Leslie Lewis Lucas

Leslie Lewis Lucas, auctioneer, entrepreneur, and lifelong Roman, died Saturday of complications from a stroke. He was 78.

In 1939, Leslie was born at Harbin Hospital to Desma and O.E. Lucas. He attended Rome High School and Clemson University. After attending Clemson, he returned to Rome to go into business with his older brother, Bobby.

Throughout the 1960s and 70s, Leslie and Bobby founded and operated several small businesses, some lasting longer than others. Some of the more notable of these businesses include: Rome Auto Sales; automobile auctions in Atlanta and Chattanooga; Lucas Feed and a restaurant at Six Mile that operated for three weeksthree weeks being the amount of time before their father found out about it. Again with the help of his brother (and their fathers approval this time), on March 2, 1960, Leslie opened Rome Auto Auction at the Fairgrounds, which, as fate would have it, coincided with a typical March ice storm. Notwithstanding that omen, The Auction continued on and 12 years later would move to Highway 411. As opposed to the other aforementioned ventures, Leslie would operate Rome Auto Auction for over 45 years providing a place to conduct business for dealers, collectors, and colorful characters alike. In the 1990s, he worked hard to become a novice in the art of gift wrapping while helping his first wife, Judye, operate The White Rabbit.

In 2009, Leslie and Inez Garrett were married and her family became a part of his. They were very happy together and enjoyed their morning devotionals over coffee, discussing metaphysical ideas, and traveling, which she helped him to rediscover the joys of. During this time, Leslie furthered his Biblical scholarship, became a self-published author, honed his amateur musicianship, and helped his wife pastor Glory Tabernacle Church in Rome. Leslie spent the rest of his retirement teaching his two grandsons, Wilson and Hudson, the intricacies of coin collecting and the joys of the game of baseball.

Leslie was preceded in death by his father, O.E. Lucas, his mother, Desma, and his brother, Bobby Lucas. Leslie is survived by his wife of nine years, Inez Garrett Lucas; his sister Priscilla Sullins and her husband Tommy of Emerson; his son Sam Lucas and his wife Julie; two grandsons, Wilson and Hudson Lucas; two stepsons, Michael Garrett and his wife Catherine, and Chris Garrett and his wife Carol of Kennesaw; two stepdaughters, Debra Hamby and her husband Toby of Cedartown, and Kathy Garner and her husband Tim; a sister-in-law, JoAnn Lucas of Bartlesville, Oklahoma; nephews Bobby Lucas, Jr. and his wife Ann of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and Jacob Sullins and his wife Sarah of Cartersville; nieces Leesa Kinsey of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and Whitney Langley and her husband Jeff of Acworth; and several grandnieces, great-grandnieces, grandnephews, and great-grandnephews.

A Celebration of Life for Leslie will be held on Friday morning, February 23, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. in the Carl Sidwell Chapel of Salmon Funeral Home.

Leslies family and friends will gather on Thursday evening at Salmon Funeral Home to share memories and tributes.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Glory Tabernacle Church Youth Program c/o Inez Lucas, 106 West Lakeshore Drive, Rome, Georgia 30161.

Youre invited to visit www.salmonfuneralhome.com to share memories and post tributes.

The staff of Salmon Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Leslie Lewis Lucas.