Leonard Mcfarland Porterfield

On June 20, 2023, Mr. Leonard McFarland Porterfield was elevated to the position of Heavenly Angel. Prior to his transition into Heaven, he had faithfully and diligently served our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as an Earth Angel for 91 years and nearly 9 months. When he made his transition into Heaven his loving and devoted wife, Georgia D. Manzie-Porterfield was at his side.

On September 23, 1931, Leonard was born at the family home, to the adoration of his parents, Harry W. and Viola McFarland Porterfield, and to the delight of his only sibling, Harry Jr. Their home was right next door to his paternal grandparents. The Porterfield grandparents lived next door to the family business, Porterfield Auto Service Station. Also on that block were a host of uncles, aunts, and cousins to welcome him. Leonard was a lifelong resident of Saginaw, where he grew up on Saginaw’s northwest side. The Porterfield household instilled strong work ethics and Christian values. Leonard had been a member of Zion Missionary Baptist Church since he was a teenager, and later served as a Trustee for over 20 years under the leadership of the late Pastor Emeritus Reverend Dr. Roosevelt Austin, Sr., and Pastor Rodrick A. Smith.

Leonard and his brother, Harry, received formal music lessons which included violin. In addition, the family was exposed to the top-notch entertainment provided by Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, and Dinah Washington, who often came to relax and/or to entertain in the then world-renowned Idlewild, Michigan. Several Porterfields owned vacation homes in the resort town. Leonard often stated that it was the entertainment atmosphere at Idlewild that he later mimicked to produce The Big Show (talent shows) wherever he taught school. Leonard attended Fuerbringer Elementary School, North Intermediate School, and Arthur Hill High School. While at Fuerbringer, he astonished staff and students by constructing a working violin from cardboard and cords alone. At the request of his Principal, Leonard was sent to various classrooms to play a musical selection on his cardboard violin. While at North, he sang with the boys’ choir and was given some solo parts. As a “Lumberjack” at Arthur Hill, he was on the basketball team and was also a disciplined and determined track star who brought home the 1949 Michigan High School Athletic Association’s (MHSAA) Class A Boys Championship title for high hurdles. That feat won him a scholarship to what is now Eastern Michigan University. While a college student, Leonard found the time to organize students to go from building-to-building singing Christmas Carols. Leonard also successfully solicited donations to fund free sandwiches, soft drinks, and music for the residence hall of his dorm.

Months after earning his Bachelor of Science degree, Leonard returned to Saginaw and was drafted into the U.S. Army on August 24, 1953. He served during the Korean Conflict/War and was honorably discharged June 9, 1955. Upon his return to Saginaw, Leonard sought employment with the Saginaw Public School District (SPSD). During August 1956, Leonard was offered a faculty position in the Science Department at the newly constructed Arthur Eddy Junior High School to teach students primarily from Saginaw’s First Ward. Leonard enthusiastically accepted the position, thus becoming the first African American hired to teach at a secondary (junior high or high school) level in the District. Leonard taught at his beloved Arthur Eddy Junior High, from the date the school opened in September 1956 until the day the school was closed. Leonard was also a gospel music host for over 30 years with WKNX Radio, and he also was a very proud member of the Saginaw Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated. His legacy of service spanned 50+ years.

Leonard served on the Michigan Education Tenure Commission for over forty years. He was initially appointed by Governor George Romney in 1967, and subsequently appointed multiple times by Governors William Milliken and James Blanchard. After his service with the Commission, the Michigan Department of Education issued a resolution which states in part: “That Leonard served on the Commission so long that the collective memory of staff provides no image of a Porterfield-less Commission.”

Decades after the closure of the former Arthur Eddy Jr. High, the SPSD renovated and reopened the school as a K-8 during September 2002. Shortly after learning of the reopening, the former students organized and established an Arthur Eddy Alumni Association, and they immediately petitioned the Saginaw Board of Education requesting that the Gymnasium/Auditorium at the renovated school be named in honor of Leonard M. Porterfield. The Board approved the request and the students gleefully raised money to pay for a plaque to be affixed to the walls. Excerpts from the plaque read “To an Educator of Excellence…Thank you for: The A.E. School Song, Extraordinary Science Classes, the A.E. Radio Repair Club, “The Big Show,” Coaching the Basketball Team and the Cheerleading Squad, Friday Noon Hour Dances, Wednesday Play Nights, and Especially for: the love, patience and individual attention you gave to each of your 7,000 plus former students.”

Leonard taught 44 years (without ever taking a single sick day). In addition to his innovative science classes, he produced and directed some thirty “Big Shows” at Arthur Eddy and approximately ten “Big Shows” at North, all of which showcased the students’ talents in singing, dancing, comedy, gymnastics/tumbling, etc. The Big Show opened and closed with a high-stepping chorus line singing the theme song which he composed. The show always had a Master or Mistress of Ceremonies to introduce each act and to help control any potential audience disruptions.

Funds generated by ticket sales from The Big Show were used to pay for field trips for the student body, purchase uniforms, and to pay for banquets at the school. During the 1960’s, 70’s, and 80’s, Arthur Eddy often had $10,000 plus dollars in its coffers to help fund extracurricular activities compliments of The Big Show.

Leonard is survived by his wife, Georgia D. Manzie-Porterfield; brother, Harry (Marianita) Porterfield, Jr.; stepdaughter, Nikki-Colette Manzie; nieces, Gina Shropshire, Allison Porterfield-Woods (Robert), Dawn Ann Hughey, Luanda T. Manzie-Rieffer (Simon); nephews, Eric Shropshire (Tina DeJarld), Harry W. Porterfield, III (Angela Way), LaVann Hughey, James Hughey, Alvino Z. (Jawana) Dickson, Jr., and Kevin Peoples; godson, Mark (Betrice) Christmas; brothers-in-law, Otter L. (Lovie) Manzie, and A.C. Manzie; his Pastor, Rodrick A. (Irma)Smith and the Zion Missionary Baptist Church Family, brothers of Saginaw Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated; close friends and former co-workers, Ostrander (Mary) Lane, Larry Manzie (Tina Houze), and thousands of former students.

He was predeceased by his former wife, Jacqueline M. Porterfield; his parents, Harry W. (Viola McFarland) Porterfield; his grandparents; a host of uncles, aunts, and cousins, Fred and Richard Porterfield; sister-in-law, Helen Aurscant Hughey; niece, Dawnae Hughey; nephew, Aurscant “Chico” Hughey-Bey; two very dear friends, Harold Tivis, and Danny Dottery.