(Courtesy) Lillian Gresham

Lillian Middlebrooks Gresham, age 89, of 24355 South Oaks Road, Byromville, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, March 1, 2025 at Crisp Regional Hospital in Cordele.

She was born on February 29, 1936 in Byromville to the late J. W. Middlebrooks and Margaret Raper Middlebrooks.  She attended Montezuma High School and was a member of the 1953 Aztecs Girls Basketball Team, the only team in the history of the school to go to state.  She married Wilmer Lee Gresham, Jr. who preceded her in death.

Lillian was the cafeteria manager at Macon County Middle/High School for 25 years.  She enjoyed gardening, cooking and spending time with her family.  She also enjoyed attending sporting events to watch her grandchildren and great grandchildren perform.

She was a faithful member of Byromville Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School for 55 years, taught Vacation Bible School, sang in the choir and served on the House and Grounds and Pastor Search Committees until her health began to fail.  She was responsible for the design and upkeep of the prayer garden at the church where she spent many hours talking with close friends who needed a listening ear.  In her early years, she played on the church softball team and the Reed Nuts Travel Team.  Many of the players remember her as a second mother because of the love and support she provided them.

Lillian was the oldest of 8 children, 5 of whom preceded her in death:  Barbara Davis of Perry, Doris Beavers of Vienna, Willie Middlebrooks of Ideal, Jimmie Middlebrooks of Alapaha and Danny Middlebrooks of Perry.  After her parents' death, she and Wilmer took the role of "second mother and father" to her younger siblings.  Called "sister" by her siblings, she became "Aunt Sister" to her nieces and nephews who loved her like a grandmother.

Left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Carolyn (Billy) Tison of Byromville and Jean Thompson of Unadilla; 5 granddaughters, Christy (Brian Smith) Tison of Byromville, Amanda (Austin) Dowling of Auburn, Pam (Mike) Diehl of Gainesville, Ansley (Cal) Scarborough of Byromville and Karli (Matthew) Ray of Cordele; 15 great grandchildren, Liam and Lucas Hickes, Tiffany Harbin, Ashley Giraldo, Gavin Giraldo, Mike, Austin and Lillie Diehl, Brice and Hagen Born, Braelynn Dowling, Mason and Tate Scarborough and Gresham and Ila Kate Ray; 7 great great grandchildren; a sister, Gail Singleton of Madison; a brother, Larry Middlebrooks of Montezuma; 3 sisters-in-law, June Smith of Unadilla, Freida Middlebrooks of Engima and Elaine Middlebrooks of Perry; 2  brothers-in-law, Ed Davis of Perry and Dub Crook of Lilly.

She also leaves behind her two fur babies, Little Bit and Hazel.

Funeral services will be held at 11 AM Tuesday, March 4 in Byromville Baptist Church with interment following in Bertha Dozier Memorial Park in Montezuma.

The family will greet friends 6 - 8 PM Monday, March 3 at the funeral home.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Prayer Garden at Byromville Baptist Church, PO Box 126, Byromville, Georgia 31007.

The family would like to thank the staff of Phoebe Sumter Medical Center, Crisp Regional Hospital and Cordele Health & Rehab for the loving care provided to Mama and the family during the past eight weeks.

Brannen-NeSmith Funeral Home of Vienna has charge of arrangements.