Lillie Raney Major

Lillie Raney Major died October 21, 2017. Born on January 14th, 1919, to Thomas Jefferson Raney and Inez Brannon Raney, she was the youngest daughter of 10 siblings. Lillie raised three children while successfully balancing a career in education and supporting her husband of 75 years, the late Dr. James E. Major. Together they served the United Methodist Church and Hendrix College. Lillie received her BA from Sullins College in Virginia and her Master's degree from the University of Central Arkansas. She was very instrumental in establishing the Foreign Language programs in the Little Rock Public Schools. She taught school in every city where she and Jim lived starting with Durham, North Carolina, while Jim went to graduate school. In her role as a missionary in Santiago, Chile, she taught at the Sweet Memorial Institute alongside her husband. She was the quintessential "Preacher's Wife," devoting her life to God, the Church, and her family. Lillie is survived by her daughter, Mary Susan Major Holton and her husband, Len, of Little Rock, her son, Thomas R. Major and his wife, Carla, of Little Rock, and her son, James V. Major and his wife, Tamara, of Medford, MA; as well as grandchildren, Mike Major and his wife, Nikki, Lauren Major Averill and her husband, Chris, Alexis Major Jameson and her husband, Neil, Wesley Major, and six great-grandchildren. A service celebrating Lillie's life will be held at First United Methodist Church in Little Rock on Wednesday, October 25th, at 1:30 p.m. The family will greet friends prior to the service, beginning at 1 p.m. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorials be sent to First United Methodist Church, 723 Center Street, Little Rock, Ark. 72201. Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, (501) 224-2200. Mrs. Major's online guestbook may be signed at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.