By Edgar on July 13th, 2016

    Funeral services for Earnestine Underwood Lilly of Many were held June 29, at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses with Brother James Self officiating. Interment followed in New Jerusalem Cemetery. Earnestine Lilly was born September 20, 1925 in Deridder to Oscar Cleve Underwood and Alice Beatrice Gise Underwood. She passed away on June 22, 2016 at University Health Hospital in Shreveport. She married Nathaniel Lilly on September 4, 1942 in Many who passed away October 3, 2010. Earnestine took care of the home. Over 25 years, Earnestine and Nathaniel welcomed 12 children into their home and Earnestine set about teaching them kindness, humility, and hard work. Her children remember her as a dedicated and loving mother who encouraged them to give back to others and wanted them to be happy. Earnestine was an avid gardener and great cook and often loved to sing, write poetry, and dance. She was a generous individual who loved to help others and who was passionate about her family as well as her friends. She was a Jehovah’s Witness and dedicated herself in baptism in November of 1973, setting a precedent that four of her children, three sons-in-law, and multiple grandchildren would follow. Earnestine often volunteered her time in the field ministry, helping others to learn about Jehovah. She is preceded in death by her parents, Cleve Underwood and Alice Beatrice Gise Underwood; husband, Nathaniel H. Lilly; children, Spencer Roy Lilly, Eddie Lilly, Cassandra Faye Lilly, Maury Dean Lilly, and Dora Charlene Lilly and siblings, Rosalie, Irene, Frankie, Raymond, Ishmael, Robert, Hazel, Leon, Helen, and Charles. She is survived by her children, Jimmy Lilly, Robert Lee Lilly and wife, Rose, Joyce Ann, Perkins and husband, Johnny, Loreatha Mc Clanahan and husband, Efferson, Debra Jean Holden and husband, Melvin, Tony Ray Lilly, and Steven James Lilly, all of Many; siblings, Marshall Underwood, Bobbie Sweet and husband, Robert, and a sister-in-law Brenda Underwood; 21 grandchildren; 26 great grandchildren and six great-great grandchildren.