Leigh was born and raised in Virginia Beach, graduating from Kellam High School. She was taught early the meaning of public service by her father who spent 27 years as a Virginia Beach firefighter, her mother who is a retired social worker, and her grandmother who was employed by the City of Virginia Beach for over 50 years. Leigh serves on the Board of Trustees for the VACo/VML Virginia Investment Pool (VIP) and is a member of the Treasurer’s Association of Virginia.