Lida Willey Black Kimbrough's Obituary
Lida Willey Black Kimbrough passed away peacefully at Trezevant Allen Morgan Center on November 18, 2015. Lida was born on April 1, 1919 in Memphis to Lida Picton Willey and Willis Howard Willey. She attended Miss Hutchison School and graduated from The Shipley School, Bryn Mawr, PA. She attended Mills College in Oakland, CA. She reigned as Queen of the Memphis Cotton Carnival in 1940. In June, 1940 she married Dr. William T. Black, Jr. who she was married to for 42 years prior to his death. Later she married Franklin Kimbrough and they were married 16 years until his death. She was a member of Second Presbyterian Church for 63 years. Lida was a member of the following organizations as well as serving as president of each; The Memphis Garden Club, Les Passees, The Josephine Circle, The Memphis Junior League, The Antiquarians, and The Tuesday Study Club. Lida was Queen of the Memphi Krewe of Cotton Carnival in 1954. Lida and her daughter, Lida Black Bross are the only mother-daughter duo to be queen of both The Cotton Carnival and The Memphi. She is survived by her daughter, Lida Black Bross (Walter) of Memphis, TN; her son, William T. Black, III, (Judy) of Birmingham, AL; four grandchildren, William T. Black, IV (Greer) of Birmingham, AL, Elise Black Gredvig (Matt) of Cary, NC, Bradley H. Bross, of Destin, FL, and Brian W. Bross of Memphis, TN; a step daughter, Ellen Kimbrough Fones (Jere) of Memphis, TN; two step granddaughters, Allison Fones of Memphis, TN and Rebecca Fones Rhea (Bo) of Memphis, TN; and 11 great grandchildren. A private burial will be held at Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery. Her family will receive friends at 1 p.m. Friday, November 20 in the Salmon Room at Second Presbyterian Church with her memorial service to follow at 2 p.m. in the Chapel at Second Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Church Health Center, 1210 Peabody, Memphis, TN 38104 or the charity of your choice. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave. Memphis, TN 38119. “Celebrating Life… Behind the Stone Wall”
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