Mrs. Lillie Ruth Fairfax Byrd (February 25, 2010)
	Service:	Citadel of Hope Ministry 1:00 PM Saturday 03-06-2010 2795 South Street Leesburg, Florida 34748
	Visitation:	Mt. Olive Progressive Baptist Church 4-8 PM Friday, March 5 405 S. Child Street Leesburg, Florida 34748
	Cemetery:	Hillcrest Cemetery Coleman, Florida

“A Lillie In The (V)alley”

On May 26th, 1939 in Coleman, Florida, a beautiful baby girl was born to the late Samuel and Mamie Brooks. This baby was named “Lillie” meaning flower, as well as beauty. Given the middle name Ruth, pronounced as “Rooth”, meaning friend and companion. Lillie Ruth’s name fit her personality as she was growing up. As a child “Lillie” always shared her love with her family and friends. She started doing their hair making them look like a fashion model at an early age.

Lillie attended Lake County Training School and graduated from Carver Heights High School in 1957. Lillie and her classmate/friend Clarine Thornton (McCall) graduated from Cosmetologist School together in Ocala, Florida. They traveled together back and forth from school each day. Lillie and Clarine did hair on the week-ends in the back bedroom of Mrs. Mamie’s house (Lillie’s mama) on Pine Street in the alley. That’s why we say there is a “Lillie in the (V) alley”. Lillie had one son, Duane and as a single mom, she was determined to give him all the love he needed. Later, Lillie married James Fairfax, from this union a baby girl was born (Terry Ann). Lillie made her children the center of her joy. Loving them and teaching them to love each other.

As the story was told . . . Clarine open up her lst beauty shop on Pine Street in the early sixties and the two classmates worked together for many years. They were members of the Black OBCA Unit #21 Cosmetologist Club. This club did many social events in the community, decorated many floats for parades, and had many hair/fashion shows. Later, Clarine moved from the shop on Pine Street to her new shop, and Lillie purchased the shop and continued to do hair in Lillie’s Beauty Shop. Being a Black entrepreneur now, she wanted more, so she started her own Lillie’s Cleaning Service and for many years, she managed her beauty shop and her cleaning service.

Lillie was a very active member of Land O’Lakes Temple #1056 (Elks) and the Eastern Star for many years. She was a member of Mt. Olive Progressive Baptist Church for over 60 years.

Lillie still wanted more, she loved to cook. So, she purchased the shop next door, making it a pub and café, calling it the “Keg”. Later, she bought the Sugar Bowl, a café behind her shops. Then Lillie made her beauty shop a part of the “Keg” and turned the café behind the “Keg” into her new beauty shop. Lillie made the “Keg” work for her. Selling good soul food, making her special iced tea, lemonade, fruit punch and of course “Lillie hamburgers”, now you could call that burger a what a burger. Lillie loved to make people happy, when you dropped in you went out laughing about the fun things she would say. Lillie never met a stranger. She loved to talk. So, business was good, her customers knew her and listened to her. Lillie last night at the “Keg” was February 24, 2010. Lillie will always be remembered as the Lillie in the (v) alley, bright as a shining