Leberta (Mahone) Pleasant

Leberta Pleasant Obituary Mrs. Leberta Mahone Pleasant was born on December 20, 1929, to Mary J. (Walker) and Arthur L. Mahone. Mary and Arthur had unwavering values for their family. Responsibility, family time, work ethic, personal conduct, and religious and educational values were core. Leberta was raised in the CME Church with a Baptist mother and a Methodist father. Leberta, the oldest of four, was an exemplary big sister to the younger Mahone siblings, Barbara Jean, James “Jim,” and Joseph “Joe,” with her intelligence, compassion, and family focus. Leberta attended Dayton Public Schools, graduating from Dayton Dunbar High School on June 9, 1947, with perfect attendance throughout school. This “no excuse” work ethic is a characteristic that she later passed along to her own children. Encouraged by her uncle, Lewis Mahone (B.A. 1931), Leberta ventured south in 1947 to enroll at Talladega College, Alabama's oldest private historically black college, with the goal of pursuing a liberal arts education. Leberta thrived taking Economics and Sociology classes, as well as French and Latin. Leberta pledged Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, at Talladega College and was initiated into Alpha Zeta Chapter on October 22, 1949. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology on June 4, 1951. Upon graduation from college, Leberta returned to Ohio. Although she received an offer to work at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Leberta elected to pursue her Master of Library and Information Science degree at Kent State University. This foundation led to her long-term career with the U.S. Department of Labor. Leberta was a devoted wife to James "Jim" Pleasant and loving mother to their children, Linda, Cliff, Herb, and John. Jim was a master tailor who migrated North from Alabama, and was one of a few African-American business owners in Downtown Cleveland back in the 1950s. Leberta worked full-time in management with the U.S. Department of Labor, Regional Administrative Office, Wage and Public Contracts Division, Leberta also cared for Linda, Cliff, and Herb. Leberta did not drive, so she would walk to the Euclid Arcade to help her husband at his Tailor Shop and Dry Cleaners during her lunch breaks. Tragically on January 18, 1967, her husband died of a heart attack while in the bank transacting business. Linda, Cliff, and Herb were young children, and Leberta was 7 months pregnant with John at the time. Mr. Pleasant died on a Wednesday, he was laid to rest at Lake View Cemetery on a Saturday, and Mrs. Pleasant re-opened Jim’s Tailor Shop and Dry Cleaners in the Euclid Arcade on that Monday morning. Two months later their son, John, was born. Linda was 12, Cliff was 8, and Herb had just celebrated his 4th birthday the day before their dad died. Leberta was well known and respected as a business owner. For over 30 years, she ran Jim’s Tailor Shop and Dry Cleaners, one of the first black-owned businesses in Downtown Cleveland. Leberta was a woman of strong faith, dedicated to her prayers. Both religious and educational values held a central place in Mrs. Pleasant's life. She chose to enroll her boys in private Catholic schools—St. Aloysius and Benedictine High School—instilling in her children the values passed down from her own parents. Dedicated and devoted to her family, she elected to never remarry. She was committed to being a provider and preparing her children to be strong and independent. In retirement, Leberta enjoyed traveling, spending time with family in Cleveland, Dayton, Chicago and Alabama and her friends. Dementia and early stages of Alzheimer's led to Mrs. Pleasant transitioning to Jennings Center for Older Adults where her life was tranquil and peaceful in every way. She lived in the comforts of Jennings care for over 14 years, blessed with no major illnesses, diseases, or cancer - facing only the challenges presented by Alzheimer's. Mrs. Pleasant passed away peacefully on November 17, 2023. She would have been 94 on December 20th this year. Mrs. Pleasant was preceded in death by her parents, Mary J. (Walker) and Arthur L. Mahone, husband, James “Jim” Pleasant, daughter, Linda Mahone, brother-in-law, Alfred Scott, sister-in-laws, Leona Mahone and Anna Mahone. She leaves to cherish her memory her devoted sons, Clifford “Cliff” Sr. (Jeanine) Pleasant of Streetsboro, Ohio, Herbert “Herb” (Kimberly) Pleasant of Solon, Ohio, and John Pleasant of Bedford, Ohio; loving sister, Barbara Jean (Mahone) Scott of Dayton, Ohio and brothers, James “Jim” A. Mahone, Sr. of Dayton, Ohio and Joseph “Joe” L. Mahone, Sr. of Chicago, Illinois; nine grandchildren, Andrea and Adrienne Mahone Rowell, Tiffany and Clifford “CJ” Jr. Pleasant, Kendall, James, and Johnathan Pleasant, Courtney and Jayla Pleasant; three great grandchildren, Daron McBryde, Jr, Jaden Mahone and Onyx Sanford; and a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in honor of Mrs. Pleasant to Jennings Center for Older Adults jenningsohio.org/donate | 10204 Granger Road | Garfield Heights, Ohio 44125 216.581.2900 Ms. Jean Turcu. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Leberta (Mahone) Pleasant, please visit our floral store. Read More

Leberta (Mahone) Pleasant

December 20, 1929 - November 17, 2023