Lillian Gill Jennings

Lillian Gill Jennings, age 89, previously of Cedarville and Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, died on January 2, 2017, in Lansing, Michigan. She was born February 26, 1927, in Flint, Michigan, to George Francis and Kathryn (Irvine) Gill. Lil grew up in Flint where she graduated from Flint Central High School. She attended Flint Community College and the University of Michigan. As a child and young adult she was very active in 4-H. She married Richard “Dick” Jennings on September 18, 1948, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Flint. Lil worked at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. while Dick was earning his Master of Divinity at Virginia Theological Seminary. They raised their family in a number of locations while Dick served in various parishes and as a chaplain in the U.S. Air Force. In 1970, they settled in Sault Ste. Marie where Lil ran her own interior design business for many years. She spent the last 53 summers at their cottage in Cedarville. Lil was a member of St. James Episcopal Church in Sault Ste. Marie, St. Matthias Episcopal Church in Pickford, Michigan, and Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan. She was also a charter member of Keeping the Piece Quilt Guild in Sault Ste. Marie. For many years she was active in the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce Red Coats encouraging and welcoming new businesses to the area. Lil loved anything that had to do with fabric and design. She was an extremely generous person. She made various totes, purses, quilts, heirloom dolls, etc. that she shared with her family and friends. In her retirement she kept busy teaching and sharing her love of quilting with many people. Lil was a great mom, caregiver, friend, quilter, confidant, companion, and an involved minister’s/professor’s wife. She loved her grandchildren, Taylor and Michael, dearly and took great pride in them. She always looked forward to spending time with them doing various activities and projects. Her face would light up whenever she saw them. Lil made friends easily wherever she went. More recently she made many new friends at Burcham Hills Retirement Community in East Lansing, Michigan, where she and Dick lived for the last few years. Once a friend of Lil’s, always a friend! Lil is survived by her daughters, Sue (Randy) Milligan of Williamsburg, Virginia, and Beth (Keith) Belonga of Williamston, Michigan; grandchildren, Taylor Belonga and Michael Milligan; sisters, Marion Law and Gee Kalasky; brother, Jim (Kathy) Gill; sister-in-law, Katherine Jennings; and many nieces and nephews. Lil was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Jennings on October 7, 2016; son, David Jennings; her parents; brothers-in-law, John Hessel, Jack Kalasky, Jack Law, Harry Jennings, and David Jennings; and sister-in-law, Lee Jennings. Visitation will be held on Friday, January 13 from 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. and on Saturday, January 14, from 1:00 P.M. until 3:00 P.M. at R. Galer Funeral Home, 24549 S. M-129 in Pickford. Funeral Services will be held at R. Galer Funeral Home immediately following the Saturday visitation. Interment will be in Cedar Cemetery in Clark Township, Michigan, at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial contributions to High Rocks Academy, 195 Thompson Rd., Hillsboro, WV 24946.

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Lillian Gill Jennings

February 26, 1927 - January 2, 2017