Claytease (Cotten) Hull

Claytease Cotten Hull, age 84, of Delmar, MD peacefully passed away on Monday, January 16, 2017 at Compassionate Care Hospice in Wilmington, DE. 

 Claytease was born in Enfield, North Carolina as the sixth of seven children to the late Ida and Ernest Cotten.  She attended Phillips High School in Battleboro, North Carolina. She received her undergraduate degrees from North Carolina Central in Durham, North Carolina and Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee, followed by her graduate degree, a Master’s in Nursing Administration, from the University of Maryland, Baltimore Campus. She was married for 47 years to the love of her life, Orrensy William Hull, Jr.

 She began her career as a Registered Nurse in Baltimore, MD at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD, followed by her role as the Director of Nursing Education at Provident Hospital in Baltimore, MD.  She also worked at University Hospital in Baltimore and taught nursing students at the University of Maryland Nursing School until she married her sweetheart on October 8, 1966. She moved to Delmar, MD and lovingly raised her three daughters. When they were in elementary school, she returned to the workforce in 1975.

 She was a home health nurse for Shore Up, Inc. in Salisbury, MD for several years before joining the Holly Center to be the Acting Director of Nursing.  Claytease also served as the Officer of the Day for the campus and a supervisor of the Center's Cottage 800, where she espoused and cared for the mentally disabled children there as if they were her own, bringing as much normalcy to their lives as possible until she retired in 1995. Her love for nursing extended beyond her various positions outside the home.  She used her nursing skills in service of those at her church and took care of her father and her husband's parents in her home at different times when they could no longer live by themselves.  Throughout her life, she was deeply concerned and took action to help others, particularly those who were unable to help themselves – whether through poverty, developmental disabilities, or failing health.

 She was a long-time member of Wesley Temple United Methodist Church and served in a variety of capacities including as a communion stewardess. Claytease was also a member of the Companions, Inc., a group that was formed to support families of the men who were serving World War II, and enjoyed hosting the ladies for the holidays when she treated them to her signature rum cake.  She was happy to be on her husband's arm for dances and events with the Delta Gamma Sigma Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., and as an Archousa with the Gamma Theta Boule'. Whether she was out dancing with her husband and friends, shopping with her daughters, or visiting relatives she was always engaging, and was described as, “the life of the party”, at social occasions.

 Claytease had a great sense of style and was a trend setter. She had a take charge attitude and she could be very direct and forthright, but her heart was always in the right place. Claytease loved nothing more than taking vacations and making memories with her family and her siblings.  When her grandchildren were born, she delighted in spoiling them and looked forward to their visits.  She also enjoyed tending to her flower gardens, creating silk flower arrangements, and sewing.

 In her later years, she was sweetness and light for the many caregivers who assisted her, including her daughters and son-in-law, who loved her and attended to her every need for the remainder of her life. 

 In addition to her parents, Claytease was predeceased by her husband, Orrensy William Hull, Jr.; her brothers, Russell and Dequency Cotten; and her sisters, Clara Lipscomb, and Gloria Wright. 

 She is survived by her three children: Maria Hull-Bynum (Otis), Tamara and Natalie Hull, and her two grandchildren: Ashley and Alexis Bynum.

 She also leaves to mourn her passing one brother, Cusic Cotten (Eva), one sister, Verna Robinson and a whole host of nieces and nephews. 

 A viewing will be held from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm on Saturday, January 28, 2017 at Wesley Temple United Methodist Church in Salisbury, MD, 1322 N. West Road. Funeral services will begin at noon. The committal will occur on Monday, January 30, 2017 at the Eastern Shore Veteran's Cemetery in Hurlock, MD.

 In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to the following:

 Gamma Theta Boule', O. William Hull Boule' Scholars Program, 26464 Meadowland Lane, Hebron MD 21830, Contribution in Memory of Mrs. Claytease Hull, Beloved Wife of  O.William Hull, Jr. and/or

 Meharry Medical College Institutional Advancement 1005 Dr. D. B. Todd, Jr., Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37203, Contributions in Memory of Mrs. Claytease Cotten Hull, Class 1956.

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