Obituary of Lillie Mae DeGree

Mrs. Lillie Mae Maddox De Gree departed this life on Wednesday, September 14, 2016 at Reston Hospital Center. She was born on May 21, 1939 in Cleveland County, North Carolina, to the late Gertrude Young and James Henry Maddox. Mrs. De Gree attended the former Camp High School, of Cleveland County, where she graduated in 1958. Mrs. De Gree was a kind and loving woman, who loved to help others. She had a special love for children, which she turned in to a long career as a Teacher’s Aide at Forest Edge Elementary School, Reston, Va., where she retired after 30 years of service in 2004. She was a much loved wife, mother, friend, and helper in her family, her Church, and the Reston Community, and she loved cooking (much sought after for her Apple Pie, Peach Cobbler, Mac-and-Cheese, and other). Mrs. De Gree was an avid Church Goer, where she attended Worship Service, Bible Study, and Vacation Bible School, and sang in the Church Choir. Mrs. De Gree traveled extensively with her Husband, Mel, of 52 Years, U.S. coast-coast, Caribbean Islands, Canada, Europe and Africa. She traveled to Cape Canaveral , Fla., to watch the NASA Space Shuttle lift of the a portion of the International Space Station into space. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by 2 brothers, Rev. Willie Maddox, Rev. Dr. Floyd Maddox, and a beloved sister, Carrie Maddox Debreaux. Left to Cherish her life and memory are her Husband of 52 years, Melvin De Gree, of Reston, her Children, Django A. De Gree (Dona), of Hamilton, VA, Mrs. Delaina A. De Gree Martinez (Ricardo), of Los Angeles, CA, Siblings, James H. Maddox, Sr. (Claudine), Franklin Maddox (Margie), Anne R. Maddox Parker (James), John H. Maddox, and Joseph Maddox (Carolyn), all of Shelby, Dorothy Dean Maddox Upshaw (Tony), and Henry Maddox (Doris) , both of Boston Mass.; 8 Grandchildren, Django A II, Kaylah, Darius, Jamir, Malia, and Kedar all of Hamilton, VA, and Miko and Maya, both of Los Angeles, CA., her special friends of 40+ years Mrs. Mae Taylor, Reston, VA, and Mrs. Delores Green (Ernie), Baltimore, Md, and a host of Nieces, and Nephews and many Great and Great-Great of the same, many other relatives and a host of friends in Virginia and NC. Funeral services are planned for Wednesday, September 21, at 11:30am after a visitation that begins at 10:30am at Martin Luther King JR Christian Church, Reston, VA, and a Memorial Service at Shoal Creek Baptist Church, Shelby NC, on September 23, where interment shall follow in Webb Memorial Cemetery, Shelby NC. Love Song for Lillie In a crowded place Amid Shouting faces, heavy noise An image of Purity and Beauty Lovely as a Morning Sunrise Floated into my eyes, lodged Into my heart and Set my Life aflame –Lillie! The Flame sears away the chaff and dross To bring forth Marriage, children, grandchildren, knowledge, Careers, prosperity, and Grace. Borne over half a century of searing, deafening change In the World, our Country, our people, family Even our very lives. No matter the change Our Love grew stronger, became eloquent Smiles and Touch. In the throes of illness, we became One Touch, one thought, one goal One Flesh to serve our needs To live. When one became a child again Other became Father, Mother, Sister, Brother Servant. No thought of self. Finally, to see her last breaths Peering in a monitor Rising slowly up a wave to top, then Sliding down to the valley, In a strange, Beautiful Dance Between Life and Death, Until at last Eternity. Where the Universe knows, “How do I love thee?” Says Elizabeth, “… To the height my soul can reach.” In Sonnets to the Portuguese. Not only that, but How wide, how warm, how strong? How bittersweet The Morn of our caress When Love made us her own. In the sea of Forget me nots. Melding Us as One Till the Rockies crumble, and Rock of Gibraltar withers to a pebble To announce our Love Forever In Heaven and Earth. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!