Lillie Mae (Jackson) Timberlake

LILLIE MAE JACKSON-TIMBERLAKE

“To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the heaven.” In that season, there is a time to be born and thus the season of life, for Lillie Mae Jackson-Timberlake began in Tallulah. Mississippi on January 27, 1944. She is the third child of four children born to Emmett and Ruby (Mitchell) Jackson.  Her parents, as well as her siblings, James, Freddie Dolores, and Joseph (an infant), preceded her in death.

In early 1946, her mother migrated to Chicago seeking improved opportunities for her family. To facilitate the smooth transition of her mother's move, Lillie and her siblings, James and Freddie lived with and were nurtured by their grandmother, Lillie Mitchell, until 1951.  On May 30, 1951, the Jackson siblings joined their mother in Chicago. While spending the summer in her birthplace, Lillie accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and was baptized at Christian Home Baptist Church by her uncle, Reverend A. R. Brown. Returning to Chicago, she followed her grandmother, joining New Haven Baptist Church under the leadership of her uncle, Reverend Willie Lewis, where she has been a faithful member for over 70 years.

In learning season, Lillie attended Moon Lake School for two years as well as Chicago Public Schools - Douglas Park Manor and Yale Elementary and graduated from Parker High School in 1961. Also, during her learning season. Lillie learned to play the piano and later taking organ lessons from well-known gospel musician, Professor Jackson. Journeying further in learning season, in 1965, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in History at Wiley College in Marshall, Texas. And in 1981 she received her Master’s Degree from Chicago State University.   However, it was at Wiley that Lillie’s gift for singing was discovered.  Since Wiley was a Christian School, it was fertile ground for students to practice singing gospel songs, unashamedly and unabashedly. Her interest in music and her God-given gift for singing Zion’s songs were used to lift up the name of Jesus Christ as she sang in, directed and played for New Haven Gospel Chorus through the years.

During employment season, the summer and fall of her life, Lillie worked as a social worker for two years from 1965 to 1967. From 1967, until her official retirement in 2008, she was employed as a teacher in the Chicago Public School System (CPS.) She taught at Beale Upper Grade Center, moving on to teach History, (Black History) in particular, at Carver, Morgan Park, and Richards High Schools, retiring from Richards High School. Thereafter she began working as a substitute teacher until 2020.  When asked why she continued to work in a “retired-semi-retired” mode, she stated because she “still loved her job and needed to get out of the house”.

As a dedicated educator, she excelled in her profession and was many students “favorite” teacher. She loved them and they loved her back. Creative and exceptional in writing plays, planning, she directed many school plays and musicals. But it was her love for teaching the children’s choir gospel songs, church plays and church programs was where heart was. Always having a project or fund raiser in motion for a cause, she would be very busy “making it happen” and would involve everyone she could.   She gave the best of her service telling men, women, boys and girls about Jesus.  Lillie indeed fulfilled her ministry with her “time, talent and treasure”. 

She loved shopping, fashion and traveling, taking her son and nieces to various parts of the country during the summer months. She also liked law and politics and advocating for those treated unfairly. Loving and empathetic towards people’s feelings and circumstances, and routing for the “underdog”, she would go out her way to assist those in need where she could.

Through all the seasons of her life, Lillie had an abiding and unshakable faith in God, the power of prayer, and in God's faithfulness in keeping His promise to “never leave us nor forsake us”.  She stood on the “Never leave us or forsake us” promise, using it as an anchor.

Coming to the winter season of life with its more frequent and enduring health challenges and knowing that in prior seasons she had ridden out life’s storms, during high tide and ebb tide, buoyed by God's promise of His everlasting presence, she was aware the solution was near.  On Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at Trinity Hospital, Lillie pulled up her anchor, releasing her soul to flow from this life to eternal life with Jesus. Hallelujah!!!

Now is the season for loving husband Maxie; beloved son: Marlon; precious grandchildren: Dashaun, Jayden, Marlon Jr. and Mason; stepchildren: Diane Wyley, Valerie Williams, Maxine Ray, Sharon, Mark and Fernando Timberlake: loving nieces Sharon (Thomas) Brown, Felicia Coy; loving Nephew: Shawn (Teria) Coy; loving Sisters-with-in-Aunts: Augustine Lehmann, Warriene Curry and Beatrice Mitchell; six grand-nieces and nephew; two great-grand nephews; 22 first cousins; numerous other cousins; New Haven Church family; and many friends to cherish the loving memory of Lillie in joyful times, knowing, that  it is indeed “WELL WITH HER SOUL”.  

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