forest School.

Leigh was a 1979 graduate of the University of Virginia, where he served as a manager for the football team for two years and as head manager also for two years. He also served as manager of the women’s basketball team under the leadership of Debbie Ryan.

After graduation he took a job as a reporter for a bi-weekly newspaper in Franklin, Virginia.

He entered T.C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond in 1980, completing his degree requirements in December 1982.

Leigh moved from Richmond to Culpeper to take a job as a legal aid attorney. In 1984, he moved to Lynchburg to work as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney. He served as a prosecutor in Campbell County for two years and in Lynchburg for eight.

In 1994, Leigh opened his own practice and later combined his solo practice to join forces and form Cunningham & Drewry.

Leigh served on the Board of Directors of the Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and as its president. He has also served as President of the Lynchburg Bar Association. He was a past member of Board of Directors of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Central Virginia Inc. and a past president. He served in various positions in his local church (Heritage United Methodist Church) and was serving as a trustee of the Virginia United Methodist Foundation.

In addition to his mother, Leigh is survived by his wife of 30 years, Anne; his two children, Robert Drewry of Richmond and Rebecca Drewry of Charleston, South Carolina; his brother, George Drewry; his sister, Sarah Abernathy (Francis); as well as numerous nieces and nephews; and a very special thank you to his friend and longtime assistant Amber Mayhew.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Drewryville Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 125, Drewryville, VA 23844 or the Virginia Legal Aid Society, 513 Church St., Lynchburg, VA 24504.

The memorial service was held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 5, in Heritage United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dr. Paul Baker officiating. Visitation was held one hour prior. A luncheon took place in the church immediately following the service.

A special thank you to Dr. John MacNeill and the nursing staff of the Alan B. Pearson Cancer Center, for their wonderful care for the past 10 years.

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family.

To send condolences please visit tharpfuneralhome.com.