Lillian P. Lemons

With loving devotion, we have cherished the life of our loved one, Lillian Patterson Lemons. Only God Himself knows the depth of our love for her and the praise we give Him, through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, for the years He gave each of us to enjoy her love and her gracious spirit. Her passing on January 23, 2020 has saddened us, but we know she is with the Lord. The memory of her is written across or hearts.

Lillian was born in McComas, West Virginia on January 18, 1939 to loving parents, Lee Patterson and Nannie Tyree. She was educated in the McComas public school system and graduated high school with honors at the age of 16. At an early age, she was baptized and gave her life over to the Lord.

At the age of 17, she married Joseph Benjamin (Deceased) and had 3 children, Mark, Karen, and Cedric, while living in West Virginia. After her eldest son was born, Lillian, her husband Joseph, and Mark, lived a short time in New York City, before returning to West Virginia.

In 1964, she left West Virginia alone to venture to Washington DC to look for better opportunities. She secured work at Capital Cab and the Jackie Lee’s Jazz club. Once settled, she returned to Beckley, West Virginia in that same year, where her children were staying with her parents, and moved with her children back to DC.

In 1967, Lillian met Henry Lemons and they began to date, while she pursued more education by enrolling full-time in an Occupational Training center in DC, studying Office and Business Administration. When she completed her training, she secured a position with the DC Department of Vocational Rehabilitation and then by 1970, advanced to a position with the DC Department of Corrections.

During this same time period, she married Henry in 1971 and moved from Washington DC to Brentwood, Maryland with her 3 children. Here, she made a home for her family and continued to be the nurturing and loving mother and wife who everyone, including her extended family and friends, depended on. She was the rock of the family and always kept God first in her life.

In 1990, Lillian joined Contee AME Zion Church in DC, where she served the church diligently and was a faithful member of the Usher Board for many years. In keeping with her commitment to serve God’s people, she made several trips to Ghana West Africa with her family and friends and the organization she loved, Sankofa International, Inc. While in Ghana, the people presented her with the title of “Nana” for her Senior and Godly Leadership, which is a great honor for anyone to receive.

Lastly, in 2015, Lillian and her husband Henry moved from Brentwood and settled in Bowie, Maryland, where she lived until her passing this year. Her greatest assets were her love of God, family, her pleasant smile and gentleness, and her spirit to serve. She will be missed, but never forgotten.

Those left to cherish Lillian’s memories are her husband: Henry S Lemons; her children: Mark A. (Alejandra) Benjamin, Karen M. (Keith Sr.) Kosh, Cedric A. (Crystal) Benjamin: her sisters and brothers: Flora Patterson (Ozzie) Bennett, Dorothy Scott, Timothy (Latonya) Ferguson, David (Donna) Ferguson, grandchildren; Keith O. Kosh Jr, Mark A. Benjamin II, Kelvin A. Kosh, Ikea Fauntleroy, Laura Medina, Luis Gutierrez, Rosa Gutierrez, Jaime Medina, Ernesto Medina, Julian Medina, and 7 great grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, and other family and friends. She was preceded in death by her mother, Nannie B. (Tyree) Patterson; father, Lee Patterson, and other brothers and sisters.