Letyourconversationbewithoutcovetousness;andbecontentwithsuch thingsasyehave:forhehathsaid,Iwillneverleavethee,norforsakethee.
Hebrews13:5
Strengthandhonourareherclothing;andsheshallrejoiceintimetocome.
Proverbs31:25
LillianTownsendwasadevoutChristian,dedicatededucator,andcommunityservicechampion. TheMacon,MississippinativewasagraduateofMinisterialInstitute(M&I)HighSchooland AlcornStateUniversitywheresheearnedaBachelorofArtsinBusinessAdministration.Shealso receivedaMaster’sDegreeinEducationfromMississippiStateUniversity.Business administrationandbusinesseducationwerenearanddeartoherheartandevidentthrough nearlythreedecadesofemploymentwiththeColumbusPublicSchoolSystem.
AnextremelybrightandinquisitivedaughterofPercyandCallieBrooks,LillianacceptedChrist atanearlyageatSylvianRidgeMissionaryBaptistChurchinMacon.Religionbeingatthecore oftheBrooksfamilyvalues,Lillianwasanactivememberinthechurchandtheseactivitieswere atthecenterofthefamily'ssociallife.HercommitmenttoservingtheLordcontinued throughoutheryouthintoadulthood.
In1965,LillianmarriedRev.ArthurR.Townsend.Tothisunion,twochildrenwereborn, RichardWarrenandDebra.SheenjoyedbeingFirstLadyandwasacommittedsupporterofhis ministry.Herhusbandandsonprecededherindeath,andherlegacylivesonthroughher daughter,Debra,andgod-daughter,Dr.ValleeAdamsRolle.
Lillian’scommitmenttopublicservicewasevidentthroughhermembershipinDeltaSigma ThetaSorority,Inc.ShejoinedthesororitythroughtheGoldenTriangleAlumnaeChapter,a specialanduniquebondthatshealsosharedwithherdaughterandgod-daughter.
Intheyearssinceherretirement,Lilliancontinuedtoserveothersthroughherchurch,the Columbus-LowndesCountyChapteroftheLinks,Inc.,theAlcornStateUniversityAlumni Association,theMississippiStateUniversityAlumniAssociation,andNationalBaptist ConventionandtheNortheastMississippiBaptistStateConvention. Hersparetimeconsistedof connectingwithfamilyandfriends,traveling,andspendingtimewithDebra.
SurvivorsincludeDaughter,DebraofAtlanta,GAandgod-daughter,ValleeAdamsRolle(Bill) ofHarrisburg,PA.Siblings:ShewasprecededindeathbyHaydenWilliams,HarlanBrooks, DeloisBrooks,andPercyBrooks,Jr.SheleavesDrewBrooks(Sylvester)ofSt.Louis,MO, HowardGerman(Bessie-deceased)ofTuscaloosa,AL,HazelJohnson(Dennis)ofMacon,MS,Wil Brooks(Linda)ofCharlotte,NC,GeorgeBrooks(Ethel)ofJackson,MS,andBernardBrooks (Annie)ofMacon,MS.Lillianwasalsoveryclosetohersisters-in-law,DeloriceWilliamsof Macon,MS,StellaBrooksofKansasCity,MO,GloriaBrooksofClinton,MS,MattieFountain (Herman)ofStarkville,MS,MaryHarrell(Jimmie-deceased)ofStarkville,MS,andAmanda Sykes,(Walter-deceased)ofWestPoint,MS.Hermemorywillalsoliveonintheheartsofahost ofnieces,nephews,cousins,andfriends.
