Rev. Willie Nell Hedgman was born in Selma, Alabama, on June 22, 1949, the fifth of 11 children born to the late Lehmon and Lovelenia Haynes.  Nell departed this life on Sunday April 2, 2017. At the Washington Hospital Center in Washington DC.

Rev. Willie Nell Hedgman affectionately known as Nell, grew up in Selma Alabama and was educated in the Alabama public school system.  Nell loved the Lord and was baptized at a young age at Old Bethel Baptist Church, and later joined St. Paul Community Church where she served on the Deaconess Board.  Nell also had a passion for cooking which lead her to pursue a career in the culinary arts and later owned and operated her restaurant, The Country Kitchen

Nell moved to the DC area in 1992 where she met and married the man of her dreams Eugene Maurice Hedgman.  Nell and Maurice were inseparable, in their love, and in the various business ventures that they shared together.  Nell was a true entrepreneur at heart which led her to always push forward resulting in her opening of restaurants, catering business, Assisting in the organization of Hedgman's Lawn Servce, assisting in the organization of the Hedgman Funeral Service, and just recently before her illness Nell had started plans for a limousine service.

Everyone that knew and loved Nell also knew she loved the Lord with all her heart and loved her God's House of Prayer family.  One of Nell's most proud accomplishments was when she graduated from the Washington Baptist Seminary class of 2009 receiving a Diploma in Theological studies and was ordained to the work of the Gospel Ministry by her pastor, Rev. Richard Miller.  Rev. Hedgman served her church faithfully first as a Deaconess, than later as Trustee, Associate Minister to the Pastor, Sunday School teacher, and President of the Pastor's Helpers and Culinary Kitchen ministries.

Nell was a very loving and giving person always giving of herself and helping and assisting everyone that she encountered.  Nell loved spending time with her family, hosting holiday meals, traveling to Florida to visit her grand kids, taking cruses and most of all serving the Lord.

Nell leaves to cherish her memory, her beloved husband, Eugene Maurice Hedgman; six children, Diane Bishop, Enzi Chamberlain, Randy Williams, Tiffany Hedgman, Russell Williams, and Marvin Dennis; 11 grandchildren; four great grandchildren; mother-in-law, Mary Hedgman (Washington, DC); one brother, George Cowling of (Selma, AL); seven sisters, Rosetta Jackson of (Fort Wayne, IN), Morrie Bell Smiley, Annie Pearl Arnold, Annie May Walker( James) of (Selma, AL), Betty  Williams ( Ozell) of (Montgomery, AL), Jessica Foye (Johnny) of (Fort Washington, MD), Bernice Minter of (Birmingham, AL); one brother-in-law, Ronald Hedgman of ( Oxon Hill Maryland); one sister-in-law, Mary Garland (Hodges) of (Forest Heights, MD); and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and many close friends.