Mother Lillie Belle Perry was born February 23, 1929 in Bonneau, SC, a daughter of the late John Montgomery and Catherine McHoney Montgomery. Lillie's mother passed before she was old enough to remember her. Lillie was raised by her maternal grandmother Rebecca Morris whom she called mother.

Mother Perry answered the Master's call to come home on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at her daughter's home in Moncks Corner, South Carolina.

Mother Perry was educated in the public school system of Berkeley County.

At an early age, Mother Perry accepted the Lord Jesus as her personal Savior. Soon afterward, she became a member of White Chapel Holiness Church where she sang on the choir, and for a while, was the only musician, beating the bass drum, and oh could she beat that drum! She could make you forget it was just one instrument being played. Mother married Rev. Moses Myers and moved to Jamestown, SC where she joined New Mount Zion AME Church and continued serving in the church by singing on the choir and beating the bass drum. She also began putting on a program called The Candlelight March Pageant.

A few years after the passing of Rev. Myers, she married Rev. James Perry amd moved to Moncks Corner, SC. Eventually they joined Dingle Temple Pentecostal Holiness Church where she continued her Candlelight March Pageant and other programs, such as the Clothespin Rally. Mother would often say, "When I come to church, you'll know I am there, because I didn't come to just sit down."

Mother was joined in holy matrimony to three men, Robert McCray Sr., Rev. Moses Myers, and Rev. James Perry. The greatest joy of mother's life was her children, and God blessed her with eleven of them. Her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren occupied a very special place in mother's heart. She gave each one special nicknames.

Mother Perry worked long and hard to provide for her children. When she was hospitalized for over a year in the 1960s, she would save her non-perishable food to send home for her children. She often said that she would go without to ensure that her children could eat.

Mother worked many jobs during her lifetime, but the most fulfilling was that of a cook. Mother was employed at Howard's Restaurant in Moncks Corner for over 30 years. Mother taught all of her children how to cook, believing if you can cook, you'll never starve, this was especially true for her sons. (You may get a wife that can't boil water). Mother especially loved baking pies and cooking her chicken lemon butter, but there was nothing she could not cook.

Mother was a praying woman who believed in praying for people and people praying for her. If you called her, she would not let you end the call before you both prayed.

Mother enjoyed sitting on her porch singing her favorite gospel songs as she watched the cars pass, and when they blew their horn, she would say, "ALRIGHT!"

Gardening and fishing brought mother great joy when she was able to do them.

Mother was the youngest of four children. Her siblings: Zeller Mae Montgomery, David Montgomery, and Daisy Wright, all preceded her in death.

Left to cherish her precious memories are: her children, Eula Kate Wilson (Walter) of Moncks Corner, SC, Sarah Ann Cheese of Jamestown, SC, Thomas McCray of St. Stephen, SC, Clara Belle McCray of Moncks Corner, SC, Jacqueline Redd of Jamestown, SC and Daisy Mae Myers of Jamestown, SC; a special cousin and friend, Bea Rice of Brooklyn, NY; and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by four sons and one daughter: Jonathan McCray, Willie James Montgomery, Louis McCray, Robert McCray Jr., and Vanessa Myers.

A Home Going Service will be held Monday, March 13, 2023, 11:00 a.m., at Dingle Temple Holiness Church, 336 Trinity Church Road, St. Stephen, SC. Interment will be in New Mt. Zion AME Church Cemetery, Jamestown, SC. Viewing will be held Sunday, March 12, 2023, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home (Moncks Corner). Face masks are required.