Hattie Lean Bledsoe

Hattie Lean Bledsoe was born March 14, 1923 in Crofton, Kentucky to the late Farris and Rosie Robinson.

Hattie was the fourth of eight children and had a very close and loving relationship with her siblings and their spouses.

Her life was filled with love. She loved God and always held Him first in her life. She was a loving and devoted wife to the late Richard Bledsoe. Their relationship serves as a model of a God-filled marriage. She showered love on her only child, Naomi Grigley, who spent her entire life reciprocating that love. She adored her granddaughters, the late Hattie Grigley and Crystal McCollum, her "grandson," Mark McCollum, her great-grandchildren, LeQuita Thomas, Quinesha Ballew, Maya McCollum, Joshua McCollum, and Ethan McCollum, and her great-great-grandaughter, Kylee Thomas. She was affectionately called "Aunt Hattie" by her nieces and nephews, whom she loved and bragged about as if they were her own children.

The love that she showed her family was also extended to her friends and her family's friends. She was like a mother to some, including Louise Patrick, Minnie Saffold, and Barbara Armstrong. Affectionately called "Grand," she was like a grandmother to many, including Nikita Garner, Doria White, Tamera Johnson, Chevonne Herrod and Michelle Bonilla.

Fond memories of Grand include the times she would press the hair of every little girl in the neighborhood in preparation of the first day of school or Easter, when she would freely gave advice about life to anyone in need, and those mornings when she would have a pot of coffee ready so that she could sit and talk with anyone who stopped by for a visit. She would play cards all night long with her husband and her brother, the late James Robinson. She had a "saying" for all of life's occasions and always knew what to say to brighten another's day. She did not shy away from confrontation and always made her opinions known.

Towards the end of this life, she was physically weak and suffered from Alzheimer's, but she continued to exhibit her feisty spirit. She survived breast cancer and several strokes and was even removed from Hospice for nearly a year because she defied negative medical assessments. On January 8, 2012, God called home to rest His sweet and loving daughter, Hattie Lean Bledsoe.

She leaves to cherish her memory: her daughter, Naomi; two brothers, Benjamin Robinson and Hubert Robinson; two sisters-in law, Virginia Robinson and Arletta Robinson; one granddaughter and grandson, Crystal and Mark; three great-granddaughters, LeQuita, Quinesha, and Maya; two great-grandsons, Joshua and Ethan; one great-great-granddaughter, Kylee; and host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and close friends.