Lila Combs

January 13, 1915 - August 7, 2018

Lila Vivian Poole Combs, our mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother, finally joined our dad, Mack Floyd Combs, in Heaven on August 7, 2018. (She had been chatting with God about that for several years.) With her birthdate being January 13, 1915, we celebrate her amazing 103 years. She and Dad were married for 62 years when he passed away in 1996. She continued to live quite independently in their Saddle Mountain home in Alleghany County, North Carolina for 17 years until at the age of 98 she sold the home. Daughter and son-in-law, Kathy and Mark Hollar, of Jonesville, became her wonderful caregivers. Lila, however, continued to be the royal matriarch of the family, making sure her word and instructions were followed by all who happened to be within earshot. Even today, with this celebration, we are honoring her requests. At the age of hardly two, Lila had sadly lost her own mother. Being raised the youngest child of a traveling preacher, she learned her lessons well, and as an adult and mother, followed his examples and raised us children with a lot of “Papa saids” and Bible discipline. In her later years when the stress of rearing kids abated, there emerged quite a sense of humor as she wittingly shared funny jokes with anyone pausing to listen. She enjoyed old timey gospel hymns, loved to share her memories of growing up in the Virginia “homeplace”, and never missed a chance to tell us kids about the time when . . . In the words of her eight daughters, Mom was loving, giving, amazing, funny, faithful, a blessing, determined, resilient, and strong. She was all of those, and so much more. Lila was preceded in death by her only son, Virgil Martin (Sonny) Combs, a grandson Jeffrey Martin (Marty) Combs, and a granddaughter Megan Brooke Hollar. She is survived by us eight “girls”: Marcelle Franklin of Glade Valley, NC; Joy Cox Gardner of Mt. Airy, NC; Peggy Shaw and Russell of Glade Valley, NC; Barbara Brooks and Wayne of Cedar Park, TX; Dianne Bowers and Phil of Dobson, NC; Donna Brawley and Ralph of Mooresville, NC; Kathy Hollar and Mark of Jonesville, NC; and Judy Bills and Brant of New Bern, NC. Surviving grandchildren are Mike and Mitch Franklin, Cindy Combs Evans, Lisa Combs Klosowski, Max Combs, Myra Cox Barrett, Sonia Shaw Everhart, Shelley Shaw Higgins, Andrew Brooks, Jodi Bowers Southern, Endia Mitchell Plunkett, Zachary Mitchell, Allison Hollar Brown, and Molly Bills Ostmann. Twenty-five great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren can certainly boast their incredible heritage, along with a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins who also share in our celebration.The family requests the honor of your presence at the funeral service to celebrate the life of Lila at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 11, 2018 in the chapel of Grandview Memorial Funeral Home with Reverend Max Combs and Elder Alvin Dixon officiating. Interment will follow in Rich Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Friday evening at the funeral home and other times at the home of Marcelle Franklin, 1875 Rich Hill Road, Glade Valley, NC 28627. We know Mom’s soul is now with Jesus, so her body will be laid to rest alongside her husband and our Dad in the Rich Hill Cemetery at 2759 Shawtown Road, Glade Valley, NC. And while one of Mom’s greatest pleasures in life was a beautiful bouquet, she has requested that in lieu of flowers this day, please consider making a donation to either the Combs Cemetery or Poole Cemetery Funds, c/o Terry Poole, 103 Falcon Drive, Woodlawn, VA 24381, or the Rich Hill Cemetery Fund, c/o Angela Gentry, 2568 Shawtown Road, Glade Valley, NC 28627. Grandview Memorial Funeral Home is proudly serving the Combs family and if you wish, online condolences may be submitted to the family at www.grandviewfuneralhome.com Written in loving memory by the Seventh Child To Mom . . . from Seven Sisters & Me In a word describe her That Mom of ours, I asked What’s the word you think of As you wander through her past? It’s like taking all her years Reducing them to one And finding there the brightest star When all is said and done. To Peg you are a Blessing To Judy you are Strong To me you are as Faithful As every day is long. To Kathy you are Amazing Determined are you, said Joy To Barb you are so Funny And I might add, quite coy. Dianne knows you as Giving Resilient, says Marcelle The word Loving was mentioned We must add that as well! There’s Incredible, Unstoppable Beautiful and Wise Generous, Thoughtful This endless exercise. You are Creative and Colorful A devoted Christian too Full of Wit and Kindness All these apply to You. I could have said a Flower What Bloom are you, do say A Lily of the Valley An Orchid in a Nosegay? A Lilac, a Gardenia Azalea, or a Rose Bleeding Heart, a favorite Or Coral Bells, suppose? Mountain Rhododendron Wisteria, a Daffodil Pansy or Hollyhock You’re quite a vase to fill. You’re all of These, And all of That And all the Flowers that Be You’re Everything, the Perfect Mom To Seven Sisters and Me