Leila Norris Hull

Born in Jacksonville, Florida, to Leila Hatch and Hardgrove Norris, she was reared in her beloved historic St. Augustine, She was predeceased by her devoted husband of 67 years, John G. Hull, M.D., her brother, Hardgrove Norris, M.D. and her eldest granddaughter, Leila Hull Cochran.

She is survived by her three daughters and their husbands, Leila (“Lee”) and Robbie Cochran, Nancy and Jon Godshall, Julie and Gordon Johnson and one nephew, Kent Norris. She is also survived by ten wonderful grandchildren whom she loved unconditionally and who adored her abundantly in return: Norrie Cochran, Laura Cochran Savage and husband Michael; Courtenay Godshall, Josie Godshall Morgan and husband Philip, and Cary Godshall; Katherine, Elizabeth and Jennifer Coffee, Ben Coffee and fiancée, Sarah Deanehan and Reed Johnson; and three, but soon to be four, great grandchildren: Sarah, Palmer and Ryan Savage.

Mrs. Hull graduated from Ketterlinus High School and attended Florida State University. Summers spent in Hendersonville, North Carolina and ballet training in New York were highlights of her youth. But at age 16, she met the love of her life while vacationing in Maine, Four years later, they wed and, with her husband in medical school at Johns Hopkins, she volunteered in the hospital.

In 1950, as a young couple, Dr. and Mrs. Hull moved to Houston to begin his practice, which became The Medical Clinic of Houston. They were a handsome and beloved couple who valued their family above all. They gathered in the country, riding horseback, canoeing, singing and participating in impromptu family plays. Mrs. Hull made holidays special, especially Christmas, when she decorated with her collection of miniatures to the delight of all her grandchildren.

Mrs. Hull was known as the quintessential Southern lady, beautiful, charming, sincere and gracious to everyone she knew. She gave so generously of her considerable talents as President of the Episcopal Church Women of St. John the Divine, serving on the Altar and Flower Guilds , the Guild Shop and chairing the Garden Committee.

As one of the first women to do so, she served on the Board of Trustees for St. John’s School while also contributing her garden design talent and costume design for the school musicals.

Her leadership as President of The Garden Club of Houston, Vice-President of the Junior League and as the first Secretary of the Houston Ballet in its infancy, were all remarkable. In addition, she chaired both the Junior League Garden Committee and the original Junior League Well Baby Clinic at Hermann Hospital.

With her love of antiques, she trained in the first class of museum docents for Bayou Bend in its early years, and created magnificent floral arrangements for exhibits at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

She was known as a gifted flower arranger, garden designer and avid tree planter, spearheading the planting of trees from the museum district into downtown Houston.

As a delightful, accomplished, and elegant dancer, her “dance card” was always full. A tap dance could be coaxed from her even at 89. She was dearly loved and will be remembered by her family and friends of all ages who consider her “forever young”.

The family wishes to thank her devoted physicians, Dr. John Eichelberger, Dr. Arthur Springer and Dr. Carl Dahlberg for their loving care, and Darthene Jackson who was at her side for 38 years.

Friends are cordially invited to gather with the family and share remembrances of Mrs. Hull during a reception from five o’clock in the afternoon until eight o’clock in the evening on Thursday, the 2nd of August, in the Grand Foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

The memorial service is to be conducted at eleven o’clock in the morning on Friday, the 3rd of August, at the Church of St. John the Divine, 2450 River Oaks Boulevard in Houston, where the Rev. Dr. Douglas W. Richnow, Senior Associate Rector, is to officiate. Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the adjacent Sumners Hall.

In lieu of customary remembrances, contributions may be made in Mrs. Hull’s memory to The Garden Club of Houston, 4212 San Felipe, PMB 486, Houston, Tx, 77027; The Memorial Park Conservancy, P.O. Box 131024, Houston, Tx, 77219; or to Big Dog Rescue, 4443 FM 150 West, Kyle, Tx, 78640.