Naomi  Leapheart - Williams

Naomi Power was born in Plumerville, Arkansas on July 18, 1923 to the union of Roger and Corena Reese Power

Naomi attended New Hope Elementary School and graduated as valedictorian from Conway County Training School in Menifee, Arkansas in 1942. She received a Bachelor of Arts from Philander Smith College in Little Rock, AR in 1946 and began her teaching career as an elementary school teacher in Conway AR in 1947. After marriage Naomi took an 18 year break from teaching to devote herself full time to caring for her family. She returned to teaching in the Detroit public school system in 1965. She taught first and second grade from 1965 to 1985 at several elementary schools including Lillibridge, McGraw, Ruthruff and Sherrill.

During WWII, Naomi, like many of the young women at home, wrote letters to hometown boys who were overseas fighting. One of those boys was a lucky young Marine corporal named Arvell Leapheart stationed in the South Pacific. Arvell returned home in 1946 with hundreds of Naomi’s letters and his heart full of love for her. Arvell and Naomi were married in 1947 and to this union were born two sons, Harvey and Theophilus. They enjoyed 28 loving years together until Arvell’s death in a workplace accident in 1975. God blessed Naomi again with her second marriage to Deacon Albert Williams in 1994. After honeymooning in Hawaii at the ripe old age of 72, Naomi and Al enjoyed a wonderful and active 10 years of marriage and travelling, and doing God’s work which included visiting the sick and shut-in at home or at nursing homes around the city of Detroit. Al went home to be with the Lord in 2004.


The great passion and love of Naomi’s life was her Christian faith. It informed and touched every part of her life. At an early age, Naomi accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and was baptized and united with St John Baptist Church in Plumerville, Arkansas. In 1947, Arvell and Naomi moved to Detroit, Michigan where they joined The Chapel Hill Missionary Baptist Church where she was a faithful member for 66 years. At Chapel Hill, Naomi taught Sunday School for more than 53 years and also served for many years as superintendent of the Nursery and Beginners Department. Naomi was active member of the Chapel Hill’s mission department for more than 50 years. She served as President of the Chapel Hill Mission Board for more than 20 years and also as Christian Education Director for the Metropolitan District Young Peoples Department. Naomi was also active in the Wolverine Missionary Baptist Convention and National Baptist Convention USA. She represented Chapel Hill at dozens of conference and conventions throughout the United States. She also led and/or assisted in many of the church’s programs for children including vacation bible school, Easter and Christmas programs. She believed that helping young people develop their Christian faith was of utmost importance.


Outwardly, Naomi presented a serious, no nonsense manner; however, inside of her beat the heart of a true Christian woman who loved to serve the Lord and was an example for us all. She was a wonderful daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend whom you could count on for love and support in your time of need. As the eldest daughter in the family, Naomi was an incredible role model for her siblings and she was the person everyone went to for words of wisdom and advice. Maybe it was a phone call, a card, or a letter of support or praise; or maybe it was a cake or pie, or invitation to dinner; or maybe it was birthday or Christmas, card or gift to say, I’m thinking of you; or maybe it was an unexpected visit when you were sick or shut in; or maybe a few dollars when you were in need; or maybe it was just the prayers of a righteous Christian woman when you needed them the most. She was a very special woman who touched hundreds of lives in so many ways, leaving an indelible mark on everyone she met.

Naomi was an active member of the Metro Detroit Chapter of the Philander Smith College National Alumni Association for many decades. In 1985, she was the recipient of its Outstanding Educator and Philanthropist award. After many years of supporting its activities, she became a life member of the NAACP in 1983.


Naomi was an excellent cook and loved to plant a garden each year. She spent many hours in her kitchen preparing wonderful meals for family and friends, often with vegetables from her own garden. Her specialties included fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, collard greens, apple pie, pound cake, fried pies, chili, homemade dinner rolls, sweet corn, fruit cake, homemade ice cream, peach cobbler, pecan cookies….

Naomi was called home to be with the Lord on Thursday April 17, 2014.

In addition to her parents and two husbands, Naomi was preceded in death by her eldest son, Harvey, her sisters: Sarah Sanders and Maggie Powell; her brothers: Robert Power, Andrew Power and Mitchell Power.

Naomi leaves to cherish her memory a son: Theophilus (DeLois), Midland, MI; daughter-in-law: Debra, Detroit, MI; grandchildren: Naomi, Lancaster, PA; Paul, Detroit, MI; Jacqueline, Midland, MI; David, NY, NY; and Jamaris, Albion, MI; a brother: Berve Power (Bonnie), Chicago, IL; sisters: Vanness Dale (Roosevelt), Omaha, NE; Geneva Power, Chicago, IL; Adner Hervey, Omaha, NE; Eulila Sampson, Little Rock, AR; and Erma Williams (Bennie) Memphis, TN; sisters-in-laws; Elizabeth Power, Chicago, IL; Portia Power, Dallas, TX; Gloria Louis Tarrance, Detroit, MI; brother-in-law Aaron Leapheart (Katherine), Detroit, MI; special and devoted niece, Mildred Hosam, Detroit, MI, special and devoted friend Carol Varner, Detroit, MI, and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.