Obituaries – Their Stories Live On

Mrs. Annette Carolyn Nalls-De L’eveille was born on August 21, 1943 in Scarbro, WV, the youngest of four children to the late proud parents, Clarence L. Nalls and Evelyn Jane Lewis-Nalls.

She grew up in Mt. Hope, WV, where she attended Dubois Elementary and Mt. Hope High School. She performed in the Mt. Hope Mustangs Marching Band. After graduation from high school in 1961, she took the Federal Civil Service Test and was offered a job with the US Department of Agriculture (DOA) in Washington, D.C. In 1962, Annette transferred to the DOA Office in NYC, settling in Jamaica, Queens, NY with her sister, Doris Jean Nalls-Lewis.

On Easter Sunday, in 1965, at the age of 21, Annette Nalls marries Guy L. De L’eveille, from Ontario, Canada and moves into their new home in Hollis, Queens, NY. From that union a beautiful baby girl named Lori was born on March 31, 1969. On June 20, 2001, Annette becomes a grandmother with the birth of a precious little baby girl named Iliana Annette Ramos.

After retiring from the US Department of Agriculture, Annette worked in the Jewelry department of Macy’s Department Store, NYC, retiring once again in 2011.

Annette was affectionately known as “Poochie” to her family, a nickname given to her by her mother, Evelyn. Being the youngest of the Nalls clan, “Poochie” was very close with all of her nieces and nephews, who admired and looked up to her as an outstanding role model. She was simply Aunt “Poochie” to us. She was an accomplished artist, enjoyed playing tennis, and was a professional photographer.

In 2014, Annette relocated to WV with her granddaughter Iliana, and moved into the Beckley, WV Community. She loved being back in WV, where she was able to spend more time with her big sister, Bernice “Dickie” Clayton (a retired Registered Nurse who worked for more than 30 years in the Fayette County community) and had more time to caught up on her knitting. She also made some forever friends like Rebecca “Becky” Schuyler of Beckley, WV, (who was always there to help her when family could not be there), and Teresa Waters of Ghent, WV.

Annette’s journey ended in the early morning hours of January 12, 2023, when she was called home to be with our Lord.

Predeceased by her parents, sisters, Bernice “Dickey” Nalls-Clayton and Doris “Jean” Nalls-Lewis; brother, David “JacK” Allen Nalls; daughter, Lori M. De L’eveille; nieces, Ann Clayton-Fruit and Diane Lewis-Brown.

She leaves to mourn her granddaughter, Iliana Annette Ramos of Mt. Hope, WV; aunt, Lottie Lewis, Brooklyn, NY; nieces, Cathy Clayton and Melissa “Missy” Clayton, both of Fairfax, VA, Nancy Lewis-Holmes of Niagara Falls, NY, Nigiko Nalls of West Palm Beach, FL; nephews, Ronnie Nalls and David A. Nalls, Jr., both of Islip, Long Island, NY, Calvin Carl “Junior” Clayton Jr. of Aldie, VA, David Michael Clayton of Nashville, TN, and Gerald “Jerry” Andrew Lewis Sr. of Edmond, OK and a host of cousins and friends.

As per her request, she has been cremated.

Email condolences to ritchiejohnsonfuneralparlor@gmail.com.

Arrangements entrusted to Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley.