Helen Ellis Lilly

Helen Ellis Lilly, wife of the late Oscar James Lilly ( long time president of the former Gainesville National Bank), passed away on November 4, 2010 at the age of 102 years. She came to Gainesville, Georgia from Panama City, Florida in the late 1920's to be secretary of Brenau Academy and head counselor of Brenau's Camp Takeda. She graduated from Brenau University in 1931 and was inducted into the Brenau University Hall of Fame in 2004.
During her many years of living in Gainesville, she was active in many civic, religious and private organizations including being a member, supporter and Sunday School teacher at First Baptist Church, a charter member of the Gateway Garden Club, charter member of the Art Study Club, and a PTA president. She also was a supporter of Boy Scout Troop 26, Hall County and U.S. Humane Society, the Northeast Georgia Regional Medical Center and Phi Mu sorority at Brenau. In 1995 she established a program of developing the Helen Ellis Lilly Scholarship to help fund student educations at Brenau.
Since 2007 she retired from her home in Gainesville and lived near her surviving son Ben E. Lilly and his wife Peggy I. Lilly in Alpharetta, GA. Helen Lilly was pre-deceased in 2008 by her oldest son James Lilly of Gainesville, Ga. Other surviving family members include six grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren.
Funeral service will be 2:30 p.m. Sunday from the chapel of Little and Davenport Funeral Home with Dr. Bill Coates and Rev. T. Richard Davis officiating and burial to follow in Alta Vista Cemetery. The family will receive friends Sunday from 1:30 p.m. until service time.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to First Baptist Church Ministry of Caring, 751 Green Street, Gainesville, GA 30501 or to the Helen Ellis Lilly Scholarship Fund at Brenau University, 500 Washington Street, Gainesville, GA 30501.
Those wishing to send online condolences may do so at www.littledavenport.com