1914
Lillian
2009
Lillian Shumate Oakley
November 6, 1914 — December 14, 2009
The celebration of her life will be held on Friday, December 18, 2009 at 2:00 PM at the Montezuma United Methodist Church. Rev. Ken Myers will officiate with burial following in the Felton Cemetery, Montezuma.
Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 PM on Thursday, December 17, 2009 at Watson-Mathews Funeral Home or at the Oakley home, 617 North Dooly Street, Montezuma.
Mrs. Oakley was born on November 6, 1914 in Montezuma, Georgia to the late Leon Thomas Shumate, Sr. and Enid Mae Pickard Shumate. She was a graduate of Montezuma High School and Georgia Teacher's College in Milledgeville where she received her Education degree in 1935. She later received her Master's Degree in Library Science from Georgia Southwestern College in Americus.
Mrs. Oakley taught for many years in the elementary grades of the Macon County School System where she later served as a librarian. It was her joy to see her students thrive in their educational achievements and she especially enjoyed seeking out individual children's gifts, talents, hopes, and dreams. She encouraged the children to nurture these gifts and to meet the goals they should set for their lives.
She was of the Christian faith and was a life-long member of the Montezuma United Methodist Church. She served on the administrative board of the church and was a member of the Philathea Class and the United Methodist Women. She served as pianist for several Sunday School classes. She was also a member of the Montezuma Music Lovers Club and the Macon County Historical Society. She enjoyed reaching out to people in the community with the same giving spirit she showed her family and students.
Mrs. Oakley was preceded in death by her husband of fifty years, George Troy Oakley, her brother, Leon T. Shumate Jr.; her grandson, Christopher Leon Tripp; and her son-in-law, Mike Murray.
She is survived by her daughters, Angelyn Oakley Tripp (Gil) of Americus, GA and Carol Oakley Murray of Buena Vista, GA; three grandchildren, Troy Tripp of Atlanta, GA; Grace M. Broughton (Jimmy) of Winston-Salem, NC; and Michael Murray (Patricia) of Birmingham, AL; five great-granddaughters, Mary Ann, Gracie, and Bess Broughton and Narcissa and Helen Murray; sister-in-law, Ruby Oakley Thompson of Union City, GA; and special friends, Mildred Hankerson, Harriett Mayo, Dot Hawk, Emma Shelley, and Doris McKenzie of Montezuma and Bob Kiger of Ferndale, MI.
Mrs. Oakley had a great love of music and her church and wished memorials to be made to the Organ Fund, Montezuma United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 159, Montezuma, GA 31063.
Watson-Mathews Funeral Home, Montezuma, GA has charge of arrangements.
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