Lucille Thomas Colebrook, 96, died on December 5. She was the daughter of Burl Martin Thomas and Lizzie Wicker Thomas.
She was preceded in death by her parents, William Bachman Colebrook, Sr. her husband of 48 years, Sr., her infant daughter Pamela Elizabeth Colebrook, brothers Shelton and Billy Thomas, and sister Mary Lee Thomas Foushee.
She is survived by her son William B. Colebrook, Jr. and wife Glenda, daughter Carol Pittman and husband Jack, granddaughters Elizabeth Ridgley and husband Chad, and Emily Kelly and husband Brad, great-grandchildren Cecil Nathanael Colebrook, William Blue Ridgley, Binxlee Watson Kelly and Lindel Thomas Jones, and sister Mazelle Thomas Langston.
She grew up on the family farm in Lee County with four siblings where she learned the value of hard work, education and family. She enjoyed the numerous big family gatherings for holidays, birthdays and Sunday dinners.
Lucille attended McIver School and Sanford High School. After graduation, she attended business school in Charlotte where she met her beloved Bill who was in training as a 101st Airborne Paratrooper at nearby Camp McCall.
She lived in California for three years while her husband was in medical rehab hospitals following WWII injuries. They were married in the hospital chapel in Modesto, California. Her husband’s family was in California so she traveled back to visit numerous times after moving back to North Carolina.
After her children started school, she returned to the work force. She retired from the Lee County Schools where she served as the Finance Officer.
She was a lifelong member of First Congregational Christian Church where she served as a Deacon, Financial Secretary and Trustee of the Jon McInnis Scholarship.
Her favorite things in life were being Mema to her family, her church, traveling all 50 states, doing puzzles, and her beach house “The Buzzard’s Roost”. She was an excellent seamstress even creating patterns for her children’s dance recital costumes.
A private burial service will be held at Buffalo Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Jon McInnis Scholarship at PO Box 242, Sanford, NC 27331.
A special Thank You to the caregivers of Amedisys Hospice.
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