Adelma Albertina Hunter

Adelma Albertina Godeassi Hunter, 91, passed away in Little Rock, Arkansas on Tuesday, May 30, 2023.  Adelma was born to Lino and Maria (Visentin) Godeassi on September 20, 1931, in Manzano, a small town in northeast Italy.  In addition to her parents and her brothers Dante and Danilo and sister Lina, Adelma was preceded in death by her husband Winsome Lark Hunter, brother-in-law Grayson Robin Hunter and sisters-in-law and their spouses, Edith Wren Freeman (Dewey) and Ramona Rae Shepherd (Ray) and niece Mona Lisa Robinson.

Adelma is survived by her children Sandra H. Steele (Tom), Romero Carl Hunter and Linda Maria Hunter and grandchildren Jay “Robby” Robison, Jr. (Lisa), Neely Kimbrell (Andrew), Zachery Hunter, Erin Hunter (Joseph Combs), Meghan Harrell (Jereme), Emily Thurber (Christopher), Donnie Steele (Dana) and great grandchildren Derrick Huey, Rava & Remi & Rossi Kimbrell, Adellyn & Clayton & Sarah Kelley & Cheyenne Fenton & Jesse Harrell, Blain Turney & Jamerson Thurber, Ever Wilde Hunter Combs and David & Daniel Steele.  Adelma is also survived by her daughter-in-law Joyce Hunter and sisters-in-law Joy Lorraine Cooper of Decatur, Alabama, Betty Sue (Cotton) Hunter of Richardson, Texas,  Milvia Godeassi and Graziella Godeassi both of Manzano, Italy, along with nephews and nieces Alan Freeman (Mary), Judy Benfield (Jim), Douglas Shepherd, John Cooper (Melissa), Tammy Dodson (Don), Robin Louis Hunter (Roma), Lelia Jo Lauderdale (Robert), Marina & Miriam Godeassi and Stefano & Nicola Godeassi.

Adelma married Lark in February 1949 during the WWII occupation of Italy and arrived in America a couple of months later.  With the help of Lark’s family, Adelma quickly learned to speak, read, and write English. It was not until 1968 that Adelma and Lark were able to travel back to Italy. During the following decades, the families were able to see each other more often. By 1957 Lark and Adelma had three children, each born in a different state.  During their marriage, Adelma and Lark traveled to many locations with transfers in his profession of sales. In all, they lived in 20 different homes, in 7 states and 7 years in Holland. Adelma was the perfect partner for this kind of life, quickly converting each house into a home with imagination and warmth.  She was gifted with natural, self-taught talents with sewing being the most proficient. Adelma’s favorite activity was bowling from 1966 to 2019, joining leagues and traveling and competing in tournaments.  Adelma became known as Nanna and Lark as Nono (Italian grandfather). Our mom was energetic and caring with lots of common sense and good advice.  In 2017 she confided “I’m so thankful none of my children are lazy.” She was an inspiration, elegant, giving, and truly lived an extraordinary life.