Lillian Kay Mullis Purser's Obituary
John 14:6, Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the
Father except through me.”
John 10:9, Jesus says, " I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall
go in and out, and find pasture"
Psalm 118:19-20, “Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and
give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it.”
Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that
leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is
hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own
doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
On September 22, 2025, Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, opened the Gates of
Heaven and our precious Mother, walked on the streets of Gold. There is no doubt she bowed
before God and was overjoyed in his presence and laid her crowns before him. Praise his Holy
Name.
Lillian Kay Mullis Purser, age 84, walked through the Gates of Heaven after a long battle with
dementia. Praise God she is healed and suffering no more. No more pain, no more confusion,
no more fear and no more tears. He has healed her and her body is new and unstained.
Kay, as she liked to be called, was born on July 27th ,1941, to Brady and Catherine (Thompson)
Mullis in Union County N.C. She was born into a large family of 8 sisters and brothers. She told stories of picking cotton, walking back and forth to school, clinging to her Grandmother “Granny”, Millie Bone
Thompson Kerr. Oh, how she adored her Granny. She told stories of working fields, growing
vegetables, milking cows, and so much more. She loved her family with all of her heart and
took joy being with them all.
Kay met the earthly “love of her life, Bill” in 1956, when she was 15 years old and they eloped 3
months later. In Christ, they were united. Together they started a poor life, as my Father
worked where he could and they lived with his parents, Graham and Agnes Purser, until he
made enough money to afford to buy a home. They settled in a small home on Sikes Mill Road
in Monroe N.C. where they lived happily until my Father met Jesus in 1992.
My father, Bill, worked tirelessly to provide for his bride. Together, they were Self-Employed
and owned Metrolina Fence Company. Mama took care of the house and made it a loving,
Christ filled home. In the 80’s, Daddy had made enough money to extend their small home to a
larger home, with lots of land and plenty of farm animals. Together they planted a large
garden every year filled with delicious vegetables that Mama worked endlessly canning and
preparing food for her family. She always had gospel music on as she worked and happily
sang, out of tune, in God’s Holy Name. She always had a smile on her face and welcoming
arms to any and all. In 1958, she gave birth to their first-born daughter, Kathy Ann Purser. 10
years later, she had her last child and daughter, Sandy MaLane Purser. She loved her children
greatly and always showed so much pride when she presented them. Even today, when she
spoke of her husband and children, she smiled proudly at her accomplishments. Thanking
Jesus daily for all that HE provided for them all.
Mama was a simple woman who humbly always dressed to impress the Lord. Mama loved
plants and gardening. She was a social butterfly who loved people. She loved to just sit and
talk, laugh, joke and discuss Christ, her favorite topic. We have fond memories of Mama’s
cooking. Always in the kitchen providing fresh biscuits 3 times a day. Mostly filled with county
ham, fat back or sausage. The smell of those biscuits and the taste of the delicious country
meals will never leave us. Anyone who entered out property, inside or out was always offered
food and a cold drink. She loved her Pepsi, sweet tea and coffee. Her joy was taking care of
others. She may not have always had the answers to what we wanted to hear but she always
directed us to pray and to Trust God.
They raised their own meats and had a yearly slaughter that included Preachers, friends,
family and anyone who needed or wanted food in the freezer. All were invited. The men and
boys would be outside handling the slaughter, and all the women and girls would be in
Mama’s kitchen, cleaning and preparing meat for the freezer. It was an all-day event that
brought many together in love and thanksgiving.
Mama made sure that we ALL knew Jesus. She faithfully attended Church. As young girls,
Mama would dress us up and excitedly take us to Church. I’m sure there were many other
Churches she attended, however, the ones that we carry are Trinity Baptist of Monroe. From
there, Mama spoke to my Daddy often about Church, though he wasn’t as faithful as my
Mama at that time. She prayed daily for Daddy to come to know Christ, and for all of us to
know Christ. Her mission and purpose were always about saving souls. Praying for all she
met. She eventually did introduce Daddy to Christ and together they attended Hillcrest Baptist
Church in Monroe NC. As a family we would attend Church every Sunday and whenever she
could. Mama could not have felt prouder of her family. Of knowing that through Christ we
would all be together for eternity.
When the family business grew, and it did, she not only made our home a safe place to be
filled with love and light, but she also worked at Metrolina Fence Company in the office.
Together Mama and Daddy lived and worked together throughout their marriage. Never
leaving one another’s side. Always getting through the rough times and rejoicing together in
the good times.
Together they loved to travel locally. Enjoying camping in the NC Mountains or soaking up the
sun at the SC Beaches. They enjoyed having family reunions at our home, cooking out and
swimming or having birthday parties for anyone who wanted to use the home and pool for
some fun. They welcomed all.
They spent countless nights playing cards and laughing with their best friends, Lane and
Joyce Kiker. Having a comforting meal then fun at the kitchen table until the late hours came.
Lane and Daddy worked together and sometimes that meant they had to travel. Joyce and
Mama would spend time together playing board games, cards or simply keeping one another
company while their husbands worked hard building fences and bringing back sweet small
gifts for all. They took vacations together and loved to go fishing.
Mama and Daddy also spent lots of time with their siblings. Having family meals and
watching a good movie. Our home was always filled with love and laughter.
In 1992, Daddy suddenly left this earth and shattered every earthly thing she had ever known.
She submitted to Daddy faithfully and without him making the household decisions and
providing for the family, she was lost. Yet, she never ever, lost her love and faith in God. She
prayed, trusted him, and unfortunately eventually moved from the home she loved so very
much. She trusted God.
