Lucy May Lenoir

Lucy May Lenoir was born June 2, 1933 to Walter Wade and Martha Lavenia (Welchance) Lenoir. Her siblings, Martha Wade, James Walter and Thomas Edward passed away previously. Lucy’s family also includes her sisters-in-law, Jane Lowrey Lenoir and Nancy Raney Lenoir. Lucy’s beloved nephews and nieces are John Steven Hogue (Patty), Nancy Hogue Williams (Bud), the late David Wade Hogue (Pam), Cathy Lenoir Poyner (Barry), James William Lenoir (Ellen), Carol Lenoir Hunt (Gary), Robert Wade Lenoir (Sherry), Brian Wayne Lenoir, Brandon Ward Lenoir, Audrey Elaine Lenoir Story (Scotty), the late Carolyn Anne Lenoir Martin (Daryl), Mary Lenoir Travis (David), and Amy Lenoir Owens (Dow).
Great nephews and nieces include Josh, Ryan, Susan, Max, Allyson, Cole, Bethany, Ward, Lucy, Emily, Laura, Wade, Will, Alice, Elizabeth, Mary Lee, Andrew, Victoria, James, David James, Samantha, Hunter, Dylan, Connor and Rebecca.
Allister, Sterling, Owen, Charlotte, Ace, Hadleigh, Nash, Etta Ruth, Alaina, Delilah, Bailey and Meadow are Lucy’s great-great-nieces and great-great nephews.

Lucy graduated from David Lipscomb High School in Nashville, then soon began her stellar career with National Life/American General Insurance Company, eventually serving as an overseer of salaries, benefits and schedules for hundreds of company agents. She became recognized for her conscientious attention to detail and unfailing promptness and presence at the company. Upon her retirement after 44 years, the chair of American General’s Nashville division attended her departing ceremony to speak and present Lucy a commendation.

As a woman who loved her family first and foremost, Lucy cared for her parents as they aged, giving seven years of kindness and efficiency to her ailing mother, then two years to her father. Lucy cared for, watched over and helped her nieces and nephews, remaining wise, non-interfering and humorous, serving perfectly prepared southern cooking on her classically beautiful dishes at her perfectly maintained home, dressed in her elegant attire on Sundays and special occasions. When told she might occasionally over-worry about the younger ones, she replied, “Don’t tell me worry does no good! Nothing I ever worried over happened!”

Lucy believed In God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit with all her might. She attended services at Old Jefferson Church of Christ in Smyrna, Tennessee, Granny White Church of Christ in Nashville, Tennessee, Madison Church of Christ in Alabama, and Meridianville Church of Christ in Alabama. Volunteering for church outreaches, bringing food, attending classes and talking with people about the faith, Lucy hoped and prayed for her family to live within the fold.

Lucy was a scholar of literature, occasionally surprising her more formally educated friends and family with her grasp of classic novels. Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, Henry James -- intriguing plots sparked her interest. Recordings of opera greats Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo and José Carreras were treasures. Traveling to Europe with her nephew Billy and railroading across Canada with Jimmy and Jane – Lucy welcomed adventure.

There will be visitation on Wednesday, May 13th from 1 to 3 PM at Legacy Chapel Funeral Home in Madison, AL with a memorial service immediately following. Interment will be at Maple View Cemetery in Smyrna, TN at 4PM on Thursday May 14th.

Lucy’s family expresses heartfelt gratitude to nurse Nell Humphrey whose constant loving friendship and conscientious healthcare graced Lucy’s last years. Lucy’s nephew Billy has tirelessly overseen her care.

Her family will miss our beloved Lucy whom her sister-in-law Jane called “our cornerstone.” But we believe her family members who are already there and the Lord Himself smiled happily at her arrival. The family requests gifts in Lucy’s honor be given to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Who can find a virtuous woman? - for her price is far above rubies. Proverbs 31:10