ScriptureReadings
OldTestament
Rev.JoePeoples;Pastor
StephenChapelMBChurch
NewTestament
Rev.ShalamarkSimpson,Pastor
MissionaryBaptistUnion
Song
TotalPraise
MissionaryUnionChoir
Prayer
Rev.ShalamarkSimpson,Pastor
MissionaryBaptistUnion
Song
IamaLivingTestimony
PPhl
dbBbraWilliams
Expressions
AsanEducator
Dr.ReubenDilworth,FormerSuperintendent,ColumbusPublicSchools
AsaChurchDelegate
Rev.NathanielD.Houston,President,NortheastMississippiBaptistStateConvention
AsaFriend
RobertSmith, FormerMayor,Columbus,MS
AsanAlumna
Dr.W.C.Johnson,President,AlcornStateUniversityColumbusAlumniChapter
Acknowledgments
Song
IfICanHelpSomebody
PamPhelanaccompaniedbyBarbaraWilliams
Eulogy
Rev.DennisHannah
Recessional
HowGreatisOurGod
MissionaryUnionChoir
Postlude
FuneralDirectori
Mommy,
Youweremyparent,friend,travelingcompanion,andmyfavoriteDelta(myfellow#13).Ilove youwithallmyheart.Wehaddifferentpersonalities.YouwereanextremeextrovertandIan introvert.Ouroppositesbalancedandwehadarelationshiplikenoother.Ialwaysproclaimed tobeaDaddy’sgirl.Itneverbotheredyouandyouwouldalwayssay“Iknowyouloveyour mommy.”Icanhearyounowsaying,"EveninmytributeyouaretalkingaboutyourDaddy."
YouweresoproudtobemymotherandexpressedyourhappinessinGodchoosingyoutobemy mother.YousharedeverythingIdidforyouandlovedtosharemyaccomplishments.Youwere mybiggestcheerleader.Ioftenaskedyoutobeproudinsilencebuttonoavail.Ialwaysteased youandstatedthatyouwere99.8%ofwhatIwantedinamother.Ihadtodeductafewpoints foryourinabilitytocook.Wewouldlaughandyouwouldsay,"Butyouhaven’tmissedany meals."
Wetalkedeverydaywhichwasnotoptional.Ofcourse,youdidmostofthetalkingandgaveme updatesoneverything.Youalwaysstartedtheconversationwith“Iwasjustthinkingaboutyou. HowisMommy’sbabytoday?”Iwouldsay"Surelyyouhavesomethingelsetothinkaboutother thanme."Everyconversationendedwith“YouknowMommylovesyou.”Iwouldsay“Iknow, andIamagrownperson.”Sinceyoualwayshavethelastword,youwouldsay“Butyouwill alwaysbeMommy’sbaby.”
Yes,Iwillalwaysloveyouandbeyourbaby.Eveninthisdifficulttime,youwerestillbeingmy mommy.Youpre-plannedasmuchasyoucouldandwantedtomakethingsaseasyaspossible formewhenthetimecame.Youalwaysputmefirst.Ifindcomfortinmyfaithandknowing youlivedandenjoyedagoodlife.IwillmissyoumorethanmyheartcanhandlebutIwillfollow youradvice.Iwillliveandenjoylifeandtrynottoworktoohard.Iwillholdourmemories close.PleasetellDaddyhello.
Love, Debra
ActivePallbearers
HarlanBrooksJr.,DouglasFountain,LanardGerman,BarryJohnson,KentSpann, RaySpann,WidenerDegruy
HonoraryPallbearers
BruceBrooks,GeorgeBrooks,SylvesterBrooks,WilBrooks,HowardGerman,DennisJohnson
FlowerBearers(asneeded)
JanetColeman,BriannaDegruy,JeanFountain,TiaJohnson,VirginiaHarrellJohnson,Nicole King,KarolMosebay,VennisRogers,GaleSpann,LaschandraSpraggins,VeronicaWaite, ChristineWilliams,ZediaJordan,LadiesofDeltaSigmaThetaSorority,Inc.and LadiesofTheLinks,Inc.
Repast
MissionaryUnionBaptistChurchFellowshipHall
12075thAve.North,Columbus,MS39701
Interment
ImmediatelyFollowingtheService
MagnoliaGardens
176FrontageRd,Columbus,MS39701
SpecialThanks
Thekindwords,expressionsofsympathy,cards,phonecalls,andemailshavebeenoverwhelming duringthistimeofgrief.Wewouldliketoextendourheartfeltthankstoourfamily,friends, sorors,coworkers,andcountlessotherswhohavedemonstratedtheirloveandgenerosityduring herillnessandfollowingourgreatloss.Pleasecontinuetokeepusinyourthoughtsandprayers. WethankyouandmayGodblessyou.
TheTownsendFamily
Inlieuofflowers,pleasemakedonationstoAlcornStateUniversityinhonorofMrs.Lillian TownsendtotheClassof1965EndowedScholarshipFundbymailtoASUFoundation,Inc., ℅Classof1965ESF,1000ASUDrive#810,Lorman,MS39096
orvisitbit.ly/alcorn1965