Mama worked for a short time at Stalling Salvage in Monroe as a bookkeeper. From there she
worked for a short time at Walmart in Monroe. She loved both jobs as they provide the
distraction of her loss with an abundance of smiling faces and friendly people, she was able
to find acceptance and peace from strangers she met and loved.
Mama’s sister lived at Myrtle Beach in the 90’s and Mama wanted to be near her big sister. We
moved to the beach for a short period of time which she enjoyed.
Mama loved all of her grandchildren and happily helped out when my sister or I needed a
break. She would play cars with the boys, make their favorite food, taking them on strolls
around the yard teaching about the plants, animals and history of our family. She would
always read children’s books to them, color with them and teach them about Jesus, pray with
them and for them. Each of them loved their Granny so much and always wanted to spend
time with her.
In her later years, she was able to see her great-grandchildren be born and always provided
the same for them as she did her children and grandchildren. She loved us all to the depths of
her soul. She always wanted to be around family and friends. Always.
In her 50’s when her mind started to alter, she went to live at Brookdale Monroe Square
Assisted living in Monroe N.C. She enjoyed her time there, making friends, tending to the
garden of flowers and being the social butterfly that she is. Although she and I tried many
times to live together, and as I struggled with my own personal issues, Mama would always
want to go back to Monroe Square where she felt the presence of constant friends to chat
with.
Eventually, in her 70’s, we were able to find her a beautiful apartment in uptown Monroe on
Franklin St. She loved her apartment in the Neese Building and volunteered at Loaves and
Fishes in Monroe as often as she could. She walked to Church as often as she could, which
was 2 blocks away, at First Presbyterian Church Monroe. She made wonderful friends with her
brothers and sisters in Christ there. A special thank you to Ms. Barbara Richardson, who
always checked on Mama and visited with her. Thank you to First Presbyterian Church
members who prayed with and for Mama often. Mama lived at the Neese Building until 2019
when the owners made some changes and would not renew her lease. She was so sad to
have to leave her apartment and friends. She moved in with her daughter, Sandy, a common
place to land. Mama and Sandy loved one another greatly, but were oil and water, so she
eventually decided to go back to Monroe Square where she remained until 2023. As her health
declined, she went to live with her daughter, Sandy, again until the disease became so great it
was no longer safe for her to be unattended throughout the day. Thank you to Randi Jo, for
being a kind and loving caregiver to Mama. Always treating Mama like the princess, she is.
She enjoyed loving and caring for Mama with a smile on her face doing everything that she
could to help her have the best day every day.
In 2024, Mama’s health declined to the point of needing 24 hours care. She moved into
Woodhaven Court in Albemarle, Memory Care. The light of her earthly life was coming to a
close. Dementia is a horrible disease, robbing her of her abilities to be who she always was
and stealing her from those that loved and cared for her.
In the final days, as my Mother, lay in bed unable to walk anymore, unable to communicate
well and knowing that her days were numbered, still had the desire to comfort me. She put
both of her hands around my face, looked me in the eyes, and muttered, “It’s okay” …. “It’s
okay”. She kissed me and told me again that she loved me and gave me a Mama kiss no one
else will ever do. Mama spent the last month and a half preparing her body to meet her Lord
and Savior. Thank you to Woodhaven Court, ALL of the wonderful women there that loved
and cared for my Mama as she were their own. Thank you to Hospice for your watchful eyes
and care you provided to her to keep her at ease and comfortable during this transition. I will
forever be grateful to all of you.
Lillian Kay Purser was proceeded in death by her husband and life long sweetheart, Billy Joe
Purser, her first-born daughter Kathy Ann Purser Liles (Gary), Her first-born grandson, Billy
Eugene Liles (Brandy), Her parents, Brady and Catherine (Thompson) Mullis, All of her
brothers and sisters, Frank (baby), Bill, Louise, Millie, Daphane, Alice and Elsie. Her Granny,
Millie Bone Thompson Kerr.
Kay leaves behind her daughter, Sandy MaLane Purser, grandson London J Purser (Alexis), granddaughter Nikki Liles DeRoss (Robert), great-grandchildren, London Alianna Purser, Lani and Johnny, Alexis DeRoss, Trinity and Kenadie Liles and son-in-law Gary Liles.
Mama, you deserve all of God's glory. Rest peacefully now, for you have been a good and faithful
servant.
There will be visitation on Friday, 09/26/2025 from 6-8pm at Davis Chapel - Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Monroe.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, 09/27/2025 at 3:00pm at Davis Chapel-Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Monroe.
Her final resting place will be at Hillcrest Baptist Church Cemetery, Monroe, NC, beside her faithful and loving husband, Bill. Together they will walk in Heaven for eternity.
In Lieu of Flowers, please consider a donation to any Alzheimer’s/Dementia Organization of
your choosing.
John 16:33 “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you
will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of
God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus.”
Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the
power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
Isaiah 12:2 “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is
my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”
1 Peter 3:9-11 “Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to
this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For “Whoever desires to love life and see
good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn
away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.”
Matthew 11:8-30 “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take
my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest
for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
John 14:1-31 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my
Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a
place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to
myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas
said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”
Romans 15:33 “May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.”
Davis Chapel - Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Monroe is serving the Purser family.
What’s your fondest memory of Lillian?
What’s a lesson you learned from Lillian?
Share a story where Lillian's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Lillian you’ll never forget.
How did Lillian make you smile?
