Lillie C. Akridge
Lillie Mae Copening Akridge departed this life on November 8, 2022 at Stanleytown Health Center after a long illness. She was born on June 22, 1931 to the late Eugene Copening and Mattie Hairston Copening. She was her family’s rock, a very strong woman especially in her faith…she had a genuine spirit, quick wit, great wisdom and wouldn’t hesitate to tell it like it is!
She was a faithful member of Kitson Memorial Baptist Church in Henry Va, where she served as First Lady for almost 40 years; she also served on the Usher Board and was a member of the Senior Choir. She was an amazing singer and loved singing in church or anywhere – she let her little light shine everywhere she went – and unofficially became a member of the Family Five on a few occasions. She was a member of the prayer band that included Oak Hill Baptist Church, Friendship Baptist Church and Kitson. She was also the corresponding secretary for the Usher Board of the Smith River Baptist Association, and a prominent member of the Association’s Ministers Wives’ Alliance.
She worked in the cafeteria at Mary Hunter Elementary School, worked as a maid cleaning many households in the area and even this funeral home. Later in life, she became a housewife and arguably the best cake baker in town. And every year in August, she was the driving force in bringing the Akridge family reunion together with the community in memorable food and fellowship!
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her oldest son, Dawson Akridge, her sister, Gladys Fonville and all of her brothers – George Copening, Harold Copening, Lynwood Copening, Larry Copening and Carl Copening.
In addition to her loving husband of 71 years, James Matthew Akridge, she leaves to cherish: her sisters, Nancy Manns (WM) of Bassett, Paulette Copening of Martinsville, Shirley Price of Aurora, CO and Laverne Dodson of Concord, NC.
She also leaves to cherish: her son Jeffrey Akridge (Janice) of Bassett; her daughters, Valarie Dickson (Jimmy) of Temple Hills, MD, Rachel Akridge of Bassett, Jennifer Saunders (Darius) of Ferrum and Daphne Swindell (Johnnie) of Wendell, NC and her loving grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, church family, friends and a community she loved and impacted in many ways.
A visitation will be held on Sunday, November 13, 2022 from 1:00 to 2:00 PM at Collins Funeral Home, 30 Riverside Hwy, Bassett, VA with a funeral service to follow at 2:00 PM. Interment will follow in the Akridge Family Cemetery.
Online condolences at www.collinsmckeestonebassett.com
Collins Funeral Home is respectfully serving the Akridge Family.
