Mrs. Mary Lucile Simmons Lipford, age 96, passed away on Monday, March 30, 2015, at the Tanner Medical Center in Carrollton, Georgia.
Mrs. Lipford was born on June 25, 1918, in the Garden Valley Community of Macon County, Georgia to the late Mary Susan Whatley Simmons and Oscar Hudson Simmons. Mrs. Lipford was a graduate of Oglethorpe High School and Andrew College in Cuthbert, Georgia with a degree in Home Economics. She came to work in Franklin, Georgia in 1940 as a Home Management Supervisor for the Farmers Home Administration. She met and married the love of her life, Mr. Thomas Lipford, in 1943. In 1947 Congress abolished the Home Management position so she went back to school to earn her Masters of Education degree from West Georgia College. It was at this point that she became a teacher in the Heard County School System. The firm, but gentle, manner in which she taught gave her the respect and love of her students. Her insight into the lives of her students caused her to go far beyond that of a typical teacher. It was nothing to find her staying for late hours after school helping a child who she felt needed extra help with lessons or just a little extra encouragement he or she lacked at home. The wonderful tutelage and love given by her will long be remembered.
She was a long time member of the Franklin First Baptist Church where she served in many positions including Sunday school teacher, Director of Bible School, and as the wife of her husband, the church deacon chairman. She was always by his side, quietly encouraging both him and all the church family. Her love for her God and the way that she conducted herself in this position earned her the love and respect of the entire church.
The greatest joy of her life was being a wife to her beloved husband, Thomas, for over seventy-one years; mother to sons Lawrence and Mack and their lovely wives Kathy and Betty; and grandmother to her almost perfect grandchildren. All who knew “Miss Lucile” will forever carry her in their hearts.
She is survived by her husband, Thomas Lipford; two sons, Lawrence Lipford (Kathy Starr) and Mack Lipford (Betty Goodson), all of Franklin, GA.; six grandchildren: Alex, Randall, Carl, and Harry Lipford, Shannon Brice, and Kimberly White; three great- grandchildren: Seth and Nate Brice and Kaci White; two sisters: Laura (Sam) Clonts of Oak Ridge, NC., and Leila (Hugh) Crawford of Cullman, AL.
Other than her parents she was preceded in death by three brothers: Lawrence, Luscious and Leonard Simmons; and one infant sister, Louise Simmons.