The Life and Legacy of Evangelist Dr. Leanna R. Perry
October 26, 1948 – March 25, 2026
The Foundation Evangelist Dr. Leanna R. Perry, a trailblazing vessel of honor and a dedicated servant of God, She entered her eternal rest on March 25, 2026. Born in Pittsburgh, PA, on October 26, 1948, to the late Pastor Robert T. Jones and Erma Mae Jones, Leanna was raised in the vibrant spirit of Detroit, Michigan. She graduated from Northwestern High School in 1966. She was a woman of intellect, wisdom and class. She saw the beauty in everything, a trait she inherited from her mother, whom she admired for her strength and vision.
The Call of the Prophetess Leanna’s spiritual journey was marked by divine acceleration. At age 12, she accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior and began her spiritual walk. By age 16, she launched her ministry by conducting her very first revival, signaling the start of a 60-year ministerial earthquake and a powerhouse. Dr. Perry and her husband started ministries in Detroit, Michigan and Monroe, Michigan called Evangelistic Temple. They just didn't preach the Word of God but lived it. She was the uncompromising oracles of God. Her go-to weapon in spiritual warfare was 2 Corinthians 10:4, and her legendary sermons such as "Bullfrogs and Butterflies" or “Don't be a good for nothing” and "The 3 Little Pigs" remains etched in the hearts of thousands.
The Heart of the Matriarch started in September 1971 while conducting a revival in Pittsburgh, a young man named William F. Perry, Sr. came to the altar for prayer. After a first date at a Chinese restaurant where they realized their souls were aligned, William proposed on Mt. Washington just two weeks later. They became one on December 18,1971. To this union 6 children were born. They began a 50-year "Tag Team" ministry that gave the devil a "double beat down" across Michigan and North Carolina.
A Global Mandate Dr L. R. Perry was a faithful member of Paradise C.O.G.I.C where she served as a missionary, on the mother's board and was an altar worker. Under the leadership of her pastor Bishop Paul Fortson Sr. Her ministry knew no borders. Dr. Perry was an international force, crossing the Atlantic to England 14 times, where she famously adopted the culture, teaching her family the art of "pinkies up" tea. Her travels took her to the streets of Paris, France; Mexico; and the islands of Jamaica, Barbados, and Haiti. Whether in the Indian reservations of Ontario, Canada, or throughout the United States, she moved under the power and anointing of the Holy Ghost.
The Entrepreneurial Visionary Beyond the pulpit, Dr. Perry was a woman of immense creativity. In Detroit, she founded Pretty Things by Leanna, hand-crafting signature hats, intricate hat pins, and custom accessories that defined her iconic style. Her entrepreneurial spirit continued with Tiptoe Shoes and the Rockingham Cafe, which she took over and operated with a heart for fellowship. Her service was practical and profound; Her and her husband Pastor W.F. Perry founded Maranatha COGIC where they taught and preached the word of God. Dr. L.R.P started the Maranatha Crisis Center to clothe and feed the needy. They were always busy helping others, like taking a family of 6 from the Hurricane Katrina flood. She served as a Correctional Officer in the North Carolina prison system. Even ministering to those often forgotten.
