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Triad family mourns matriarch as investigation into Davidson County house fire continues

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The family of a woman who died in a Davidson County house fire is speaking out Wednesday. The South Lexington fire chief said a motorized wheelchair may have caught fire, but the fire marshal is still investigating the case. June Leonard’s family said the 74-year-old was released from the hospital on July 4 and a fire broke out in her Old Mountain Road home the next day. Firefighters were dispatched to Leonard’s home around 9 a.m. on July 5 and found it engulfed in flames. Leonard’s son was able to pull her out, but unfortunately she succumbed to her injuries later that day. Nathan Brown, her nephew, says the family is doing their best to cope with the loss of their matriarch. “We’re all just working together and trying to get through this,” he said. “It’s pretty tough for most of us, but some take it better than others.” Brown said Leonard was more like a mother to him. “I mean, if it weren’t for her, I probably wouldn’t be alive,” he said. “I wouldn’t have made it that far. I probably wouldn’t have even made it to five.” In recent days, he has thought about the special moments they shared together. Many of them have to do with their love of music and faith. “She played the organ and piano for the church,” he said. “We played an upbeat song and I decided to dance down the aisle in the middle of the church. I was lifted up and placed next to her on the organ bench.” Brown, a retired nurse, describes Leonard as stern, but to those who knew her, she was “one of a kind.” “She did everything she could for you,” he said. “As long as you were trying to help yourself and do better, she helped you.” The fire marshal’s office has confirmed that an explosion during the fire was caused by an oxygen tank in the house. However, that is not the cause of the fire, which is still under investigation.

DAVIDSON COUNTY, NC —

The family of a woman who died in a house fire in Davidson County is speaking out Wednesday. The South Lexington fire chief said a motorized wheelchair may have caught fire, but the fire marshal is still investigating the case.

June Leonard’s family said the 74-year-old was released from the hospital on July 4, and a fire broke out in her home on Old Mountain Road the next day.

At around 9 a.m. on July 5, firefighters were dispatched to Leonard’s home and found it engulfed in flames. Leonard’s son was able to pull her out, but unfortunately she succumbed to her injuries later that day. Nathan Brown, her nephew, says the family is doing their best to cope with the loss of their matriarch.

“We’re all working together and trying to get through this,” he said. “It’s pretty tough for most of us, but some of us are coping better than others.”

Brown said Leonard was more like a mother to him.

“I mean, if it weren’t for her, I probably wouldn’t be alive,” he said. “I wouldn’t have made it this far. I probably wouldn’t have even made it to five years old.”

In recent days, he has been thinking about the special moments they shared together, many of which have to do with their love of music and their faith.

“She played organ and piano for the church,” he said. “We played a happy song and I decided to dance down the aisle in the middle of the church. I was lifted up and placed next to her on the organ bench.”

Brown, a retired nurse, describes Leonard as strict, but to those who knew her, she was “unique.”

“She would do anything she could for you,” he said. “As long as you tried to help yourself and do better, she would help you.”

The Fire Marshal’s Office confirmed that an explosion during the fire was caused by an oxygen tank in the home, but this is not the cause of the fire, which remains under investigation.

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