Lel Hamner McCullough

Lel Hamner McCullough, widow of Jimmie Bradford McCullough, Sr., passed away on January 30, 2024, in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, Lel was the youngest of five children born to Elgin Alvon Hamner, Sr. and Ada Irene Foster Hamner. She was preceded in death by her son, Jim McCullough, Jr, and her brothers and sisters, Amanda Boykin, Elgin, Jr., Frieda Palmer, and Foster. Each attended Centenary College of Louisiana, where Lel met her beloved husband of 62 years.

Surviving family members are daughter, Mary Catherine Glover and husband, Terry; grandsons, Philip T. Dale and wife, Natalie; Daniel Glover and partner, Melody Crawford; Mack P. McCullough and wife, Jennifer; granddaughters, Margaret Lel Schmitz and husband, Matthew, and Carly Elizabeth Burdock and husband, David; great-grandchildren, Marley and Madison, Justin Dale, and Cameron Dale and wife, Cassandra; Liam Young, Lydia Burdock, Hayden Burdock, Declan McCullough, and Kellen McCullough; nephews, Robert Hamner, Sr. and wife Frances, and their children, Robert Hamner, Jr. and wife Alicia, and Rhett Hamner and wife Haley, and their five-month-old son, Tommy Hamner, John Elgin Hamner, Elgin Hamner, III and wife Jennifer, and their children, Anne Hamner, Elgin Hamner, IV, Jonathan Hamner, and Mary Latham, Patrick Foster Hamner and wife Janie Simms Hamner M.D. and their children, John Patrick Hamner, David Simms Hamner and his wife Georgia Mae Hamner, and Benjamin Foster Hamner, Mark Hamner, Steve Hamner and wife Glenda, and their children, Steven Hamner, Stephanie Hamner, and Matthew Hamner; niece, Janet Hamner Pendergast and husband John, and their children Maggie and Caitlin Pendergast; along with numerous nieces and nephews.

 Lel attended public schools. She was listed in “Who’s Who Among Students in America,” graduating as “Centenary Lady.” She later chose a teaching career with a LSU master’s degree. A few years later, Lel was assigned to lead in the formation of the Caddo Parish Middle Magnet School, and to serve as its founding Principal. Achieving recognition as a National School of Excellence three years after its inception, the school was honored by President Ronald Reagan at the White House on two occasions. Upon retiring, Lel continued to serve education through P.E.O., the international philanthropic organization for young women. A later opportunity to preserve Louisiana’s original records of the Reconstruction Period enabled Lel to complete a historical novel for publication, The Shape of the Bucket.

Lel treasured her support groups: her family, Centenary friends, members of the First Baptist Church Elizabeth Class, and her P.E.O. sisters throughout her active life.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service beginning at 11:00 a.m. located at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Drive in Shreveport. Interment will be held at Centuries Memorial Park Cemetery, 8801 Mansfield Road in Shreveport. Officiating the service will be Pastor Ronney Jo Webb. Honoring Lel as pallbearers will be Philip Dale, Daniel Glover, Mack McCullough, Cameron Dale, and Justin Dale.