Barbara Lilley

Funeral services celebrating the life of Barbara Lilley, 81, of Converse, Louisiana, will be at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 11, 2023, at Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Chapel, 943 Polk Street, Mansfield, Louisiana. Bro. Chucky Clark, Bro. Brian Rankin, and Dr. Jimmy Lilley will be officiating the service. Interment will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery, Converse, Louisiana. Visitation will be held on Saturday, June 10, 2023, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Barbara Sue Tatum was born in Converse to J.M.  and Thelma Aten Tatum. She learned to crochet from her grandmother Tatum, and it was a lifelong hobby. She learned piano from Miss Ruth Campbell which became her ministry.  In High School she played basketball, made excellent grades, worked as a waitress at the local burger joint and received the honor of being the Valedictorian.

In 1959, at 17 she married the love of her life, Joseph Lilley. They had three children, Mary Dorraine, Stephen and Susan. In 2022, they celebrated their 63rd anniversary.  During her life she dedicated much of her time to volunteering and sharing her faith. She served many years as the organist for Southside Baptist Church in Mansfield Louisiana.  She loved teaching her Sunday school class of over age 80 women and always expressed she learned so much more from them than she taught.

In 1986 she became a proud grandmother for the first time and her love grew with every new grand and great grandchild.

After her husband retired, he built their dream house in Converse but soon after they moved in, he was disabled by a stroke.  For the past 9 years she has been dedicated to caring for her husband while still taking every opportunity to witness to everyone she met through that entire experience.

Preceding her in death is her husband, Joseph Lilley; her parents; son, Stephen Lilley; daughter, Mary Dorraine Tircuit; and infant son, Timothy Wayne Lilley.

Left to cherish her memory is her daughter, Susan Lilley; sister, Amy Blakney; brother, Bobby Tatum and wife, Audrey; son-in-law, Matt Tircuit; grandchildren, Elizabeth Espinoza and husband, Hugo, Reese Tircuit and wife, Jeanna, Jennifer Thibodeaux and husband, Bralyn, Kristofer Lilley and wife, Donavyn, and Samantha Lilley; and great-grandchildren, Abigail Espinoza, Joshua Espinoza, Ryder Tircuit, Ryleigh Tircuit, Mason Thibodeaux, and Talon Thibodeaux.

Honoring Barbara as pallbearers will be Wade Tatum, David Gentry, Kameron Gentry, Eric Mullins, Jimmy Mays, Hugo Espinoza, Reese Tircuit, Lorin Lilley, and Randy Lilley.

The family would like to express their gratitude to Becky Arterberry, who has been a very important part of helping Barbara this past year take care of Joseph and being her support after his passing.

In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to Huntington's Disease Society of America, 505 Eighth Avenue / Suite 902 New York, NY 10018, or hdsa.org/; or, The Gideon’s International, PO Box 140800, Nashville, TN 37214-0800 or gideons.org