Leslie Kornfeld grew up in both his father's store and his synagogue and never strayed far from either place.
Mr. Kornfeld, 90, died of respiratory failure Saturday at Greenwood Leflore Hospital. He had Alzheimer's disease. Services are at 2 this afternoon at Ahavith Rayim Cemetery on Bowie Lane.
Murray Kornfeld of Greenwood remembers his father, who owned and operated Kornfeld's Department Store, as "the consummate merchant."
The family business was first a general store, and as a child, Mr. Kornfeld sold peanuts for a nickel a bag at a penny's commission. He continued to work there, as the business changed from general store to department store to men's specialty shop, even after retirement - leaving the store for the last time six months ago.
Mr. Kornfeld was also a family man.
"He was a father and an employer, you know," said his son, who runs Kornfeld's now. "He loved his family, and he loved his work, and the whole thing was he worked for his family. And he kind of instilled that in me."
There was only one thing equal to family in Mr. Kornfeld's heart, according to his son. "He loved his religion like he loved his family."
Mr. Kornfeld was a fixture at Ahavith Rayim Synagogue, the last orthodox Jewish congregation in Mississippi, where he served as president for decades. The Jewish community could always depend on him, Ilse Goldberg says.
"We need 10 men to have correct services in our synagogue, and he was always one of the first ones to be there," she said. "He was just a genuine guy. … There was always humor in whatever he said."
Mr. Kornfeld kept a skullcap and prayer book beside his bed. And even in his poor health, he never missed his daily prayers, his son said. "The man was 90 years old, and up until just about a week or so ago even with his Alzheimer's, which was getting pretty bad, he said his prayers every night before he went to bed and when he woke up in the morning."
During his lifetime, Mr. Kornfeld spent only two extended periods of time away from Greenwood. He went to the University of Alabama after graduating from Greenwood High School, where he was a member of the track and basketball teams and played saxophone in the band. There he continued to play music in the Million Dollar Band.
Later, he went to the South Pacific during World War II, serving as a tech sergeant in charge of the small arms division of his U.S. Army unit. He was inducted into the Army with Jack Ditto, his friend who worked at the Lion Oil service station across Johnson Street from Kornfeld's.
"We rode down to Camp Shelby on the same bus on May 4, 1942," Ditto recalled. "And then, we were assigned different directions. I didn't see him again until after the war.
"He was just an outstanding person."
Later, at Fort Vicks, N.J., Mr. Kornfeld met Gertrude Medoff. They were married on Aug. 28, 1943, just before he left for the war. This week would be their 60th anniversary.
After the war, Mr. Kornfeld returned to his wife and his parents, who were in poor health.
"He came home literally to take over the family business and to take care of his family," said his son.
Besides his wife and son, Mr. Kornfeld is survived also by two daughters, Susan K. Hillner of Chattanooga and Wendy K. Simmons of Collierville, Tenn.; a sister, Sadie Berg of Chicago; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Visitation is from 1 until 2 p.m. today at Wilson & Knight Funeral Home. Rabbi Joel Finkelstein will officiate at the services. Pallbearers will be Allen Nohsey Jr., Loren Simmons, Dr. William Hillner, Brent Lavers, Jason Hillner and Jon Hillner.
Memorials may be made to the Ahavith Rayim Congregation, c/o Goldberg's, 501 Howard St., Greenwood, MS.
