Lillie Lawson Lewis (Diamond Lil), 80, of Cleveland,Tennessee, died on Monday, March 14, 2016.
Lillie was born on Dec. 28, 1935 to the late Mary Lou Emmer Woody Jones and Lee Ander Jones; and was also preceded in death by her first husband of 37 years, Ted Lawson; her second husband of 12 years, Gene Lewis; her sisters, Louella Mitchell, Margie Jones, Clara Bea Jones, Lydia Earwood, Pearl Lee Jones, Cora Lee Blackwell and Mary Ann Sweatman; and her brother, Ray Jones.
Lillie established Diamond Lil Restaurant in 1976 and she successfully operated it with her family in downtown Cleveland for 25 years. She loved her customers like they were family. Many afternoons you could find family members eating lunch together. These were the happiest years of her life! She was a loving sister, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend to many. Lillie was a member of the Cleveland Cornerstone Church.
She is survived by her four children, Ronnie Brannett, Sandy Renner and her husband Mike, Bruce Lawson and his close friend, Cetina Gage and Jeff Lawson; her eight grandchildren, Christy Autry and her husband Tim, Ron Brannett, Emily Bullins and her husband Steve, Joe Renner and his wife Misti, Darel Jones and his wife Darlene, Dana Grady and Jessica Jones; her great-grandchildren, Reed Bullins, Chandler Bullins, Evan Bullins, Matthew Autry, Shelly Autry, Chase Brannett, Brandon Brannett, Lily Renner, Jamison Renner, Dylan Grady and Will Grady; her brothers, John W. Jones, Wallace Jones, Harold Jones and David Jones; and several nieces and nephews.
The Remembrance of Life Service will be conducted Thursday, March 17, at 2 p.m. from the Westmore Church of God with Pastor Herb Conley and Pastor Steve Morgan officiating. Interment will follow in the Hilcrest Memorial Gardens with Darel Jones, Ander Jones, Richard Jones, Johnny Jones, Chris Allen, Kenneth Allen and Jackie Jones serving as casket bearers. A Dove release will conclude the service. Lillie may be viewed at the Church on Thursday from 1-2 p.m.
The family will receive friends from 4-9 p.m. Wednesday, March 16 at the Jim Rush Funeral and Cremation Services North Ocoee Chapel who has charge of the arrangements.