May Martin (Leffler) Warren

Asheville - May Leffler Warren , 88, went peacefully home to be with her Lord on January 19,

2019, having been surrounded by her loving family. She had been a resident at Deerfield

Retirement Community.

Born on October 20, 1930 in New York City, NY, “Mimi” was the daughter of the late RADM

Charles Doyle and Bernice Thompson Leffler of Miami, Florida. Having been raised in a United

States Navy family, Mimi lived in Honolulu, British Hong Kong, and Shanghai, China during the

pre-WWII Japanese occupation.  She spent her middle school years in Alexandria, VA before

moving to Miami, Fl. Mimi finished high school in 1948 at Miss Harris’s School in Coconut

Grove, FL. She studied English Literature at Duke University and served as President of Pi Beta

Phi sorority.

Mimi married Stewart Downing Allen of Miami Beach, FL in 1953 and together they raised their

three children in Coral Gables, FL. She was known for her service to the community including

the Miami Historical Association, Coral Gables Garden Club, Riviera Country Club, Biscayne

Bay Yacht Club, and the Junior League of Miami, for which she served as President. Mimi

worked for Southeast Bank in South Miami. She was remarried in 1978 to Lewis Gibbons

Warren. Mimi and “Gib” spent their summers in Asheville, NC before she moved permanently to

Biltmore Forest in 1999, being near her daughter, Marilyn and her family.

Mimi was a gracious and poised lady, who will be remembered fondly by sweet, thoughtful, and

gentle kindness with everyone she knew and loved. She enjoyed her years in Asheville as a

member of the Junior League, Town and Country Garden Club, Stockettes, Biltmore Forest

Country Club, Smith McDowell House, and Arden Presbyterian Church.

Mimi is survived by her three children: Laurel B. Allen of West Palm Beach, Charles L. (June)

Allen of Gainesville, FL, and Marilyn A. (William) Brown of Asheville, NC; and five

grandchildren: William J. Brown Jr., Caroline Leffler Brown, Gordon S. Brown, Gentry May

Allen, and Brooke A. Allen.

A memorial service will be held in Mimi’s honor at 11am, Saturday, January 26, 2019 at Arden

Presbyterian Church, with a reception afterward in the fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers, the

family requests memorial contributions can be made to Bible Study Fellowship at  bsfinternational.org. Condolences may be left at www.ashevillemortuaryservices.com. 

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