Lillian Faye (Thomas) Locklear

Lillian Faye Thomas Locklear was born on October 24, 1934 and departed this life onto God’s hands on Sunday, June 30, 2019 at the age of 84. 

She was born in Robeson County to the late Joseph E. Thomas and Rachel Copeland Thomas. She was preceded in death by her husband, Clerance Fredrick “Ted” Locklear; two sons, Fredrick Ray Locklear and Thomas Hoyt Locklear; two sisters, Colleen Turner and Esther Carter Lowry; and three brothers, Clinton Lee Thomas, Edmond Thomas, and Terry Thomas. 

Mrs. Lillian Faye was a loving Christian, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, best friend, and a lifelong member of Berea Baptist Church. She retired after 31 years as a classroom teacher, liaison teacher, school social worker, and Director of Indian Education for Cumberland County Schools as well as Program Supervisor of Indian Education for Robeson County Schools. She was an enrolled member of the Lumbee Tribe. She was a member of the Pembroke Business and Professional Women’s Club, N.C. Association of Educators, National Indian Education Association, and National School Boards Association. She was the first Native American woman to serve on the Robeson County Board of Education. She earned a Bachelor of Science from Pembroke State College in 1956, and a Master of Arts in Education from Pembroke State University in 1982. 

Mrs. Lillian Faye leaves behind to cherish her memories; a son, Eric Paul Locklear (Lenora) of Lumberton; a daughter, Elise Locklear Reaves of Lumberton; three grandchildren, Jeri Lynn Locklear, Christopher Scott Reaves, and Eric Hunter Locklear; three great grandchildren, Lauren Ashley Graham, Luke Bryan Bullard, and Jacob Lee Bullard; two step-grandchildren, Amy Sheppard-Locklear and Heather Reaves, one sister, Myrtle Thomas Miller of Ohio, and one brother, Russell Thomas( Betty) of Charlotte; three special caretakers, Ms. Wanda Hunt, Mrs. Joyce Haywood, and Ms. Victoria Britt; and a host of relatives and friends. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Berea Baptist Church (120 North Odum Street, Pembroke, NC 28372) or to the charity of your choice. 

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