Lillie Belle Lingerfelt

Lillie Belle Lingerfelt was born on August 25, 1928, in Georgia, likely Lumpkin County. She was the daughter of William Jacob Lingerfelt and Flora Pearl Seabolt. The Lingerfelt family included three children: William ‘Cleon’ (Shorty) Lingerfelt (born in 1927), Lillie Belle Lingerfelt (born in 1928), and Mary ‘Willette’ Lingerfelt (born in 1934). Lillie Belle is the sister-in-law of my uncle, Grover Hampton Lankford. She was known by both her first and middle names. 

Last July, I received an unexpected text from my cousin that sparked a lengthy conversation. It had been years since we last saw each other—probably during our teenage years—so we had plenty to catch up on. During our chat, one of us mentioned his aunt Lillie Belle. Their family lived near ours in Atlanta, and we crossed paths often enough for me to recall meeting Lillie Belle. However, I never truly knew much about her. After thinking about her for two days, I decided to delve into her story and learn more. My cousin shared some of his memories to help tell her story.

On April 7, 1930, the Lingerfelt family resided in Davis, a community within Dahlonega, Lumpkin County, Georgia. The census enumerator recorded their address as Dahlonega via Oakgrove Road. Lillie Belle’s father supported the family through farming. There was a significant 19-year age gap between her parents. Both were able to read and write. Sharing their home was a seven-year-old cousin named Birtha M. Anderson. I have yet to research this family’s history to determine Birtha’s specific connection to the Lingerfelt family. By 1935, the Lingerfelts had relocated to a house on Clay Creek Falls Road in Davis.

On April 15, 1940, the Lingerfelt family continued to reside in their home on Clay Creek Falls Road, which was valued at $400 and owned by Lillie Belle’s father. He worked tirelessly as a self-employed farmer, putting in grueling 60-hour work weeks. The family was now complete, with six-year-old Willette as the newest addition.

On April 24, 1950, Lillie Belle, now 21 years old, continued to reside with her parents in Davis—the same home they occupied in 1949. Despite being 67 years old, her father remained dedicated to his work as a farmer. Lillie Belle, on the other hand, worked as a county school grade teacher, maintaining a 30-hour work week over 41 weeks in 1949. Only Lillie Belle and 16-year-old Willette remained at home. Her brother Cleon, now married, had moved out and was living with his wife Fannie at her parents’ home in Toccoa, Stephens County, Georgia. Notably, the census enumerator recorded an “S11” in the column for highest level of education completed, indicating that Lillie Belle had completed the 11th grade.

On November 3, 1954, Lillie Belle’s father, William, passed away in Lumpkin County. His final resting place is at Oak Grove Baptist Church Cemetery in Dahlonega.

Around 1955, Lillie Belle and her mother relocated to Atlanta, where they resided with her sister Willette and her family. By 1960, they had purchased a house on Broadway Street, situated at the corner of Brewer Boulevard. Both Lillie Belle and Willette pursued nursing careers, working in the operating room at Crawford Long Hospital in Atlanta for several years. During their tenure, they crossed paths with various urologists who extended invitations to join their practices—an opportunity both sisters embraced. Lillie Belle remained with the same urologist from approximately 1963 until her mother suffered a hip fracture around 1980 or 1981.

Back row, left to right: Flora (Seabolt) Lingerfelt, Lillie Belle Lingerfelt,
Bonita Lankford, Sam Lankford, Grover Lankford, and Willette (Lingerfelt)
Lankford. Front row, left to right:  Denise, Jennifer, Michael, Vanessa,
Harvey, and Joey – all Lankford’s. Ca. early 1960s.

Lillie Belle acquired her first car, a 1966 Chevy Malibu, around 1966 and learned to drive.

On June 4, 1991, Lillie Belle’s mother, Flora, passed away in Atlanta. Flora was interred at Oak Grove Baptist Church Cemetery in Dahlonega on June 6, following a service officiated by Dr. Guy Webb at the chapel of Howard L. Carmichael and Sons.

On October 31, 2005, Lillie Belle’s brother Cleon, aged 78, passed away at Stephens County Hospital in Toccoa, Stephens County, Georgia. His final resting place is Stephens Memorial Gardens, where a service officiated by the Revs. Robert Thomas and Jerrell Beatty took place on November 3 at the Hillcrest Chapel of Acree-Davis Funeral Home.

Lillie Belle, aged 79, passed away at Bonterra Nursing Home in East Point, Fulton County, Georgia, near South Fulton Hospital on March 13, 2008. Her final resting place is Oak Grove Baptist Church Cemetery in Dahlonega, where she was interred on March 16 following a funeral service at Carmichael-Hemperley Funeral Home in East Point. Lillie Belle was survived by her sister Willette and her husband Grover, sister-in-law Fannie Ruth Lingerfelt, four nephews, six great nieces and nephews, and a host of cousins and friends.

Photo used with permission of William Knight, Find A Grave member 89982608

A woman of simple pleasures, Lillie Belle never married and embraced a frugal lifestyle. She preferred walking over driving if a destination was nearby. Her thrifty habits extended to her spending; she rarely parted with her money. At mealtimes, she shared dinners with Willette and Grover, who generously provided fresh vegetables from their garden—even during winter months when they preserved their harvest through canning and freezing.

Lillie Belle’s spiritual life was deeply rooted in her involvement with Perkerson Baptist Church in Southwest Atlanta. She played the piano during Sunday morning and evening Bible study sessions for the younger children and lent her voice to the choir. Teaching was her passion, and she dedicated her entire life to it. Her great-nieces cherished their time with her, as she imparted wisdom and knowledge. My cousin fondly remembers her as a generous soul who readily helped those in need. Lillie Belle and her mother played a pivotal role in raising him. Sadly, her sister Willette passed away in Atlanta six months after Lillie Belle’s own passing.

References

• Deaths, William C. ‘Shorty’ Lingerfelt, Anderson Independent-Mail, Anderson, South Carolina, November 2, 2005. 
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/30827309/william_i-lingerfelt: accessed July 16, 2024), memorial page for William I Lingerfelt (5 Jun 1882–3 Nov 1954), Find a Grave Memorial ID 30827309, citing Oak Grove Baptist Church Cemetery, Dahlonega, Lumpkin County, Georgia, USA; maintained by williamknight57 (contributor 46842549).
• Lillie Belle Lingerfelt, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, March 15, 2008.
• Mrs. Flora Pearl Lingerfelt, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, June 6, 1991.
• Personal memories of J. A. Lankford.
• State Deaths, William Jacob Lingerfelt, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, November 5, 1954.
• U.S. Federal Census, Davis, Lumpkin County, Georgia, 1930, 1940, 1950.
• U.S. Federal Census, Toccoa, Stephens County, Georgia, 1950.
• William J. Lingerfelt, Georgia Deaths, 1919–98.