Lillie Mae (Henderson) Kearns

Mrs. Lillie Mae Henderson Kearns was the last of eight children born to the late Petrus and Martha Straughter Henderson on February 28, 1919 in Newberry, South Carolina. She peacefully transitioned from earth to her heavenly home on July 30, 2020. 

She moved to Thomasville, North Carolina at an early age where she met and married the late Amos Green Kearns, to this union ten children were born. While in Thomasville, she was a devoted wife and homemaker. Her family later moved to Durham, North Carolina where she retired as a Clinical Nursing Assistant. 

After relocating to Durham she joined Union Baptist Church where she served as a Senior Missionary for many years, until her health started to decline, she was a life-long, dedicated member for over 50 years. Lillie enjoyed spending time with her family, she was a caring mother, grandmother, faithful sister, kind aunt, compassionate friend and thoughtful neighbor. In addition to her beautiful spirit, her sense of fashion was impeccable, she was well known for her sweet potato pies that everyone enjoyed during the thanksgiving holiday season. 

She was preceded in death by four daughters; Mrs. Patsy Jean Perry, Mrs. Doris Pettigrew, Ms. Jeannette Kearns and Ms. Delois Kearns. Four sons; Mr. Willie Kearns, Mr. Vernon Kearns, Mr. Freddie Kearns, Mr. David Kearns and two children who died at birth. Two grandsons, Mr. Anthony Kearns and Mr. Ricky Metts; two sons-in-law, Mr. Andrew Perry, Sr., and Mr. Calvin Pettigrew. 

Left to cherish her memories are fifteen grandchildren Cynthia Perry Garland (Terrance); Andrew A. Perry, Jr.; Angela Jeter (Tony), Julia Walker and Beverly Watlington all of Durham, North Carolina; Darlene Horne(Michael) of Owning Mills, Maryland; Dawn Davis (Nigel) of Annapolis, Maryland; Doreen Hogans of Bowie, Maryland.  Debbie Streater (Curtis), West Haven, Connecticut, Tonya Holmes (Charles), Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, Diane Ryan (Lawrence), and Vernell Denise Kearns all of Killeen, Texas; Vernon Green (Kelly), Albuquerque, New Mexico; Dorothy “Nikki” Taylor, Lake City, South Carolina; twenty-five great-grandchildren and eight great-great grandchildren; four daughters-in law; Velma Bass, Cynthia Hannah of all Durham, North Carolina; Zella Osborn and Dorothy Kearns, all of Temple, Texas and a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends. 

Social distancing of 6 feet, facing covering or mask are REQUIRED and capacity limited to 50 persons.

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