Naomi Nightingale Sr.

Naomi (Neomia Lee Hubbard) Nightingale, Sr. was born in Rutledge, GA on July 2, 1925 (same day as her grandmother and mother) to parents, Porter Hubbard, Sr. and Lena Maud Lee Hubbard. Her grandparents were David Lee and Cassie Lee. Naomi got the nickname "Jackie" from her granddad David Lee who said she looked like her name should be Jackie. The nickname stuck and everyone called her Jackie, even her mother. Even though Rutledge had Jim Crow racism, segregation, and discrimination, Naomi shared stories of a happy childhood in Rutledge, a small rural town in Madison County.

In her youth, she loved to dance and play basketball on Saturdays at 1:00 pm. She and her friends would go dancing in the local café at the Rutledge train station where they danced to music from the jukebox - five songs for 25 cents. She said one time she had to remind her employer that if he did not eat his lunch on time, she would miss the bus and the dance. Obviously as a young girl, she had no issue with speaking up for herself and she for sure passed that trait down to each of her children.

Naomi accepted Christ as a young child and attended Macedonia Baptist Church, in Rutledge, GA, with her family. When she did not walk the distance to Macedonia, she participated in the community Methodist church. Even in her later years, she remembered and spoke about Ms. Bessie Kate and Ms. Anna Jane, her Sunday School teachers, who taught her about Jesus Christ and proper conduct for young ladies. Naomi believed in God, studied the Bible, and never drank, smoked, or used profane language. "In the name of Jesus" was her daily affirmation to Jesus Christ.

Naomi began working as a cook and nanny for a Jewish government official, his wife, and their three children at the age of 14. His job required him to travel, and Naomi traveled with them to keep the house clean, cook, and care for the children. She spoke of living in New York and spending time with her family and friends in Harlem. She lived in Connecticut a while where she worked for Henry Hull, an actor in western movies. She later accepted a position as a nanny with a family who was relocating to Nashville, TN. On the way to Nashville, her employer who was a government official stopped at a nice restaurant. Upon scanning the party of six, the maître d's eyes lingered longer on Naomi. Noticeably uncomfortable, he sternly asked the official, "How many?" The government official answered forthrightly and authoritatively, "It's six or none!" Without incident, they were all seated. Her other employers also treated her as family. 

Naomi met and married William Earl Nightingale, Sr. in Nashville, TN but eventually moved to Santa Monica, CA in 1943 shortly after the birth of their firstborn. Naomi had a total of nine children. She had five Nightingale children: Laurence, Margie, Naomi Jr., Taylor and William Jr. (deceased) with William Earl Nightingale Sr., two Allen children: Johnny (deceased) and Sylvia with George R. Allen, and two Frazier children: Jeffrey and Antonio with Thomas Frazier. 

The family joined other family members living in Venice, CA in 1963. Naomi served as President of the PTA at Broadway Elementary school where she actively supported the Head Start program. She also worked in campaigns for democratic candidates including riding the bus to Las Vegas with the APA Sorority to do phone banking for Barack Obama, raised funds for Easter Seals and the March of Dimes campaigns, all while continuing to work, raise her children, and assist with caring for her grandchildren. She was an amazing woman, loved by so many people for her kindness, wisdom, straight talk, and commitment to her children and grandchildren, and to the Santa Monica and Venice communities. She was loyal and gracious to her friends. She taught her children work ethics, the importance of good conduct, independence, and honesty. She led by example and she believed in God. Every day she spoke the words "In the name of Jesus." It was a prayer, an affirmation of her faith, and an acknowledgment of the Holy Spirit. She never drove so she would take the bus to wherever she needed to go while developing lasting friendships from those bus rides. 

Naomi is the eldest of five brothers (Clarence, Porter, Robert, Jesse, and Donnie) and two sisters (Maggie and Elizabeth) from both parents. She also had a brother Richard and sister Callie from her father. Naomi lived a long life and she was a blessing to all of her family and friends. Naomi is preceded in death by all six of her brothers, two of her sons William Jr. and Johnny, and her grandson Maurice. 

Naomi leaves to cherish her memory her sister Callie, who is 100 years old in Rutledge, GA; her seven remaining children: Laurence, Margie, Naomi Jr., Taylor, Sylvia, Jeffrey and Antonio; her grandchildren: Chermonique, Christopher, Laurence Jr., Mario, Brian, Felicia, Marlon, Erica, Jamila, Anissa, Brandon, William III, Ashley, and Jeffrey Jr.; thirty great-grandchildren including Kinadie who she had a special bond with; fifteen great-great grandchildren, relatives in Georgia, Ohio, and Tennessee and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends who will miss her.