Leon was born on May 1, 1956, in Tampa, Florida, to Harold and Joyce Henderson. He grew up in Tampa alongside his siblings: Willie Joyce, Paul, Michael, Sharon, Jeffrey, and Anthony. Leon attended Hillsborough High School and after graduating, began working for Bill Shields Roofing Company, where he was a loyal employee for over eighteen years. Due to health reasons, he left Bill Shields and continued his career at the University of South Florida in the maintenance department. Leon dedicated twenty-five years to USF before briefly working at Habana Health and later at Tampa Housing Authority, where he retired in 2019. Leon had a lifelong passion for working on cars. He loved reading and collecting comic books, automotive books, and model cars, as well as sketching and drawing. He also contributed his time and talents to Pathfinders alongside his then-wife, Verna.

Leon was preceded in death by his grandmother, Johnnie Mae Berryhill; parents, Harold and Joyce Henderson; brother, Christopher Henderson; uncles, Willie Frank and Eddie Berryhill; and nieces, Kimberly Rose and Sydney Henderson.

Leon is survived by his children: Monica Henderson (Isaiah), Kemuel L. Henderson (Sommer), Len Williams, and Willie Williams, Jr.; bonus daughter, Mercedes Jones; and grandchildren: Jakimmie Barksdale, Deon Barksdale, Jr., Keyarra Henderson, Keyilah Henderson, Keyuloni Henderson, and Kemuel Henderson, Jr. He also leaves behind great-grandchildren, Mia Sherman and Angel Jones; siblings: Willie Joyce James, Paul James (Jane), Michael Henderson, Sharon Henderson McNab (Daniel), Jeffrey Henderson, and Anthony Henderson (Desiree); aunts, Edna Berryhill, Nelle Berryhill, Rosalyn Gadsen (Floyd); great-uncle, Marcellus Henry (Dora); cousins, Mary Sims (Vernon) and Linda Everett; nieces, Hannah Henderson, Sophia Henderson, and Kendall Henderson; nephew, Kaden Henderson; as well as a host of relatives from Tampa, FL (Berryhills, Johnsons, Lowes, McBrides, Mitchells, and Walkers), Havana, FL (McBrides, Spencers, Walkers), and Leslie, GA (Lassiters and Walkers). He is also remembered by special family friends, Andrea Monroe and Kaye Spain.