Zula Mae was born on a farm near Converse, LA on April 22, 1927. Her parents were Willis and Zella Dykes. She grew up during the Great Depression and World War Two. She endured poverty and the horrors of the war. She became a cashier in a grocery store after graduation from Noble High School.
She and John D. Leggett were married shortly after the war and started a family. Life was better in the 1950’s and 1960’s as they moved to town and got involved in social activity there. Zula was a vibrant young woman who was always interested in the latest recipes, quilt patterns, and church activities. She was very intelligent and adapted quickly to telephones, television, and air conditioning. Her life revolved around housekeeping and raising her family. She could be seen regularly chauffeuring her kids around Logansport in her baby blue, 1954 Chevrolet.
They moved to Zwolle in 1963 and bought a new house. This house was to be her home for most of the rest of her life. She took great pride in the house and kept it and the yard looking like something out of a magazine. This was to be her home even though she did live in other places after it was bought.
Life in Zwolle was busy. She was involved in the Eastern Star, square dancing, organized trips, and the Methodist Church. She had many friends, more Chevrolets, and an active social life. She worked as a seamstress and hemmed many pants, made many wedding and prom dresses, and even did the drapes at Hodges Gardens! She was still sewing in her late 80’s and could thread her needles without glasses.
She passed away January 25, 2025 at Ouachita Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center which had been her home for the last two years. She was preceded in death by her parents Willis J Dykes and Nancy Rozella (Zella) Jackson Dykes, her husband John Davhlyn Leggett, her son Willis Jefferson (Jeff) Leggett, and all her siblings.
She is survived by her son Johnny B. Leggett (Linda) of Chatham, LA and her daughter Sherry D. Hutto (Rusty) of Monroe, LA, and Jeff’s wife Cara; Six Grandchildren, Johnny E. Leggett (April), Robert L. (Lonnie) Leggett (Patricia), Keith A. Jackson (Lori), Katherine (Kody) Carnell (Dusty), Wade L. Leggett (Candice), Ryan L. Hutto; Two bonus granddaughters, Angela Smith (Steve) and Wendy Austin (Shawn); Eight great grandchildren, eight bonus grandchildren; Four great, great grandchildren and two bonus great, great grandchildren.
Services will be held Wednesday, January 29th at 2 PM at Zwolle Methodist Church in Zwolle with Rev. DeeAnn Johnson officiating. Visitation will be from Noon until time of service, also at the Zwolle Methodist Church. Interment will follow at Zwolle Cemetery.
Those honored to serve as pallbearers are: Johnny E. Leggett, Robert L. Leggett, Keith A. Jackson, Ryan L. Hutto, Dusty Carnell. Honorary pallbearers: Payton Leggett, Ronnie Leggett and Wade Leggett.