The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid.

Psalm 27:1

Lucille Bernice Liferidge Blanding, daughter of the late Miller Liferidge and Emma Wallace Liferidge, was born in St. Stephen, South Carolina on July 28, 1920.

Lucille attended St. Stephen Elementary School at an early age and later went to live with her sister, Rebecca Perkins, in Russellville, SC to complete her high school education at J. K. Gourdin School.

On January 20, 1938, she was joined in Holy Wedlock to Reverend Frank Blanding. To this union, five children were born.

Lucille worked in the Berkeley County School System as a custodian for 26 years at Russellville High School. She enjoyed her work at the school but had to retire because her husband was ill, and she had to stay at home to take care of him.

Her religious teachings were at St. Paul United Methodist Church and later she joined Sumpter Chapel United Methodist Church where she was a member of the Senior Choir, Treasurer of the Usher Board, a Communion Stewardess, and a member of the Adult Sunday School Class. She enjoyed being a member of the Usher Board and singing on Sunday afternoons at various church anniversaries. She remained very active in Sumpter Chapel United Methodist Church until they merged with Zion United Methodist Church, forming New Light United Methodist Church in St. Stephen, SC. She continued her church work at New Light until her health failed and she was no longer able to attend church at New Light United Methodist Church. Her grandson, Joseph, took her to church services at Pruitt Nursing Home every Sunday in Moncks Corner, SC.

In 2015, she was named "Mother" of New Light because she was the oldest woman in the church. This was under the pastorage of Reverend Tarnisha Jenkins Jackson. She was also awarded the "Fabulous Nineties" Award by the 41 Community Club.

Lucille departed this life on Tuesday, July 17, 2018. She was preceded to the grave by her husband on October 15, 1983 and a son, Raymond Wesley on April 10, 2001.

She leaves to cherish her memories: her children, Fred Blanding (Rebecca) of Mt. Rainer, MD, Florine Shirah of St. Stephen, SC, Vergiree Yates (Michael) of New York City, NY, and Roosevelt G. Blanding of Washington, DC; a grandson reared in the home, Roger Blanding (Mary) of St. Stephen, SC; a daughter-in-law, Sarah B. Jefferson of St. Stephen, SC; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and numerous relatives and friends.