Obituary for Minnie Belle Lyon (Bullock)
Minnie Belle Bullock Lyon was born on February 18, 1922 to the late Hugh M and Vinie Allen Bullock as the 10th of 16 children in Granville County, NC. She peacefully transitioned to her Heavenly home at Hock Pavilion in Durham, NC on Monday, April 15, 2019.
She was educated in the Granville County School System and graduated from Creedmoor Colored School (later known as G C Hawley School). In 1943, she married the late Joseph A Lyon, Sr. To this union were born five children, Bonita, Joseph, Jr; Jacqueline Joyce (died in infancy), Sheron, and Jeffrey. After the passing of her husband, she adamantly proclaimed her love for Dennis Haysbert, also known as the Allstate Man, and declared he would be her next husband. She joined Mt. Vernon Missionary Baptist Church in Creedmoor at an early age, and later joined Pine Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Creedmoor in the late 1960’s. She was a dedicated and faithful member of Pine Grove until her health no longer allowed her to attend. She enjoyed singing alto in the Senior Choir, and facilitated the Children’s Hour for many years.
She worked at John Umstead for more than 30 years, retiring in 1984. Not one to sit still for very long, Minnie expanded her love for making all kinds of arts and crafts in her retirement, freely giving them away to everyone. Those treasured works of love now reside in many homes across the country. Retirement also allowed her the opportunity to enroll as a student at North Carolina Central University where she wrote an essay about the late Dr. Maya Angelou. Not only did she earn an A+ on that paper, she also had it autographed by Dr. Angelou, and saved it as one of her most cherished memories.
Minnie never met a stranger, her quick wit and laughter always prevailing. She had a genuine love and compassion for people, leading her to “adopt” many children as her own, inviting them into her home for her elaborate dinners or to family reunions. She was a proficient cook, always tempting taste buds with deeply satisfying soul food from her kitchen, followed by her bread pudding (that always tasted the same no matter the ingredients), sweet potato/apple turnovers, or her world famous 2 foot long/4 layer cake with pineapple on one half, coconut on the other half.
She loved her family fiercely, completely and unconditionally. There was always sure to be laughter, great memories and a special song created by Minnie when the Bullock siblings got together. Although her dementia limited some of her short-term memories, she was still considered the family historian when it came to stories about growing up on the farm in Granville County.
In addition to her parents, husband, and infant daughter she was preceded in death by sisters Elizabeth L Bullock, Ludie B. Green and Novella B. Chick; brothers Major Benjamin Bullock, Joe Bullock, Willie Bullock, Walter Bullock, Roy Bullock, Henry Bullock, Hugh Bullock, and James (Beezar) Bullock; and son-in-love James Hodges, who she loved like a son.
Minnie leaves to cherish her memory her children, Bonita L Hodges of Durham, Joseph A Lyon Jr and wife Lonnia of Creedmoor, NC, Sheron D Lyon of Butner, NC and Jeffrey H Lyon of Butner, NC; three sisters: Notre B Hunt of Oxford, NC, Bessie B Lyman of Newton Upper Falls, MA, and Joyce B Gibson-Richardson of Henderson, NC; one brother, Louis Chalmers and wife Valeria of Durham, NC; one sister-in-law, Norma Bullock of Forestville, MD; four grandchildren, Tammy D. Fowler of Raleigh, NC, Gwynette H. Pierce and husband Wayne of Durham, NC, Fredrick A. Lyon and wife Cassandra of Durham, NC, and Christina N. Hodges of Brooklyn, NY; eight great-grandchildren, five great-great grandchildren, and a countless number of nieces, nephews, cousins, adopted children, adopted grandchildren and an infinite number of church family, co-workers and friends.
A special thank you to the staff at Camelia Gardens and Hock Pavilion for the care and compassion shown to our family and loved one during her illness and transition. The special tenderness shown will provide comfort for days and years to come.
