CULLMAN, Ala. – Former Cullman County Probate Judge Leah Patterson Lust passed away Saturday, April 25 at the age of 49.
Lust, who was in office from 2006-2012, also served on several nonprofit boards in Cullman County and is being remembered by friends and those who worked with her for her “perseverance” and “forward thinking.” Cullman County Commission Chairman Kenneth Walker has ordered flags flown at half-staff in remembrance of Lust’s service to Cullman County.
Lust was born Jan. 14, 1971 to Edward “Pat” and Carol (Stallings) Patterson and grew up in the Jones Chapel community along with her older brother Eddie Patterson.
Commissioner Garry Marchman was close friends with Eddie growing up and remembers the day Lust was born, saying, “I spent a lot of days and a lot of nights over at his house, and the same: he came to my house when I was a boy growing up. Her family has always been huge to me. They have always been friends.”
Marchman remembered a story from when they were younger, sharing, “I remember when she (Leah) was about 4 or 5 years old. I had gone over to their house and her mother was cleaning the house about a week before that and she mixed up some chemicals to clean the toilet and it exploded and blew up the toilet. The preacher was over there that day and Leah was running through the house saying, ‘Mommy popped the toilet! Mommy popped the toilet!’ It was just comical. She blew the toilet up and had to replace it and Leah was telling everybody at the church. We didn’t always see eye to eye on politics. I remember very vividly when she had her accident and it paralyzed her and she had a lot of hard times after that. She has always had a good attitude, Leah has.”
Lust attended Kindergarten through ninth grade at Jones Chapel before competing her high school education at West Point High School, where she graduated in 1989. After high school, she earned an associate degree in history from Wallace State Community College before earning her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in social work from the University of Alabama. After college, she returned home to Cullman County where she became the director of social work at Cullman Regional Medical Center.
In 2006 she was elected Cullman County Probate Judge, serving one six-year term.
“She was always a lady and very nice to us at the police department and was always very responsive whenever we had issues that needed to be dealt with,” said Cullman Police Chief Kenny Culpepper. “She was very nice and always responsive to helping us out.”
Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry added, “As we remember former Probate Judge Leah Patterson Lust, first we are praying for her family during this time of loss. We will also remember her willingness to serve the citizens of Cullman County.”
Lust served on several boards and committees, including Cullman Caring for Kids, the Cullman County Bosom Buddies Foundation and United Way Daystar House.
Cullman Caring for Kids Executive Director Javon Daniel said, “Leah has been a good friend for many, many years. I remember when she had her accident and she was on our board for several years, always a vital part of helping move Cullman Caring for Kids forward. We were so glad to have had her on our board because she was so knowledgeable and very personable. She was a good friend.”
Lust left the Cullman Caring for Kids board shortly after being elected as probate judge.
Daniel said, “I didn’t see her very often, but when we did, we got a chance to talk and reminisce some. Just very sad to hear of her passing and she will be missed. She overcame a tremendous, tremendous amount of adversity to be a very successful woman. There are not a lot of people today that would take that adversity and turn it into their advantage. She was a very special lady.”
Lust was involved in a car accident as a young adult that left her paralyzed from the waist down.
Added Daniel, “To see her and be around her and to know her, she was very independent. She was very strong-willed and she wanted everybody to know that because she was in a wheelchair, that was not a handicap. She was going to make the best of whatever her situation was and she did that.”
Cullman Caring for Kids Assistant Director Nancy Bryant recalled, “She always impressed me because she was happy and chipper and always had great things to say about the people she was around. She gave so much on the board of directors. I just remember loving to see her coming because she always brought joy. She was never a downer and she gave so much for Cullman Caring for Kids. She was just very sweet. She was very kind-hearted and willing to help this community and she always did. When she was the probate judge, she did a great job there, too.”
Lust was named Wallace State’s 2011 Overall Outstanding Alumni. She served on state committees by appointment from former Governor Don Siegelman and was recently appointed to the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services by Governor Kay Ivey.
Lust is survived by her husband Michael Lust, her parents and her brother. A private family graveside service is planned. The service will be available on Moss Service Funeral Home’s Facebook page Tuesday, April 28 at 2 p.m.
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