Lillie Wainright

February 5th, 1949, Sylvester and Mariah Survillion welcomed a bouncing baby girl in Marks, Mississippi. She was the baby of ten other siblings. At the age of two, this precious jewel went to stay with her Aunt Lillie and Uncle Rommie. "Aunt Lillie was unable to bear children and was fortunate to name Lillie as her namesake.

She confessed a belief in Christ at an early age in Hughes, Arkansas. She later united with Ebenezer Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Felix West, where she worked faithfully. She served as the Vice President of Arkansas Baptist State Convention, Mission President, church secretary as well as deaconess. Of all the accolades and titles she held the one that gave her the most joy was "Grandma Lillie."

Lillie graduated from Hughes High in Hughes, Arkansas. She continued her education at A.M.& N., now known as the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. She received her Bachelor of Education. While attending A.M.& N., she met the love of her life, Johnny, which many know as Terry. They were united in holy matrimony shortly after graduation on May 26, 1973. To this union, a son was born, John Tremayne Wainright. She later received her Master's of  Education from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. The two returned to El Dorado to celebrate their marital bliss. She began her teaching career in the Hughes School District. She and three other teachers would commute back and forth together weekly. She later became an educator with the El Dorado School District for over 20 years and also taught classes at night at South Arkansas Community College.

She was very passionate, creative, fierce, and outspoken, but above all, she was God-fearing. She illustrated her skills through her flowers. No matter the occasion, her arrangements would brighten any event. After retirement, she and her husband began to travel the world. They became members of the Rollin Lion RV Club of Pine Bluff and kept the roadway hot. They were no stranger to the cruise line, but no later, the destination being together was all they wanted to share. She had an eye for detail and wanted her project to be absolutely perfect. She had a heart of gold. She, alongside her husband, took great pride in caring for her father-in-law, Arthur Winright.

Lillie transitioned to her resting place on August 31 at UAMS in Little Rock, Arkansas. She was preceded in death by her parents, a very special Uncle, Rommie, and Lillie Bryant, who raised her as their own; her paternal grandmother, Harriett Survillion; three brothers, Freddie, James, and Leon Survillion; one sister, Daisy Butler, and her father and mother-in-law, Arthur and Virgie Mae Winright.

Lillie's memories will be cherished by her loving husband of 51 years, Johnny Wainright. One son: John T. Wainright of Atlanta, GA. Three sisters: Annie (Joe) Daniel of South Holland, IL, Cleo Butler of Detroit, MI, and Mary Cole of Gurnee, IL. Four brothers: Slyvester (Judy), Survillion of Mobile, AL; Henry (Sandy), Survillion of Chicago, IL; Eddie Survillion of Detroit, MI;  John (Mary) Horne of Detroit, MI. A Special Nephew whom she acknowledged as her brother Allen (Demetrus) Survillion of Chicago, IL. Six grandchildren: Jamiah White, Thai'asia White, Kiera White, Major Austin Wainright, Chase Wainright, and Mason Carter, all of Atlanta, Georgia. One great-grandson: Dmoni Harris of Atlanta, GA.  Two brothers-in-law, Charles Winwright of Strong and Kenneth (Marilyn) Winwright of El Dorado.Two sisters-in-law, Barbara Survillion of Chicago, IL, and Elizabeth (Tommy) White of El Dorado. She also leaves a host of loving extended family and friends that will miss her tremendously.