John Leslie Young

Funeral services celebrating the life of Reverend John Leslie Young (aka Jake), 86, of Davenport, Iowa, will be held at 11 am on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at Progressive Baptist Church, Davenport. Visitation begins at 11 am; Service at noon. Immediately following the service, he will be laid to rest at Davenport Memorial Park, Davenport. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family.

Reverend John Leslie Young passed on May 31, 2025 at his home in Davenport, surrounded by family. Arrangements have been entrusted to Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport.

Reverend Young was united in marriage to Carrie M. Young in 1958.

On July 4, 1996, in Davenport, IA, Reverend Young was united in marriage to Alice Faye (Taylor) Young.

Those left to honor his memory include his wife, Alice Faye Young; sister Carolyn D. Young, daughters, Janice Young McCann, Jasmin Young; sons, John A. Young, Jason Young, Jake (Anitra) Young, Julian (Chontea) Young, Antonio Singleton, Dominique Singleton, Cameron Singleton, Charles Singleton and a host of loving grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and God-daughter Nicole Easley.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Roberta (McCoy) Young and William Young Sr.; sister Lettie M. (Young) Johnson, brothers William Young Jr., Timothy L. Jackson, Donald Young, and former wife Carrie M. Young.

Reverend Young was born on May 31, 1939, in Meridian, MS., to Roberta (McCoy) Young and William Young Sr. He attended Harris High, Meridian, MS., and worked at Superior Furniture Company delivering furniture in Meridian. He relocated to Davenport in the late sixties for a better life for his family and was hired at Red Jacket/Marley Pump, Davenport, where he spent 35 years building pumps. Soon after he retired from Red Jacket/Marley Pump, he was hired onto Quad Cities Safety, Davenport, delivering supplies to various companies throughout the area for 17 years.

Reverend Young was baptized at Saint John Baptist Church in Meridian, MS. After moving to Davenport, IA, he became a member of Progressive Baptist. During his time at Progressive, he served as an Usher, drove the church bus, and was Superintendent of Sunday School. He was appointed to the Deacon Board and ordained as a minister under the leadership of Pastor Emmett Wiseman.

In 1987, Reverend Young interned as Pastor of Rock of Ages Baptist Church, Dubuque, IA., installed as Pastor on August 29, 1988. After his retirement from Rock of Ages Baptist Church, he returned to Progressive Baptist under the leadership of Pastor Stanley Moore, where he served in various callings.

Reverend Young hosted the Pastors’ singing programs where he led the program with his favorite Christian song “If Ain’t One Thing It's Another”

Reverend Young, honey, brother, dad, granddad, uncle, in-law, friend, colleague, most importantly, was a man of God with a heart of GOLD. No one was a stranger. He was available for any situation. He listened, counseled, and gave a few dollars to anyone who was in need. We will truly miss him.

We will miss his kind, honest heart, his gentle smile, his waves, his hellos, his great sense of humor, his great listening skills, his praises, his singing, his great leadership skills, and most importantly, his messages from God.

“TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL THINE HEART; AND LEAN NOT UNTO THINE OWN 

UNDERSTANDING. IN ALL THY WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, AND HE SHALL DIRECT THY PATHS.”

KJV Proverbs 3:5-6