Lucy Elizabeth Cole Lippard

Lucy Elizabeth Cole Lippard, 80, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family (and fighting to the end) after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer, and went to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, April 4, 2017. Lucy exemplified an amazing strength of never giving up. She was born on January 9, 1937 in Columbia, SC to Harold Douglas Cole and Sarah Wicker Cole. Lucy graduated from Dreher High School in Columbia, SC. In her senior year she married James (Jim) Edward Lippard, a sophomore at the University of South Carolina on May 14, 1955. In order for Jim to finish his college education, Lucy provided the financial support by working for the Clerk of Court of Richland County. She later worked for the Gulf Oil Corporation in Toledo, Ohio while Jim was in the U.S. Army stationed at the Rossford Ordinance Depot in Rossford, Ohio. She also worked for the Buena Vista Shop and Little House on Thomas Street in Winston-Salem. At all other times, she was a loving stay-at-home mother who raised four children. Lucy was a devoted Christian, starting off each day with prayers for her family, friends, and the rest of those in need around the world. Her favorite bible verse was Philippians 4:13, ""I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"". Yes, God gave her a joyful and giving heart, and her light of Christ shined enormously. She was the ultimate example of ""Let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven"". She was a charter member of The Lutheran Church of the Epiphany where she taught Sunday school and kept the nursery in the early years of the congregation. Lucy and Jim have remained faithful to the church even though their health has kept them from attending on a regular basis. In 1987, Jim had a swimming pool installed in the backyard of their home. Lucy swam from mid-April to early October daily as therapy for her rheumatoid arthritis. In her younger days, Lucy was an outstanding diver who dived for the Palmetto Swim Club of Columbia. She won the Junior and Senior Diving Championship in the North and South Carolina AAU meet for four consecutive years (1951-1954). Lucy was also undefeated in State competition for five consecutive years. Having been an outstanding diver, she wanted to share her talent for diving with others. She did this by serving as a volunteer diving coach at Town and Country Recreation Center, R.J. Reynolds High School, and Mt. Tabor High School. In addition, she was a meet referee, diving judge, stroke judge and volunteer for summer swim meets. Lucy's most treasured roles were a devoted wife, mother, grandmother (Maw Maw), sister, and friend. She loved her husband, children, grandchildren, and her Shih Tzu's (Chewy, Solomon, and grand-dog Junior). She also loved her cat, Whiskers, who lived for 24 years. She had a huge heart, so kind and generous; always thinking of others and had a great sense of humor. Lucy was her children's and grandchildren's #1 fan. She was such a great enthusiast and supporter of all their activities, hardly ever missing a game, event, or program. She spent many years transporting her children to baseball, soccer, and basketball games; tennis matches; swim meets; piano lessons; ballet lessons; and many school related programs; cheering them on with Jim by her side. One thing about Lucy (Maw Maw) was that she was a giver and gave to everyone. She spent many hours transporting the children to their various practices and attending their games with Jim. She many times said she would like to have a dollar for every time she was a chauffeur or a fan. In addition, Lucy was extremely caring of others. She would give treats to her kids/grandkids, the mailman, garbage men, or workers paving the road in her neighborhood. She never passed a homeless person without given them at least a dollar. Each week she took drinks and food to Lippard Lodge, a group home for traumatic brain injury survivors. Anyone who came to work in the home or yard, worked on other houses in the neighborhood, or worked on city streets, roofs, or yards, etc. received treats from Lucy. In 2015, Lucy and Jim were named Philanthropists of the Year for their giving by Lutheran Services Carolinas. Lucy's dream growing up was to be a nurse. However, when she married Jim that dream never came to be. But in later years after treating her children with their aches, pains, colds, etc., she was able to put into practice what she learned on her own about caring for her love ones. She kept her twin grandsons, Kirk and Keenan, for 6 months after being born prematurely and coming home from the neonatal intensive care while their mother Katie returned to teaching. She took care of her son, Cole, when he was discharged from the hospital after 9 months and after surviving a severe traumatic brain injury from an automobile accident. She also took care of Jim after his heart by-pass surgery and two strokes. Lucy dearly loved her grandchildren. She especially loved to treat them to the grocery store to let them pick out snacks and food they loved; and to take them out to eat. One of Maw Maw's favorite things to do was to listen to the Bee Gees in the car with her children and grandchildren; and dancing to the Bee Gees with them in the playroom. Her saying when the music was playing was ""TURN IT UP"". Lucy was preceded in death by her parents; and sister Carolyn Gilden (who also passed away of pancreatic cancer). She is survived by her husband Jim; daughter Kathryn Lippard Gaither (fiancé' Wayne Henderson); son James E. Lippard, Jr. ""Jimmy"" (wife Katie); daughter Allison Lippard Morris (husband Lou); and son Charles ""Cole"" Lippard; grandchildren Jeffrey Gaither II, Keenan Lippard, Kirk Lippard, Anderson Lippard, Jacob Lippard, Ross Lippard, Trey Morris, and Sarah Morris; sisters Mary Ann Dubose (Carl) and Sue Gunter; brother-in-law Bill Gilden; and brother-in-law Dr. George A. Lippard, Jr. (Sylvia Anne); and many nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at Lutheran Church of the Epiphany (5220 Silas Creek Parkway, Winston-Salem, NC) at 2:00 PM on Friday, April 7, 2017, with Rev. Doug Kearney officiating. The family will receive family and friends at Hayworth Miller Silas Creek Chapel from 5:00 - 7:00 PM on Thursday, April 6, 2017. The family appreciates the loving care and guidance provided by Dr. Anthony Kummer, Dr. Douglas Metcalf, Dr. Patricia Zekan, Dr. Stephanie Sturgill, Hope Beacham, and Hospice and its team of awesome nurses and staff. In addition, Paw Paw would like to thank his children, Kathryn, Jimmy and Allison, and grandson, Keenan Lippard, for their loving care of Maw Maw in her final days and hours. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Lippard Traumatic Brain Injury Fund, c/o Winston-Salem Foundation (751 West Fourth Street, Suite 200, Winston-Salem, NC 27101). Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com

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