Alice Mary Peebles Lilley

Alice Mary Peebles Lilley, of Carson, VA, departed this life at age 89. A Sussex County native, she was raised at Dunnlora, graduated from Stony Creek High, attended Peace College, then The College of William and Mary (Delta Delta Delta Soroity) before working briefly in Richmond with juvenile parole. After she married, her real work began as a farmwife and a mother. She spent her life supporting family and the community. She joined the Eastern Star and was a faithful member of the Ladies Aid Society and Salem United Methodist Church. For many years, she volunteered to work long hours at the old Templeton District polling station where the primary climate control was a window. Using knowledge of Richmond, her favorite contribution was to drive family and neighbors to appointments or shopping in the city, trips that, in good Richmond tradition, frequently included lunch at Miller & Rhodes’ Tea Room to catch the midday fashion show. (A familiar refrain was “meet me under the Clock Tower at a quarter to 12.”) She also knew what it meant to be a Virginian. Her community contribution was also more personal; she visited sick and elderly neighbors, often bringing her signature lemon chess pie. After her daughters (then granddaughters) entered school and having a husband on the School Board for over 30 years, she also strongly supported Prince George County Schools, ferrying many miles to cheerleading practice, ball games, tennis matches, yearbook meetings, and fundraisers. Most of all, she was an attentive and tireless mother and grandmother to her family and to the assortment of young friends who considered “Mendoza Farm” their home away from home. She spent some of her last and happiest moments marveling over her three great grandchildren. Alice was predeceased by her husband, Melvin Riedel “Blue” Lilley (married 56 years); parents, William Dunn and Mary Emmerson Dobie Peebles; brother, Thomas Nathaniel Peebles; sister, Anne Dobie Peebles; paternal grandparents, Thomas Nathaniel and Priscilla Alice Proctor Peebles; and maternal grandparents, Joseph Henry and Annie Rebecca Cocke Dobie. She is survived by sister, Rebecca Peebles Bowen (Dr. Robert R.) of Lynchburg; daughters, Mary Dunn Lilley Conover (Harold) of Stony Creek, and Rebecca Anne Lilley (James Thomas) of Carson; granddaughters, Laura Lilley Ellis (Jeffery) of Montpelier (and children, Claire and Griffin), and Mary Alice Crawford (Eric) of Prince George (and son, Lawson); and by a nephew, nieces an cousins. Family and neighbors will remember her fondly. Thanks to all for the love and the many visits, cards, letters, photographs, gifts and calls. A memorial service will be held at the Petersburg Chapel of J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home on Thursday, February 11, 2016 at 6:00 P.M. The family will receive friends one hour prior from 5:00 to 6:00 P.M. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Virginia Foundation, 1700 Bayberry Court, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23226, Salem United Methodist Church, c/o Theresa Stuckie, 13701 Fairwood Rd., S. Prince George, VA 23805, or to a charity of your choice. Condolences may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com .