The family asks that you join them in the Fellowship Hall for the repast following the Interment at the church cemetery. Some of the desserts have been provided by granddaughter Gwynette, who has recreated some of the recipes Minnie proudly passed down to her.
She was educated in the Granville County School System and graduated from Creedmoor Colored School (later known as G C Hawley School). In 1943, she married the late Joseph A Lyon, Sr. To this union were born five children, Bonita, Joseph, Jr; Jacqueline Joyce (died in infancy), Sheron, and Jeffrey. After the passing of her husband, she adamantly proclaimed her love for Dennis Haysbert, also known as the Allstate Man, and declared he would be her next husband. She joined Mt. Vernon Missionary Baptist Church in Creedmoor at an early age, and later joined Pine Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Creedmoor in the late 1960’s. She was a dedicated and faithful member of Pine Grove until her health no longer allowed her to attend. She enjoyed singing alto in the Senior Choir, and facilitated the Children’s Hour for many years.
She worked at John Umstead for more than 30 years, retiring in 1984. Not one to sit still for very long, Minnie expanded her love for making all kinds of arts and crafts in her retirement, freely giving them away to everyone. Those treasured works of love now reside in many homes across the country. Retirement also allowed her the opportunity to enroll as a student at North Carolina Central University where she wrote an essay about the late Dr. Maya Angelou. Not only did she earn an A+ on that paper, she also had it autographed by Dr. Angelou, and saved it as one of her most cherished memories.
Minnie never met a stranger, her quick wit and laughter always prevailing. She had a genuine love and compassion for people, leading her to “adopt” many children as her own, inviting them into her home for her elaborate dinners or to family reunions. She was a proficient cook, always tempting taste buds with deeply satisfying soul food from her kitchen, followed by her bread pudding (that always tasted the same no matter the ingredients), sweet potato/apple turnovers, or her world famous 2 foot long/4 layer cake with pineapple on one half, coconut on the other half.
She loved her family fiercely, completely and unconditionally. There was always sure to be laughter, great memories and a special song created by Minnie when the Bullock siblings got together. Although her dementia limited some of her short-term memories, she was still considered the family historian when it came to stories about growing up on the farm in Granville County.
In addition to her parents, husband, and infant daughter she was preceded in death by sisters Elizabeth L Bullock, Ludie B. Green and Novella B. Chick; brothers Major Benjamin Bullock, Joe Bullock, Willie Bullock, Walter Bullock, Roy Bullock, Henry Bullock, Hugh Bullock, and James (Beezar) Bullock; and son-in-love James Hodges, who she loved like a son.
Minnie leaves to cherish her memory her children, Bonita L Hodges of Durham, Joseph A Lyon Jr and wife Lonnia of Creedmoor, NC, Sheron D Lyon of Butner, NC and Jeffrey H Lyon of Butner, NC; three sisters: Notre B Hunt of Oxford, NC, Bessie B Lyman of Newton Upper Falls, MA, and Joyce B Gibson-Richardson of Henderson, NC; one brother, Louis Chalmers and wife Valeria of Durham, NC; one sister-in-law, Norma Bullock of Forestville, MD; four grandchildren, Tammy D. Fowler of Raleigh, NC, Gwynette H. Pierce and husband Wayne of Durham, NC, Fredrick A. Lyon and wife Cassandra of Durham, NC, and Christina N. Hodges of Brooklyn, NY; eight great-grandchildren, five great-great grandchildren, and a countless number of nieces, nephews, cousins, adopted children, adopted grandchildren and an infinite number of church family, co-workers and friends.
A special thank you to the staff at Camelia Gardens and Hock Pavilion for the care and compassion shown to our family and loved one during her illness and transition. The special tenderness shown will provide comfort for days and years to come.
The family asks that you join them in the Fellowship Hall for the repast following the Interment at the church cemetery. Some of the desserts have been provided by granddaughter Gwynette, who has recreated some of the recipes Minnie proudly passed down to her.