Lucile Ione Hibbert (AKA “Cullu”)
c. 1906 – c. 1970

Birth & Lineage
Lucile Ione Hibbert, affectionately known as “Cullu,” was born in Kingston, Jamaica, the daughter of Solomon Augustus Hibbert and Theodora Elizabeth Marquis.

Early Life & Education
At just ten months old, she experienced the devastation of the 1907 earthquake that flattened much of Kingston, forcing her family to live temporarily in tents at what was then the Kingston Racecourse.

She attended Chetolah Park Elementary School; however, due to frequent illness in childhood, her attendance was irregular. She received only four years of formal education, beginning in 1918 at age twelve and continuing until she left school at sixteen. Despite this, she was both literate and numerate. Perhaps influenced by her own limited schooling, she placed a strong emphasis on education for her children.

Life & Work
Cullu was known for her resilience, independence, and strong work ethic. She worked for many years at the Kingston packing house, where she packed oranges and other citrus fruits during the harvest season. She continued this work until the facility relocated to Bog Walk, St. Catherine.

Beyond this, she was deeply involved in market trade. She sold agricultural produce—including peas, scallion, thyme, and cooking oil—and regularly traveled by market truck on weekends to the May Pen Market in Clarendon. In later years, she transitioned into dressmaking, selling clothing at the same market.

Community & Character
Cullu lived with several health challenges, including lactose intolerance to cow’s milk (though she could tolerate goat’s milk) and bunions on both feet, which made wearing shoes difficult—leading her to favor sandals. She also avoided common salted fish staples such as mackerel, shad, herring, and sprats.

She had a deep interest in courtroom proceedings and was known to spend hours observing trials, particularly murder cases. She was especially drawn to cases argued by the renowned lawyer Norman Washington Manley. Despite her limited formal education, she possessed a remarkable ability to analyze evidence and often formed accurate judgments about guilt or innocence before trials concluded, though she never formally served as a juror.

A woman of faith, she worshipped at All Saints Anglican Church on Lower West Street in Kingston.

Passing & Legacy
She passed away suddenly at the age of 64 from a brain hemorrhage caused by untreated high blood pressure. She was laid to rest at May Pen Cemetery in Kingston.

Her nickname, “Cullu,” is believed to have been a variation of the term “coolie,” referencing her wavy hair.

Children
She had three children—Pearl, Gloria, and Edgar Alphonso—with Vincent Lawrence. She also had one child, Barbara, with Erastus Jones.