Leslie Anne Burkitt, age 42, was born in Louisville, KY on June 25, 1981 and passed away on Saturday, August 26, 2023.
She graduated with honors from John Overton High School in Nashville, TN. Her Kentucky family had high hopes she would choose the University of Kentucky for college, but she informed them that she was University of Tennessee Knoxville-bound. They proudly celebrated her graduation from UTK with a BA degree in advertising.
Leslie completed an internship for creative and ad sales for The Daily Beacon newspaper while in college. Her professional career in advertising led her to Atlanta, GA where she worked for the Creative Loafing newspaper. She landed her dream job in national advertising for Discovery Communications and worked with the Animal Planet, Discovery Channel, and TLC networks. She returned to Nashville to be near family in recent years.
Leslie had many interests and a quick wit. She had a passion for pets and a special fondness for her companion animals, Parker, her Yorkie sidekick and best travel buddy. Also, her two amazing rescue dogs, Mazzy and little Oliver who’ve provided the best version of puppy love. She had a strong sense of justice and constantly spoke out on behalf of those less fortunate.
She loved her family and their gatherings, music, comedy, storm chasing, theatre, and film. She was an avid fan of the NFL and a season champ of her Fantasy Football League. She attended football games and cheered loudly for her Tennessee Titans and later her “Dirty Bird” Atlanta Falcons. Leslie was a part of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation community. She participated in the Team Challenge Rock ‘n Roll Half Marathon in Las Vegas, NV and the Take Steps Walks in Atlanta, GA.
Leslie was preceded in death by her grandparents, Anna “Opal” and Harold Payne and Ellen and Robert Burkitt; her aunt, Linda Burkitt Owens.
Leslie is survived by her parents, Russell Burkitt, Vicki and Bud Judkins; her brothers, Nathan Burkitt (Sage), and Christopher Judkins; grandmother, Joanne Payne; uncles, Steve Payne (Susan) and Tim Payne (Monica); aunts, Kathy Withers, Beth Boldin, and Kristi Walters (Bill); loving cousins, Brandon, Kevin, Taylor, and Jarrett Payne, and extended family.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Crievewood Baptist Church, 480 Hogan Road, Nashville, TN on Saturday, September 16, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. followed by a visitation hour with the family. https://www.woodbinefuneralhome.com
Her family requests, in lieu of flowers, for donations to be made to: Tennessee Chapter of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation or Nashville Humane Association.
For more obituaries visit https://davidsoncountysource.com/obituaries/
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