Lucille Mae Courtney, beloved mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully in Mashpee on September 17, 2024, at the remarkable age of 103. Born on August 27, 1921, to James Albert and Obeelia (Freeman) Eaves in Ruther Glen, Virginia, Lucille was one of eleven children raised on a farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virgina. Her parents were Native American of the Cherokee tribe and her father was a medicine man. He was gifted in growing and harvesting all manner of plants and trees for both food and medicine to help people. Lucy inherited his love and knowledge of growing and caring for plants.

In 1938, she married George Courtney and the couple moved to Brooklyn to find work. By 1953, Lucille was a buyer at a clothing boutique and in 1958 she became a sales associate at Lord & Taylor's 5th Avenue store.

George and Lucille moved to Bedford, Massachusetts in 1975, and Lucille took a sales position in the men's department and sportswear department at Lord & Taylor in Burlington. She retired after the age of 90 and proudly wore her company pin. She was always beautifully dressed and followed fashion trends.

Lucy loved to garden and was a master gardener herself who was famous for bringing ailing plants back to life. She also helped her son's family stack cords of wood, even in her eighties she could stack 2 cords of wood in 3 days. Lucille was an avid baker with a sweet tooth, making everything from chocolate cookies, to almost every type of pie, her own jams, and incorporating recipes from her co-workers at Lord and Taylor into her repertoire. Her Armenian sweet rolls were a favorite of her family and friends, a recipe she learned from her Armenian co-worker.

A devout Catholic, Lucille was actively involved in St. Michael Parish in Bedford, where she assisted for many years with reorganizing hymnals after Mass and was a dedicated member of the Legion of Mary in Brooklyn, NY. Her faith and commitment to her parish community were sources of deep fulfillment and joy.

Lucille was predeceased by her beloved husband, George W. Courtney, and her son, George W. Courtney Jr. She is survived by her grandson George G. Courtney, daughter-in-law Yvonne Courtney, her brother William Eaves and many nieces and nephews who remember her with great fondness.

A funeral Mass will be held at St. Michael Church, 90 Concord Road, Bedford, on Saturday, October 12, at 10 A.M. Visitation will be held at the Bedford Funeral Home, 167 Great Rd., Bedford prior to the Mass beginning at 9:00 A.M.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Michael Parish, 90 Concord Rd., Bedford, MA 01730.