Neoma Lee Higgins

Neoma Lee Thompson Higgins, age 98, transitioned on Wednesday, February 14, 2024. Neoma was born in Cumberland Furnace, Tennessee, on September 14, 1925, to the late Anthony Herbert and Charlie Nina (Manlove) Thompson. The Thompson family home, built by her father, is on the National Register of Historic Places. In her early teens, she lived with her family in Toledo, Ohio, and later moved to Columbus and attended East High School. She worked for several years at the Neil House and Mills Restaurant in downtown Columbus. She relocated from Columbus to Boston when she married the late Earl Hamilton.

Neoma enjoyed cooking and was the Head Cook at the Massachusetts Mental Health Center until her retirement. She met and married Sam Higgins in Boston. They were married for over 25 years and traveled the country together. She loved reading, fishing, playing Bingo, and watching TV detective shows. She was a long-time Eastern Star matron in Boston. Neoma had a great smile and a wonderful sense of humor and loved her family. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband Sam, son-in-law Richard; brothers Hubert, Edward, Herman, and Hershel Thompson; sisters Emma Crockett, Elizabeth Hopson, Myrtle Nesbitt Simpson, Katherine Goldstein, and best friend Leoni.

She is survived by her beloved daughter Marilyn Elizabeth Alston (affectionately known as “Cookie”), step-children David and Debra Smith; grandchildren, Gerald, Nathan, Craig, Tony, Kenny, Ayana, LeStar, David, Angel; several great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. She was a loving Mother, grandmother, sister and aunt.

Visitation 1:00 PM and Funeral Service 2:00 PM Saturday, February 24, 2024 at MARLAN J. GARY FUNERAL HOME, THE CHAPEL OF PEACE EAST, 5456 E. Livingston Ave. (one block east of Noe Bixby, turn North on Lonsdale Rd).