Eleanor Culpepper Willingham

MRS. ELEANOR C. WILLINGHAM Mrs. Eleanor Culpepper Willingham, age 100, of the Lone Oak Community of Meriwether county, died Monday, April 13, 2009, at Hospice LaGrange. The funeral service will be conducted at 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 15, at Allen-Lee Memorial United Methodist Church in Lone Oak. The Reverend Melanie Stanley-Soulen will officiate and interment will be in the church cemetery. Mrs. Willingham was born October 14, 1908, in Lone Oak, daughter of the late Homer and Theodora Herring Culpepper. She received an AB degree in Education from the University of Georgia, studied further at the University of Virginia, and taught mathematics in various high schools in Georgia for several years. In 1937, she became an employee of the Georgia Department of Family and Children's Services, serving as director in Dade and Whitfield Counties, later transferring to serve as casework supervisor in Troup County and retiring in 1970 from Coweta County. A charter of member of Lone Oak Community Club when it was organized in 1951, Mrs. Willingham took an active part in all activities and was instrumental in securing historical documents pertaining to Lone Oak and the surrounding area. She was the oldest member of Allen-Lee Memorial United Methodist Church, which she joined in August, 1919, and served wherever she was needed. She wrote the History of Allen-Lee Memorial Church in 1987, served as church historian, and took an active part in the Sesquicentennial Celebration in 1994. Along with Rosalind Johnson Edmondson, she co-authored History of Lone Oak. In 1998, Mrs. Willingham was presented a Community Service Award by the General Daniel Newnan Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was very much interested in genealogy and generously aided many people in their research. She was preceded in death by her husband, Albert M. Willingham, and is survived by several cousins, nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Allen-Lee Cemetery Fund, 6885 Forrest Rd., Grantville, GA 30220. Claude A. McKibben and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Visitation: from 6 until 8 Tuesday night, April 14th, at Claude A. McKibben and Sons Funeral Home Services: 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 15th, at Allen-Lee Memorial United Methodist Church in the Lone Oak Community Interment: Allen-Lee Church Cemetery