Lillian G. Altemus

Lillian Gloria Altemus (Petie) was born in St. Louis Missouri on September 27, 1931, to Henrine Quinn Lee and Samuel D. Lee, Sr. She was the third of 6 children. Lillian departed this life on February 8, 2025. Growing up in St. Louis, Lillian and her family were members of Asbury United Methodist Church where she dedicated her life to the Lord, accepting Him into her heart as a child.

Lillian attended Sumner High School where she was a member of the student council and the A Cappella choir. She graduated from Sumner in 1948. In 1950, Lillian married Armin J. Altemus, and they lived in St. Louis and Washington, DC. While in Washington, DC, Lillian attended Miners Teachers College, where she became a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

In 1959, Lillian and her family relocated to Riverside, California where she became an active member of the community. Lillian joined Allen Chapel AME church where she raised her children with a strong spiritual foundation, was a steward and sang in the choir for many years.

Lillian was the proud mother of 6 children: Sheila, Armin, Antoinette, Antonio, Gloria and Alejandro. She devoted her life to her family and friends, always offering warmth, wisdom and unconditional love. She was a beacon of kindness and grace. Her smile would brighten any room, and her light lives on in the hearts of all who were blessed to know her.

Lillian worked in her husband’s medical practice for many years until she decided to enroll in Riverside City College to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a Registered Nurse. She graduated with honors in 1973 and immediately pursued her Registered Nurse Practitioner’s degree, graduating from the University of San Francisco, California in 1976. Lillian was highly respected Family Nurse Practitioner in the Riverside County Inland Empire, where she worked for many years, prior to her retirement in 1997.

In her earlier, more active years, Lillian participated in bowling leagues and was an avid bridge player. In her later years, Lillian was a voracious reader, she continued to find joy in watching football, reruns of her soap operas and game shows. She loved going to the Huntersville Senior Center where she developed many special friendships, played games, enjoyed arts and crafts and taught bridge. Anyone who ever played a game with Lillian will attest that she had a winning and competitive spirit!

After her retirement, Lillian lived with her children between California, Texas, Georgia and North Carolina. In 2014 when she relocated to NC, Lillian joined Huntersville Zion AME church where she served as Head Deaconess, Sunday School Treasurer, Steward, Trustee and a member of the Women’s Home and Overseas Missionary (WHOM). Lillian was honored as the Lay Person of the Year in 2023 and was revered as “Mother of the Church”.

Lillian lived a vibrant 93 years of life! She loved to travel and would take a cruise anywhere. She was very proud and humbled to have been baptized in the Jordan River during her trip to Israel.

Lillian was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, Samuel and Delano, her sister, Yvonne, her youngest daughter, Gloria and her granddaughter, Ashanti.

She leaves behind to cherish her memory, her siblings, Rebecca M. Graham and John S. Lee; her children, Sheila Altemus, Armin Altemus, Antoinette Altemus-Burke (Walter), Antonio Altemus (Carolyn), Alejandro “Mike” Altemus (Michelle); 6 grandchildren, Ayesha Davis (Todd), Ian Altemus (Elena), Azaan Altemus (Nydia), Azende Altemus, Yuri Altemus (Dani) and Brandi Reid and 5 great-grandchildren Micha’el Davis, Solomon Davis, Sebastian Altemus, Petra Altemus and Aaron Davis and a host of nieces, nephews, bonus family members and dear friends.