Leslie Regina Barron (nee Black) was born January 15, 1935 at St. Luke's Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. Her Mother moved her to St. Louis, Missouri and then to Omaha, Nebraska where she studied hard and she graduated from Central High School at the tender age of 16. While living in Omaha, Leslie developed a life-long love for classical music and opera. The music teacher gave her tickets to her first opera and she studied violin from the concert master of the Omaha symphony. After finally settling in Chicago, Leslie married James Barron and gave birth to three children, Mark James, Lynn Marie, and Craig Talbert.

She was not satisfied being just a housewife, Leslie enrolled in the Chicago Teachers College and graduated in 1959. After earning her certification, she started working at Andrew Carnegie Elementary School. She worked there 50 years until her retirement.Throughout her long tenure, Leslie was always taking classes to keep abreast with new techniques. Her classes were at The University of Chicago and Northeastern University until she decided to get her Masters of Education degree at Cambridge College in 1993. While in college, Leslie joined the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority in 1956 and she  was in  the  Theta  Omega  Chapter. She stayed  active and was acknowledged as a pearl member.

Leslie was a proud member of the Chicago Teachers Union and participated to make things better for her fellow teachers. She attended many teacher's conventions around the country. She joined the union in the beginning and she worked hard to strengthen it. She also served as the union representative at her school to ease the interaction between the teachers and the administration. She dedicated her career to her fellow teachers and the students for educational excellence.

She is proceeded in death by her husband, Eldridge Donato, her brother David Blackwell and her son Mark James Barron. She is survived by her siblings Michael D. Blackwell and Byron B. Brown; children Lynn M. Barron and Craig T. Barron. She has many grandchildren, including Andrew Sean Barron, Carlos James Barron-Perez, Diana Marie Barron, and Charita Barron Hawkins. Her great grandchildren are Johnny Cloyd, Lawrence Terrell 111, and Lauren Sandra Marie Terrell.

Visitation Friday 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Saturday 11:00 a.m. until time of service 12 Noon at Hursen Funeral Home & Crematory, SW corner of Roosevelt & Mannheim roads, Hillside/Westchester. Interment Oakridge Cemetery, Hillside, Illinois. Info 800-562-0082