Leah Joy Sparks

On August 31, 2011 Leah Joy Sparks died peacefully at her parent?s home in Severn after a long battle against soft tissue sarcoma. Leah endured fifteen months of chemotherapy with seven different drugs and also radiation until she exhausted all of her options. To quote her oncologist, "You fought the fight and finished the race." Leah was born August 30, 1972, in Delaware, Ohio. In 1986 she lost her left leg to osteosarcoma during her first bout with cancer. She graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University in 1995 and held a Master?s in Library Science from the University of Maryland and a Master?s in Publishing from Oxford-Brookes University in Oxford, England. Leah was employed as an intelligence analyst for the FBI in Baltimore. She was extremely dedicated to her job and it brought her great joy to work for the Bureau. She was given the Leadership Award by her FBI colleagues at Quantico, Virginia and was the student speaker at her graduation from the FBI Academy. Leah wanted to be remembered for her integrity, her loyalty, and her love for her family and country. She was a voracious reader and enjoyed playing the Scottish fiddle and cycling; she once road 54 miles using her biking prosthesis. She was a member of Severn United Methodist Church where she wrote the bi-monthly newsletter and prepared the weekly bulletins. She insisted on finishing the bulletin after being admitted to hospice eight days before her death. Leah will be forever held in the hearts of her grateful parents, Rev. Dr. Kelly and Myra Sparks, her sister, Erin Sparks Talbot and her husband, Mark Talbot, of Moorestown, New Jersey. "Auntie Leah" will never be forgotten by Ethan and Spencer Talbot, Leah?s 7 year old twin nephews. Other survivors include Leah?s maternal grandmother, Mrs. Lorene Holtsclaw of Charleston, West Virginia and paternal grandmother, Mrs. Dorothy Sparks of Hurricane, West Virginia. Leah was loved and respected by her many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. She is preceeded in death by her grandfathers Rev. James Holtsclaw and Mr. James Sparks. Leah wanted everyone to remember her as she was before her illness. At her request, a private viewing for family only will be followed by a celebration of her life on Saturday, September 3rd, 2011 at Severna Park United Methodist Church in Severna Park, Maryland at 3:00 p.m. A private burial will follow. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Leah?s favorite charity, the Ronald McDonald House,635 W. Lexington St., Baltimore, MD 21201.