Lillian Mcculley

How do you sum up the beauty of someone’s soul in just a few sentences? I hope these words do a little justice to the amazing woman that she was.

Lillian A. McCulley, of Spring Grove VA, was nicknamed “Tootsie” by her father, Charles “Pete” Shrock and mother, LaNette Shrock. She was born in Pueblo, Colorado on March 25, 1941. God called her home on Sept. 2nd, 2022, at 4:14am. She was reunited with her Savior, her son, dad and grandparents. Though she struggled to stay with her family here, the welcoming celebration to her heavenly home must have been glorious. Her son, especially, had been waiting for her for 35 years.

She retired as the Executive Secretary for the President of Business and Finance at  VSU. Before that she had proudly served in the United States Air Force. She loved the mountains, eagles, bears, and all things Native American. She loved to crochet so much so that you would often find a crocheted doorknob cover, a hat for a pinecone one her grandkids brought her, or a doily for the table. She enjoyed painting and pottery as well. When she could  no longer do those things, she started to color and watch westerns on TV.

Her last years were wrought with the disease of Dementia. This disease robbed her of  many things, but it couldn’t touch the memory of her family nor her unconditional love for them. She was a daughter who loved and admired her parents, and the eldest of five children:  Ruth Paulson, Patsy Baton, Charles Shrock (Connie) , Evelyn Burke (Irvin). She was the wife, companion, and  friend to the love of her life, John McCulley. She was Mama and best friend to two children, Shawn Miller  (preceded her in death) and Kimberly Estes (Keith Estes). One of her greatest joys was  becoming grandma to her six grandchildren: Shawn (Lora), Kyrie (Colin), Kaitlyn (Trace), Kynley,  Kennedy, Landry. She was also proud to be called Grammy by her four great grandchildren:  Caiden, Sophia, Sheamus, and Liam.

Those titles: Daughter, Sister, Aunt, Wife, Mama, Grandma, Grammy defined who she was. She was a family woman and everything else paled in comparison to that. She was the best friend, confidant, caretaker, anchor, creator of dreams, and the cheerleader of each family  member. She loved unconditionally, unselfishly, and purposefully. Her door was always open,  and she would feed you the entire time you were there. The moment you walked into her house  you noticed just one of the many things she held close to her heart; this was art. It wasn’t the  typical artwork that might hang in one’s home. What graced her walls were pictures of not only  her family, but the arts and crafts that were made for her by those she loved. There was always  a spot for one more colored picture, painting, or craft. Priceless items made by those she  treasured.

Heaven’s gain is this world’s loss. This loss will be felt heavily by her family, because, to them she was their world. The beauty of her soul won’t need to be summed up by any of these  words; they will live on in those she poured her heart and love into. They will be her enduring  legacy.

You are welcome to join in the Celebration of her life which will be held at 10:00 a.m. on September 17, 2022 at Cameron Avenue Church of Christ, 601 Cameron Ave, Colonial Heights, Va. 23834.

This isn’t goodbye, it’s an until that day…….