Cecilia Jones Grissom Lilly passed away peacefully surrounded by family on November 25, 2022, at the age of 85 at Martin Boyd Christian Home.
She was of Baptist Faith and was a member of Ridgedale Baptist Church.
Cecilia was born June 22, 1937, in Copperhill, Tn., to the late Cecil W. Jones and Jewel Pack Jones. She grew up in Copperhill. She was a graduate of Copperhill High School, then attended Tennessee Tech in Cookeville, Tn. She married Gene A. Grissom in 1959 in Conyers, Ga., and they moved to Macon, Ga., and became parents to Celia Lynn. They eventually moved to Orangeburg, SC which became their home until 1976. She moved to Cleveland, Tn. and worked at Merle Norman Cosmetics and then moved to Chattanooga, where she was a long-time employee at the Tennessee American Water Company. She married the late William N. Lilly on June 30, 1986, in Hawaii and they continued to make Chattanooga their home. Her favorite hobbies included all types of needlework and a love for leisure traveling.
Survivors include her daughter, Celia Lynn Saunders (Randy) of Ooltewah; granddaughters, Casey Vassey (Jansen) of Cleveland and Abby Campbell (Quade) of Ooltewah; great grandchildren include Sutton and Falynn Vassey, and Linc Campbell; sister, Mary Ann Williams (Raymond) of White, Ga. She also leaves behind nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends.
She was also preceded in death by one sister and brother-in-law, Greta Dykes (Oscar).
A graveside service for family and close friends will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 29, at Hamilton Memorial Gardens.
You are invited to share a personal memory of Cecilia or your condolences with her family at her online memorial at www.companionfunerals.com.
In lieu of flowers, Cecilia’s family requests that donations be made to Grace Works Church Chattanooga, 6445 Lee Highway, Chattanooga, Tn. 37421.