Lillian Allen Findlay

Lillian Allen Findlay, age 102, of Tuscaloosa, died Feb. 29, 2012, at home. Services will be 3 p.m. Sunday at Carthage Presbyterian Church in Moundville with Rev. Jerry Douglas officiating. Burial will follow in Carthage Presbyterian Church Cemetery with Heritage Chapel Funeral Home & Cremations, a Dignity Memorial Provider, directing. The family will receive friends tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. The body will lie in state one hour prior to services at the church. The family will receive friends following the service at the church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James Cary Findlay, her parents, three brothers, and four sisters.

Survivors include her sons, Cary Allen Findlay of Moundville and Charles Campbell Findlay and wife Jo Frances Findlay of Cottondale; her grandchildren, James Charles Findlay, Steven David Findlay, Lillian Jeannette Findlay, Susan Patterson Findlay, Jeanette Giray, Elizabeth Thornell (Jake), Ruth Allen Findlay (Robert Reynolds), and George Cary Findlay; six great-grandchildren, Winston Way, Thad Way, Katelyn Findlay, Kelly Findlay, Amber Findlay, and Lisa Robins Thornell; her sister, Elizabeth Ann Gamble of Florence; and many nieces and nephews.

Lillian Allen Findlay was born in Duncanville, Alabama to Julius Henry Allen and Lillian McKinley Allen. Her education was in the Tuscaloosa County Schools, and she attended Livingston Normal School, which later became the University of West Alabama. She majored in Elementary Education and earned Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Elementary Education from the University of Alabama with post-graduate work.

Her first years of teaching experience were in Bibb County. She then taught four years in the Talladega City School System and one year at Hale County High School, teaching English and Social Studies. The remainder of her 27 years of teaching experience were in the Tuscaloosa City School System at Verner Elementary. She assisted Dr. Daisy Parton for two years and returned to teaching in the same school, teaching the third grade and served as a Cooperating Teacher in the College of Education at the University of Alabama. After retirement she taught in Pearson's Academy, teaching two subjects, English and Social Studies.

She was honored with membership in Alabama Alpha Delta Kappa International Honorary Teacher's Sorority. She served as president of Zeta Chapter in 1964 after serving other local offices. She served as a delegate to international conventions and served on the Alabama State Board of Alpha Delta Kappa for eight years serving as scholarship chairman, treasurer, necrology, and other duties.

The Marquis Who's Who Publication Board certified that Lillian Allen Findlay was a subject of biographical record in Who's Who in American Education fourth edition. She received listings in Who's Who in Alabama's Distinguished, Personality of the South, and the World's Who's Who of Women, printed in Cambridge, England.

She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday School classes in the Junior, Primary, and Adult departments and served as superintendent of the Beginners Department when Training Union was included in the church program.

Mrs. Findlay studied art at both Livingston University and the University of Alabama and was a longtime member of the West Alabama Art Association. She played the violin with the Tuscaloosa Community Orchestra and was a member of the handbell choir at Calvary Baptist Church.

She held membership in the Alabama Education Association, the National Education Association, and the Tuscaloosa Retired Teachers' Association, where she served as president. She also served as president of the Tuscaloosa Music Club, director of District Three Federation of Music Club, and past President of the Assembly of the Tuscaloosa Music Club. She was a member of the St. Andrew's Society of Tuscaloosa, the University Club, and the Tuskaloosa Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

She was active in civic, music, church, and professional organizations and was a member of the Faith Sunday School Class at Calvary Baptist Church.

She wrote: “My children are the only accomplishment I can point to with pride. My grandchildren and great-grandchildren helped me recognize the primary thing in life is ‘Just Living'.”

Pallbearers will be Jake Thornell, Robert Reynolds, Steve Findlay, Jim Findlay, Thad Way, and Winston Way.

Honorary pallbearers are Alpha Delta Kappa Beta Chapter, Tuscaloosa Music Club, Tuscaloosa Symphony, Retired Teachers' Association, Dr. George Miller, Dr. Regina Harrell, American Association of University Women, and the Atlanta Braves baseball team.

Proverbs 31:10 states, “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.” Lillian Allen Findlay was that woman.

Her family will always remember the loving care given by Joan Watts, Marie Robertson, Nancy Carroll, and Bonnie Lee.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Calvary Baptist Church and Carthage Presbyterian Cemetery Association.