Lorraine Dolores Hink McLeod

Lorraine Dolores Hink McLeod, 64, of Jackson, wife of Jerald Lawton McLeod, transitioned in the early hours on Monday, January 16, 2023. Born in Chicago, IL, September 25, 1958, she was a daughter of the late Floyd Donald and Lucy Mae Dutton Hink. Mrs. McLeod was a “change of life baby,” and was the fourth of five daughters. She was a rambunctious youth and playful tyrant to her sisters, especially to the youngest sister, Victoria “Vickie” Hink of Commerce. She was chosen to be a 7th Grade Safety Patrol and traveled on a field trip to Washington, DC; She qualified for the Presidential Fitness Award despite near debilitating asthma and played: softball, basketball, volleyball, roller skated, bicycled, high dive, gymnastics, and received art and drama awards. In addition, she was on the 9th Grade Homecoming court. She was a stunningly beautiful young woman, deeply intelligent, with the colorful vernacular of a sailor. She met the love of her life (and sometimes bane of her existence), Jerald “Peanut” in August of 1980 in an Atlanta bar. Enamored with uncontrollable laughter, relentless jokes, and adventure, she accepted his spontaneous holiday "proposal" and they were hitched by the end of the day, Christmas Eve,1983. They traveled extensively and eventually settled down in Jenkinsburg, Georgia, where they raised their daughters, Lauren D. McLeod and Lucy E. McLeod of Jackson, and step-daughter Melinda McLeod Wooden of Delano, TN. Lorraine was a mother to many and her home was always full of neighborhood children and her many nieces and nephews. In addition to being a devoted home-maker, wife, and mother, she was a CNA with Westbury Nursing Home in Jackson and had served as a private healthcare worker. She was heralded as a skilled artisan, talented seamstress, beader and painter. She was well known and admired in the local Native American community for her era specific, and historically accurate, Indigenous regalia(s) and accouchements. Mrs. McLeod was a member of the Native American Powwow community and was formerly a Native American singer and dancer until her health declined. She was a hobby Genealogist and revered her many ancestors and recounted their vast histories across centuries and continents. She was deeply inspired by World Religions and was christened as an infant and baptized on October 23, 1993. Lorraine was a tenacious and charismatic personality with a refined appreciation for the macabre. She often, and wholeheartedly, referred to herself to her many physicians and nurses as “That Pain Lorraine” and she would comedically shriek “I ain’t dead yet” or “I’ve got one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel” when asked about her declining health. She'd even purchased her own urn to "enjoy while I'm still kicking," and even humorously professed to be watching her "girlish figure because I gotta fit in my fancy urn." She was profoundly clever and had a pequiant for words and phrases, her favorites being: “behoove” (when you best watch your tone); “hilarical” (when recounting a grand tale); “little pearls of wisdom” (when dispensing age old advice); “goody goody” (when receiving a fond snack); and “buggspussy” (when she was absolutely certain of tomfoolery). She loved cold weather, black coffee, her ghost hunters shows, and The Incredible Dr. Pol. She appreciated fine antiques and her grandbabies doodles and sketches. The pinnacle of her life’s pleasures were her granddaughters, Azaleigh Lorraine and Azarae Geraldine McLeod. Known as Ahma, she was the purveyor of hand-stitched patches, band aids, and striped straws. There were no impossible requests as “Ahma could fix it.” In addition to her parents, Mrs. McLeod was preceded in death by two sisters, Joyce Dismukes Walsh and Linda Hink Colley; a nephew, Carlos Araya; and she had a stillborn child she affectionately called Junior. She is survived by her husband of 39 years, Jerald; her daughters, Lauren and Lucy; granddaughters, Azayleigh and Azarae; a nephew who was like her son, Justin Colley and wife Beth, great niece Raven and great nephew, Nathan; sister Carol Weaver, niece Donna and nephew Russel Weaver; sister Vickie Hink, niece Sarah Araya and nephew Kyle White; Step-daughter, Melinda McLeod Wooden and her son Zachary Tanner McLeod; lifelong friends, Elizabeth Caldwell Eaton of Blue Ridge; Maureen Merson Pratt of McDonough; and a slew of additional family on her husband’s side. “Love you 50 million horse turds.” Private services will be conducted later. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the COPDFoundation https://www.copdfoundation.org/Take-Action/Donate/Donate-Now.aspx For online condolences please visit www.haistenmcculloughfuneralhome.com. Haisten McCullough Funeral Home, 1155 Everee Inn Road, Griffin is in charge of arrangements.

Tributes

Lorraine Dolores Hink McLeod

September 25, 1958 - January 16, 2023