Lillian M. Jeffries

Lillian M. Jeffries, 91, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on May 23, 2009; she was a resident of HeartFields Assisted Living of Cary. She was born in Tamaqua, PA on June 27, 1917, and spent the majority of her life in Centre Hall, PA. Mrs. Jeffries was a graduate of Tamaqua Senior High School and Columbia Union College in Tacoma Park, MD. She was also a graduate of the McCann School of Business in Mahanoy City, PA and was later the first female teacher at the Ford School of Business in Pottsville, PA. On August 12, 1939, she married David J. Jeffries of Coaldale, PA and devoted herself to this marriage for 68 years until his death in October, 2007. Following World War II, the couple moved to Centre County, PA where they owned and operated the Jeffries Funeral Home and Furniture Mart until their retirement; the couple moved to State College, PA in 1996 and then to Cary, NC in 2005. Mrs. Jeffries is survived by her son Dr. Jeffrey D.E. Jeffries and his wife Cathy of Cary, NC and her daughter Shawnie Olson and her husband Alan of Homer, AK. She is also survived by three grandchildren, David J. Jeffries, II and his wife Laurie, Dr. James Holdermann and his wife Dr. Heather Holdermann, and Evy Olson; and three great-grandchildren, David J. Jeffries, III, Hunter Holdermann and Sydney Holdermann. She was a devoted member of the Grace United Methodist Church and one of its predecessors, St. John's Evangelical United Brethren Church, both of Centre Hall, PA. She led the Church Primary Department, was on the Board of Trustees, taught the Ladies Sunday School Class and served on numerous other Church-related committees throughout her life. She was also an active member of the Eastern Star, the Centre Hall Woman’s Club and the Methodist Woman’s Society. During her lifetime, Mrs. Jeffries dedicated most of her time and energy to her church, family and community. She had a wonderful sense of humor and quietly went about performing countless acts of kindness for others. A memorial service will be held at the Grace United Methodist Church in Centre Hall, PA. on a date in July convenient to the family. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions in Mrs. Jeffries' memory be made to either the Methodist Home for Children, 1041 Washington St., Raleigh, NC 27605 or to the Grace United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 292, Centre Hall, PA 16828. Memorial Service arrangements are being prepared by the Heintzelman Funeral Home, Centre Hall, PA.