Leoma Hull

With deepest sympathy as we remember Leoma... Leoma Deberry Hull was born January 2, 1930 in Leflore County, Mississippi, the only child of Charlie Deberry and Elilian Foster Deberry. She passed from earth to glory on May 4, 2018.From a very early age, she was a precocious and inquisitive child with a strong independent streak. According to her mother, Elilian's, recollection, Leoma, began driving at the age of nine. For the rest of her life, driving would be one of Leoma's signatures. Her other signature would be reaching out a hand of help and aid to any and all who needed it.Although she never completed high school, Leoma gained the admiration and respect of those in every station of life. She never carried herself higher than those less fortunate, and she was never intimidated by those of a higher status. She epitomized the virtue of being able to "walk with kings, yet keep the common touch."In the late 1940's Leoma left Mississippi and moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where she attended and graduated from nursing school, then met and married Army Sgt. Robert Earl Hull. From that union was born her only child, James Lee. While still in the Army, Robert was killed shortly after returning home from the Korean Conflict.She was a strong advocate for racial justice and social change. In the late 1950's she was a founding member of the Clay County Negro Improvement Association, an extension of the Universal Negro Improvement Association, founded by Marcus Garvey. She was also a member of the Clay County Chapter of the NAACP and, by her example and mentoring, encouraged her son, James Lee, to get involved in the Civil Rights Movement when he was in the 6th grade.When she saw that a Boy Scout troop was being formed for older boys in West Point, Leoma formed a Cub Scout pack for grade school boys, becoming their first Den Mother and serving in that role for more than 5 years.Although she stood only 5'2", and never weighed more than 120 pounds, Leoma is known in West Point as being the first known female 18-wheeler trucker in the area, as well as West Point's first female ambulance driver, carrying both the sick and deceased to various parts of the state and country.Leoma was greatly recognized and appreciated for using her passion and driving skills for much higher purposes. Dozens of families benefited from her transporting their children to Jackson, Memphis, Birmingham and Houston, Texas for special medical treatments and hospital stays, always using a pillow to sit on in order to see over the dashboard.She would drive families to funerals in other states, just for the cost of gas. And, as far as anyone knows, she was West Point's first female ambulance driver, carrying both the sick and deceased to various parts of the state and country. By rough calculation, she drove more than 2 million miles. Unbelievably, she never had an accident.A trained LPN, Leoma was forced to work as a nurse's aide at Ivy Memorial Hospital in the 1950's and 60's, because the hospital administration would not accept her credentials earned in St. Louis. In the 1970's, when she moved to Jackson and was employed at The University of Mississippi Medical Center, her lack of continuing education and advanced training prevented her from working there as an LPN.She was preceded in death by her father, mother and stepfather, Tommie Davis; as well as five special sisters. She leaves saddened by her passing heron, James Lee; seven children, eleven grandchildren, three special sisters and two brothers.Services will be held Tuesday, May 15, at 11:00 a.m. at Pilgrim Grove M.B. Church, 1453 West Churchill Rd, in West Point. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Expressions of sympathy may be left on Facebook at N. L. Jones Funeral Directors. ~A Pillar of Strength in Time of Need~

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Leoma Hull

January 2, 1930 - May 4, 2018