When I got word that Mirah Lesa “Yo-Yo” Worley Hughes had passed, June 2, after a long battle with multiple sclerosis, I was parked up for the night in the abandoned lot across from the TA Travel Center in Pioneer, Tennessee, for my federally mandated 10-hour break. Words from her 2021 interview with yours truly came back to me, namely what she'd told her daughter, Michelle, she wanted at the end:
“When I die, I want to be cremated, then taken out to I-40 somewhere in Tennessee.... Find an overpass where there's no on- or off-ramp, wait for the wind to blow Westbound, and pour me out over the road."
Looking back now on that interview, and knowing how much she was ailing at the time, I could only wonder how much of her Salinas-to-Hunts Point just-as-quick-as-you-can-get-it-there trucker badassery had kicked in toward the end. Four years is a long time.
Worley and her daughter, Michelle, pictured around the time of Long Haul Paul's interview with her.
Maybe it was the marriage of those signature size 7 Levis with that 359 Pete, the KTA 600, and that toothpick beneath her tongue -- the real deal, the total package, all magnified on the medium of 70s-era network television. Or maybe she was a symbol of everything those of us in that generation believed trucking could be circa 1979 (incidentally the year I pulled my first load), a blue-collar diva who could out-drive and out-swagger the cockiest of men.
Just ask the pride of Racoon Valley, Alabama, the dapper "Special K," whom Worley edged out in the qualifying heat at the Atlanta International Raceway, as portrayed in the 1979 episode of “Real People.”
In the end, though, endorsement offers became more of a nuisance than anything else. Most of them couldn’t even replace her income from just trucking as usual, so she went back on the road. She was a trailblazer, an earthbound Amelia Earhart, a gearjammimg Joan of Arc the camera loved a little too much, now immortalized in the 2021 BlackBerry Smoke music video for “Hey, Delilah." The band would proclaim her “a legend in the world of truckers,” sharing her GoFundMe page.
Her daughter shared her obituary via Facebook:
Mirah Lesa Worley Hughes, better known as Yo-Yo, passed away on June 2, 2025, in Halls, TN, at the age of 68. Born on October 16, 1956, in Lenoir City, Tennessee, Lesa was a loving mother, devoted grandmother, and a spirited adventurer who left an indelible mark on everyone who knew her.
Lesa is preceded in death by her late mother, Gloria Hendrix. She was also preceded in death by several brothers and sisters, leaving a legacy of love and memories that will continue to resonate with her family and friends.
As a dedicated professional truck driver for over 40 years, Lesa embraced the freedom of the open road, exploring new horizons and embarking on countless adventures. Her fellow truckers knew her better as “Yo-Yo” which was her CB handle. Lesa participated in a series of Big Rig races. She not only drove a truck, but Lesa raced going 110 mph and won the very first “Atlanta Motor Speedway Semi Race” in 1979. She also had a song “Hey Delilah” by Blackberry Smoke written about her. Her passion for trucking was matched only by her love for animals and the great outdoors. She had a special bond with her horse, Seminole, and spent many cherished moments in nature, where she felt most alive.
Lesa’s family was her pride and joy. She is survived by her loving daughter and caregiver, Lesa Michelle (Derek Lee Polk) Polk Hughes, and her cherished grandson, Chase Polk, both of Halls, Tennessee. They were the light of her life, and she poured her heart into nurturing their dreams and aspirations. Her love for them was boundless, and they will forever carry her spirit with them.
She had a unique ability to connect with people, and her infectious laughter and zest for life brought joy to those fortunate enough to cross her path. Whether sharing stories from her travels or enjoying the simple pleasures of life, Lesa’s spirit was one of adventure and love.
The obituary also quotes her: "West with the best, East with the rest."
Happy trails, Yo-Yo. We’ ll catch you on that Westbound I-40.
[Related: 'Runs with the wind': Meet 'Yo-Yo' Worley, notoriety rekindled long after retirement]
