Agnes (Purnell) Hull

Agnes Purnell Hull went on to grace Wednesday, March 9, 2022.  She lived 96 years giving with her whole heart. She was born April 8, 1925, to the late Edward J Purnell, Sr., and Edith Wright Purnell.

Early life

Agnes, better known to her family as “mommom” was the youngest child of Edward and Edith.  She grew up with here only brother, Edward Purnell and 4 sisters: Mary, Margaret, Sophia, Helene, all deceased. She was known as the terror of the group.  She recounts in her personal journal that they were “Poor but happy.”  She gained her spirit of giving from her mother who would never let a child or person go hungry.

Agnes was smart.  She loved to read, and she loved to teach.  From her first speech in elementary school, she knew she wanted to go to college and become a teacher.  She attended Princess Anne Academy, which is now known as The University of Maryland, Eastern Shore. She then transferred to Bowie State University where she played basketball.  Her love of sports, especially college basketball, has been passed down through her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Teaching Career

Agnes had a distinguished teaching career that spanned 47 years.  The first paying teaching job Agnes began after college was in Snow Hill, Maryland.  She taught in a 4-room building.  In her words it was, “two rooms up, two rooms down and toilets outside.”  There were 53 children in her small room where she taught grades 3-5.  When it rained it leaked and she moved them to the dry side and continued to teach.  She believed that a good education could take you anywhere.  Agnes also taught at Mt. Wesley Elementary school where she taught third and fourth grade.  In addition, she was asked to teach “Art and Humanities” at Worchester High School.  Her career took her to many different schools. Agnes was even a principal for 2 years.  After having her own children, she landed a teaching profession at Cedar Lane Elementary School where she taught for 10 years before moving to Dover, Delaware.  Agnes taught at Central Middle School during the beginning of integration where through her love of teaching she helped ease the tensions of integration.  She thrived in the middle school but longed to go back to second grade.  She retired from South Elementary School, where she taught second grade for over 20 years.  Even after retirement Agnes stayed active with children.  She volunteered as a teachers aid at East Salisbury Elementary and supported the youth at Wesley Temple United Methodist.

Family

Education was Agnes’ passion, but her children were her life.  Agnes married the late Purnell William Sidney Hull and remained married 58 years. Agnes and Purnell had three children: Ingrid Hull Holmes, Sidney Denise Neal, and the late Edith Helene Hull.  Her girls gave her strength.  Ingrid is describes as her “adult child even when she was 4.”  Sidney better known as Denise was referred to as “Daddy’s girl”, and Edith who was her fighter.  Agnes loved her children but could not wait to spoil her grandchildren.  She was blessed to have 5 grandchildren: Erin Holmes, Korey Neal, Kortney Neal, Kyle Neal and Kace Neal; 6 great grandchildren: Kaleel Neal, Khyria Neal, Khraron Neal, Kaierre Neal, Korey P. Neal Jr., Vaughn Holmes, and Michael McKinley Jr.; 2 special son-in-laws: Keith Neal (Ricky) and the late Vaugh Frank Holmes.

Agnes was the strength of her family.  She will be missed by not only her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, but by many other family members, friends, and students whose lives she touched.

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