Lillian Frances Cook

Psalm 96:1-2 states: “Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.” (NIV) Lillian Frances Jones was born May 19, 1928, in small town USA – Phenix City, Alabama. Seven years later her sister, Anne, was born. As a 7 year old, Anne recalls seeing Lillian going out to the street corner when the “traveling” piano teacher would come into the neighborhood. She wanted to get her attention to come to her house in order to ask her parents to get a piano and let her take lessons. Music was an important part of her life, being involved in high school choirs and playing piano for school plays. In adult life she sang in a women’s quartet, sang in the choir and played piano for church services. Then later she would take her music to nursing homes to sing for the residents. She had hoped this would be part of her retirement ministry. Lillian also had a passion to serve God. As an adult, she participated in short-term missionary trips, one time smuggling Bibles into Communist lands! She was so thrilled to be part of sharing the Gospel in this way. She was living a dream beyond her wildest imagination! Lillian never wavered in bringing her two daughters up to come to know the Lord – faithfully taking them to Sunday school and church. Although life was not always easy, she tried to exemplify for them living a life for God through all of life’s circumstances – good or bad. When Debbie went to Bible school in Minneapolis, she went with her “in spirit,” taking each test with her, and praying her through the challenges Debbie would encounter. Just before her retirement, Lillian’s life changed dramatically when her daughter, Jeanine, had her accident and became a paraplegic. For 20+ years she gave herself undividedly to care for Jeanine. To her it was without question to take on this role, which for the first ten+ years required her to serve her daughter every four hours around the clock. When homebound, true to Lillian’s desire to serve God, she and Jeanine hosted a weekly Bible study group for several years. In her last year there was nothing more enjoyable for Lillian than to visit Friend’s Church in Orange with Debbie and Randy. After enjoying the lively worship music, and Bible teaching from Pastor Jay – she would always say “Is church over already?” We are thankful that now Lillian can experience “church” fulltime with God.