Mrs. Naomi Lennis Huckeba Hankey, 99, daughter of Pendleton Harper Huckeba and Nancy Octavia Decker Huckeba, peacefully died Sept. 9 in Clinton, Tenn., while surrounded by family and loved ones. A wife, mother and friend, she was born in 1913 in Atlanta. She was preceded in death by her husband Paul Ehrhardt Hankey; sisters Ora Pauline Huckeba Armstrong, Floy Talitha Huckeba Blake, Ruth Lee Huckeba Norton, Claudia Mildred Huckeba Thorington and Ione Marie Huckeba Edmunds; and daughters Nancy Margretta Hankey and Mary Lennis Hankey Carter. Mrs. Hankey began her work career in Atlanta with Southern Bell as a long-distance switchboard operator. At this time, she met her husband, a life-long employee of Southern Bell and they married in 1935. She worked with life-long friend Dorothy Bearse in founding the Oak Hill Kindergarten, which was in operation for 10-years in Atlanta. Lennis and her husband raised their children in Oakhurst Presbyterian Church in Decatur. They relocated to Bradenton, Fla., Covington and finally Oak Ridge and Clinton, Tenn., where she was a member of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Oak Ridge. Mrs. Hankey was an extraordinary worker. Her talents included sewing, home decorating, remodeling and gardening. She enjoyed reading about a broad variety of topics. She was a life-long learner. Mrs. Hankey was devoted to her family and was an important mentor and wise sage to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She and her special friend and companion Pam Mullins spent many hours traveling, visiting and having fun almost every day to the last. Her friend Wilma Brantley was especially attentive.
Surviving are her children Paul Ehrhardt Hankey Jr. (Janice Marie Davis Hankey), Frances Marie Hankey Hopper (Calvin Mitchell Hopper), Dorothy Ann Hankey McAffee (Nolen J. McAffee); grandchildren Marion Jackson Carter Jr., Marian Lennis Carter, Martin Scott Carter (Linda Grace Allegro-Carter), Christopher Paul Hankey (Stephanie Ann Davis Hankey), Cara Ann Hankey Grimes (Shawn Phillip Grimes), Adrianne Leigh Hopper Prentiss (Norman Dean Prentiss), Alexis Rhea Hopper, Brent Michael Couey (Khamla Sensouvanh Couey), Matthew Coulter McAffee (Linda McCulloch), Ryan Nolan McAffee (Jamie Freitas McAffee), Alec Pressley McAffee; great-grandchildren Trenton Lee Brabant, Eli James Hankey, Rachel Joy Hankey, Olivia Marie Lorraine Grimes, Anastasi Elizabeth Bradice-Carter, Cyrus Jackson Carter, Roma Belle Carter, William Manuel Alexander Parada Salvador Prentiss, Tyler Benjamin McAffee, Caitlin Elizabeth McAffee, Malachi Brent Couey, Mika Fah Couey.
In keeping with Mrs. Hankey's wishes, her ashes will be interred Friday, Nov. 23, beside her husband and daughter Nancy Margretta, at the Atlanta Westview Cemetery following a memorial service in the cemetery chapel at 1 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to a charity or hospice of choice. The family offers thanks to the Covenant Home Health Hospice.
