Mary Jarrard Lilly

Mary Jarrard Lilly, 69, of Gainesville, Georgia died Saturday, June 10th after an extended illness.

She was born in Murray County, GA in 1936 and was adopted by Rev. Juan and Mrs. Minnie Jarrard in 1943. She married James Lilly in 1958 and traveled the world as an Air Force wife for 22 years.

She was a long time resident of Montgomery, AL, and a former member of the First Baptist Church of Montgomery. She served as the director of the Baptist Center, a charitable arm of the Southern Baptist Mission Board, for more than 10 years.

She is survived by her husband, Col. Jim Lilly (USAF, ret.), Gainesville, GA, three children and their spouses; Sherri and Tracy Bales, Murrayville, GA, Marc and Vicky Lilly, Elberton, GA, and David and Carole Lilly, Atlanta, GA, and five grandchildren; Jessi and Joe Cannistraro, Nicole, Chris, and Sara Lilly, two step-grandchildren, Garret and Clint Bone, and her sister and brother-in-law, Goldie and Ken Mote, and her brother, John White and one great-grandchild. She had numerous other relatives and special family friends throughout the south.

The memorial service for Mrs. Lilly will be held Saturday, June 17th at 3 p.m. EST at the First Baptist Church Chapel in Gainesville, GA. Dr. Bill Coates will officiate and Mark Green will perform the music.

The family will be receiving friends in the parlor of the church after the memorial service. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Ministry of Caring at First Baptist Church of Gainesville, 751 Green St NW, Gainesville, GA 30501, (770) 534-7354 would be appreciated.

According to her wishes, the family will be returning her remains to a family cemetery in Murray County, Georgia, at a future time.