Gail Perkins McLeod

Gail Perkins McLeod, age 87, of Asheville, NC, passed away peacefully at her residence on Monday, May 18, 2026.

Gail was born in Lexington, NC, on August 20, 1938, to the late Marvin Elmore Perkins and Henrietta Wilson Perkins. After graduating from UNC–Greensboro, she went on to a fulfilling career, serving as the director of a business college and later as an executive assistant to a corporate Vice President of Operations.

A woman of deep faith and tireless service, Gail dedicated much of her time to her church community. Gail was a cherished member of First Presbyterian Church in Asheville for the last eleven years, after she moved here from Newport News, Virginia, with her husband, John, in 2014. In Newport News, at Denbigh Presbyterian, she was active as a Deacon, Treasurer, sang in the choir, and worked with children in a variety of capacities.

Gail’s passion for helping others extended well into her community; she spent 24 years as a volunteer tax preparer for AARP and regularly volunteered her time at a women’s shelter. In her leisure time, Gail found joy in cooking, playing bridge and games with friends, reading, and traveling the world with her husband and close friends. She cherished singing in choirs, playing handbells, and visiting her beloved grandchildren and great-grandson.

Gail is survived by her daughter, Lissa Anne McLeod (Jake Weinstein) of Knoxville, TN; her son, Stephen Edgar McLeod (Lisa) of Encinitas, CA; and her brother, Jerry Perkins (Rebecca) of Lampasas, TX. She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren, Sarah Margaret Hutchison (Theo Kyriakopoulos), Willow McLeod (Ev Poellinger), Allik Weinstein-McLeod, Melissa Weinstein-McLeod, Kierra Weinstein-McLeod, and Grace Weinstein-McLeod, all of Knoxville, TN, and Matthew McLeod and Taylor McLeod, both of Encinitas, CA; as well as her great-grandchild, Jasper Hutchison-Kyriakopoulous of Knoxville, TN.

A memorial service will be held on June 16 at 2 pm at the First Presbyterian Church of Asheville, with Shannon Jordan and Patrick Johnson officiating. A reception will follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to:

Beloved Asheville: P.O. Box 6386, Asheville, NC 28816

Pisgah Legal Services: P.O. Box 2276, Asheville, NC 28802

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Gail Perkins McLeod, please visit our floral store.