HOUSTON, Texas — Hazel Diane Erves Leonard died Friday, Oct. 7, 2011, at Clear Lake Regional Medical Center in Houston, Texas. She was 50 years old.

Mrs. Leonard lived in Houston for the past 13 years. She was devoted to her family and grandchildren. She will be greatly missed by her family and many friends.

Mrs. Leonard graduated from Mississippi Valley State University with a degree in computer science. She was employed by Raytheon Industries, Boston, Mass., and in Houston as a computer analyst; and at NASA/United States Alliance, Houston, as a computer engineer.

Mrs. Leonard was born in Aurora, Ill., Dec. 4, 1960. She belonged to St. Johns United Methodist Church, Houston.

She was preceded in death by her father, Robert L. Erves Sr.; paternal grandparents, Alfred Sr. and Hazel Erves; and maternal grandparents, Joseph and Viola Howard.

Survivors include Lester P. Leonard Sr. of Houston; one son, Lester P. Leonard Jr. of Houston; grandchildren, Lyniah and Noah Leonard of Houston; mother, Betty J. Erves of Vicksburg; one sister, Cheryl Daferede (Mario) of Vicksburg; six brothers, Robert L. Erves Jr. (Dr. I.V.), James C. Erves Sr. (Tonie) and Joseph S. Erves (Shelia), all of Vicksburg, Larry D. Erves Sr. (Carol) of Atlanta, Dale V. Erves Sr. (Velma) of Dallas and Timothy A. Erves (Angela) of San Francisco; three aunts, Gladys Reed of Vicksburg, Elanor Neely of Oakland, Calif., Mary Louise Wade of Richmond, Calif.; three uncles, Joseph Howard of Vicksburg, Mack Henry Howard of Chicago and Alfred Erves Jr. of Aurora; special friends, Jaunita Cross of Detroit, Vernetta Younger of Atlanta and Emma Rowe of Augusta, Ga.; and members of the Williams, Burks, Watts, Howard, Carson and Reed families.

Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Hickory Tree M.B. Church with the Rev. Elzie O’Neal Sr. officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery. Visitation will be held today from 1 until 8 p.m. with family present from 6 until 8 at Lakeview Memorial Funeral Home.