Lilly Allene Mayes

KNOXVILLE,TN, Lilly Allene Mayes, age 88, formerly of Byrdstown, TN passed away peacefully in her sleep in the early morning hours of 7/22/2020 while staying at NHC Farragut Rehab center recuperating from surgery to repair a broken hip suffered in a fall on 6/16/2020. She has suffered debilitating fractures and injuries for years due to osteoporosis and each time despite pain and suffering she fought to heal and live so she could continue her life with beloved husband, Estle, their three daughters and extended family. Allene graduated Pickett County High School in 1950 and at her father’s insistence she left home to begin business college in Nashville, TN. While there she completed her educational program and met and married Estle Mayes on 7/17/1954. She worked as a secretary for two years until the birth of her first child when she chose to remain a home maker for her growing family. Ultimately, she and Estle had three daughters who she loved and cared for her entire life. She was a devout Christian and when newly married she and Estle joined the Church of Christ and they remained devoted members throughout their lifetimes finding new congregations close by on every move, from south Nashville, to East Nashville, to Goodlettsville, to Dickson County, and then back to Allenes’ hometown, Byrdstown, TN. Allene was a soft spoken and generally shy person who was an excellent and empathetic listener. Though quiet her mind was always full of thoughts and ideas which she generally kept to herself unless asked directly. In recent years she had begun to show her creativity by composing rhymes and poems that she shared with a select few of her family and earned the nickname “Silly Lilly”. She was an excellent seamstress, had a soft heart for all animals, loved to sing in church and study her bible, and always wished she could have learned to play a musical instrument, Gardening was a real joy to her. She looked forward to Spring and the growing season so she could plant seeds and potatoes and watch them grow. She said more than once that no one had to starve if they knew how to plant a garden. Allene was one of twelve children to parents John Henry and Pearlie (Bow) Reagan, of Byrdstown, TN, both deceased. Siblings that predeceased her are Marvin Reagan (w Allie), Corda (h Dawrence) Maney, Clarice Reagan, Hollis (w Evalyn) Reagan, Uldean (Dean, h Bob) White, Walter (w Reva, living) Reagan. Her surviving siblings include: Doris (h Charles) Jolly, Homer (w Judy) Reagan, Everett (w Bonnie) Reagan, Lois (h Doug) Horne, and Kathryn (h Don, deceased) Eyler. She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Estle Mayes (age 91), daughters, Norma (h James) Stanley, Mindy (h David) Pierce, and Myra (h David) Weatherspoon, grandchildren – Justin Danford, Amber Stanley, Rachel Stanley, Macey Pierce, and Mack Pierce, step grand-daughter, Jamie Stanley Hodsden, step grandchildren – Charles Davis & two sons and daughter, Chris Davis, Brad Davis & son, also great grandchildren – McKenzie Stanley, and Madison Stanley-Mantilla, along with numerous much loved cousins, nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. Visitation service will be held on Tuesday, 7/28/20 from 10:30am – 12 noon at Berry Funeral Home, 3704 Chapman Hwy, Knoxville, TN with viewing on Wed., 7/29/20 from 1 – 3 pm CT, short graveside service and interment immediately following at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens, 1150 S. Dickerson Rd., Goodlettsville, TN 37072. If desired, friends may make donations to: The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, The Knoxville Chapter, 5401 Kingston Pike, Suite 230, Knoxville, TN 37919, in memory of Allene Mayes grandmother of Rachel Stanley, CF double lung transplant patient. *Please be aware that Covid-19 safety precautions should be followed, and we understand that many should consider staying isolated to be safe. Mom would want people’s safety to come first, and we understand and agree. No pressure. Love to All.

“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind.” Luke 10:27