Leonard Grady Nelms passed away peacefully in his home in Bedford, Virginia on June 9, 2022 surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Macon, Georgia on December 11, 1935 to the late Sallie Osborne Nelms and Claude Lee Nelms. He was a 1954 graduate of Lanier High School, attended Mercer University and was a graduate of Georgia State College (now Georgia State University) where he was a member of Delta Sigma Pi professional fraternity and was vice-president of his junior class. He worked in the corporate world for many years, and upon his retirement in 1993, he established his own CPA firm, Leonard G. Nelms & Associates in Marietta, Georgia. He was a member of the Georgia Society of CPA’s. He was a devout Christian, a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, and was affectionately known to his family as “Grady the Great” and “Loveable Leonard.” He served in roles of leadership in several different churches over the years and was an ordained elder in The Presbyterian church. He was most recently a member of Bedford Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Ralph Nelms, Wallace Nelms, Raymond Nelms and Herbert Nelms; and two sisters, Eula Nelms Peavy and Doris Nelms Langley. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Joan Weaks Nelms; two sons, Len Nelms (Tammi) of Canton, Georgia, David Nelms (Claire) of Bethlehem, Georgia; and one daughter, Leigh Nelms Habecker (Nathan) of Lynchburg, Virginia; as well as nine grandchildren, Christian Nelms, Chloe Nelms, Avery Nelms, Luke Nelms, Harrison Nelms, Camille Nelms, Kelly Habecker, Andrew Habecker (Ashley) and Samuel Habecker, and one great-granddaugher, Collins Habecker. He is also survived by his sister, Christine Nelms Hartley of Macon; and numerous nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Friday, July 22, 2022 at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, 955 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta, Georgia. In lieu of flowers, the family suggest donations to Gideon International, P.O. Box 1394, Woodstock, Georgia 30188 or Bedford Baptist Church, 1516 Oakwood Street, Bedford, Virginia 24523 in his memory. Arrangements by Burch-Messier Funeral Home, Bedford, 540-586-7360