Coping with Grief
We would like to offer our sincere support to anyone coping with grief. Enter your email below for our complimentary daily grief messages. Messages run for up to one year and you can stop at any time. Your email will not be used for any other purpose.
The lifespan of Viola Larrymore Lucas extended from November 9, 1919, until April 5, 2020. She was born to Jacob Larrymore and Daisy Starks Larrymore in St. Matthews, South Carolina. She grew up among her nine siblings on the family farm. In this vibrant community of similar Calhoun County farmers, she experienced the firm guidance of Christian parents. A memorable event during her adolescence was being baptized at Calvary Baptist Church. She graduated from John Ford High School as an outstanding student in her class.
Soon after her marriage on February 19, 1941, to Willie Edward Lucas, also of St. Matthews, SC, she moved with him to Columbia, SC. From that union, they were blessed with two children, Margaret, and Willie Cornelius. Viola used the skills she learned as a teenager and became an accomplished seamstress. For more than seventy-five years she demonstrated interest in fashion and attention to detail while crafting garments for family, friends, and others. These skills were also put to use during the time she was employed by two downtown retail stores. She expressed satisfaction designing, creating, altering clothing for her children from birth to adulthood. She was also a proud master seamstress of curtains, drapery, and upholstery.
Viola, affectionately known as Sister Lucas, became a member of St. Luke Baptist Church in the 1940s. She served faithfully until 2019. With her husband Deacon Lucas, she participated fully in a variety of church functions at The Greater St. Luke Baptist Church. She gave freely of her time and other gifts as a member of the Senior Ministry and as a Deaconess. Her faith was joyfully expressed by her attendance of Sunday worship services and weekly Bible Study classes. She was never shy about expressing the depth of her faith, the breadth of her Christianity, and the value of prayer. Viola was a role model for some and a counselor to others. She shared these gifts with her church family and all who touched her life.
Following the death of her husband in 1976, she devoted considerable time to vegetable gardening, harvesting figs and making preserves, growing seasonal blooming plants and caring for the dogs who shared her life. Over the years Jason, Brandy, and Charlie were her beloved pets. As she especially enjoyed spending time with family and friends, they enjoyed her delicious pound cakes. Viola also enjoyed traveling. Time with friends in later years often occurred by phone. The long visits by phone revitalized her. Family reunions and holiday gatherings were among her most pleasant experiences. As the matriarch of the Larrymore family, she delighted in getting reacquainted with younger family members. During her many years as a widow, Viola was especially admired for her independence, her clarity of thought, her efficiency in managing her home life. Over the years she took full advantage of opportunities to spend time with her children and grandchildren in locations as near as Virginia and as far away as Texas or Germany.
Those closest to Viola who preceded her in death included her husband, her son, and eight of her siblings.
In her latter days, Viola was able to express her gratitude to her devoted caregivers: Linda Crumpton, Elma Rice, Cynthia Freeman, Valerie Jones, Ashema Hackett, and Teresa Robinson. She often spoke about the repeated acts of kindness of her neighbors Willie James Abrams and Lester Jenkins. She was pleased to be the recipient of such blessings.
She leaves to cherish her memory her daughter Margaret (Linwood) Jacobs; brother Daniel Larrymore; daughter-in-law, Ernestine “Tina” McKoy Lucas; two grandchildren Cornelius Edwil Lucas and Keriene Rebekah Lucas; sister-in-law Lillie Keller Lucas; and twenty-five nieces and nephews Joseph (Nell) Key, Jacob Key, Windell (Cynthia) Larrymore, Dorothy Dean, Zenia Mosely, Clemons Larrymore, Frezeal Harris, Annie (Henry) Levan, Leon (Barbara) Mitchell, Vera Mitchell, Carolyn Mitchell, Virginia Mitchell, Altheron (Patricia) Mitchell, Julius Larrymore, Lamar (Margo) Larrymore, Brian (Eve) Larrymore, Cynthia Larrymore, Edwin (Denise) Sasportas, Anthony Sasportas, Antoinette (Dennis) Luster, Janice (James) Fairnot, Lemuel Daryl Larrymore, Feliciane (LC) Green, Shawn Larrymore, Stephen Larrymore; Rogenia Cross, Henry Clay Larrymore, Dennis Larrymore, and many other relatives and friends.
There are things about tomorrow we may not understand, but we know who holds tomorrow and know who holds her hand. Viola will be missed by those who knew her and loved her.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Viola Larrymore Lucas, please visit our floral store.