Eleanor Nesbitt Hand Lilly

Eleanor Nesbitt Hand Lilly born in Bedford, Ohio on April 12, 1948 to the late Mr. Lawrence Milton Hand and Nell Atkinson Hammond Hand. Services will be held Saturday, February 18, 2023, at 2 PM at All Saints Episcopal Church. During her childhood the family lived primarily in Cochocton, yet spent a considerable amount of time in Thomasville visiting her mother's family. On May 12, 1979, Eleanor married the late Judge Roy M. Lilly, Jr. who she was married to for the next 42 years until his untimely death in 2021.
Eleanor graduated from Cochocton High School then attended Ohio Wesleyan University where she was a member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority, graduating with her Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education in 1970. Shortly after graduation, Eleanor accepted a teaching position in First Grade at Jerger Elementary School in Thomasville, Georgia offered by longtime principal Lucile Burgess. Teaching was truly Eleanor's calling and passion.
Each year, her classroom celebrated Christmas Around the World in "France." In honor of this tradition, she hand traced and cut individual sillhouettes of every student in her class for 39 years. She was meticulous to include subtle details that truly captured the personalities, quirks, and oddities that made each child unique. Eleanor's dedication to her students didn't just extend to the classroom, she selflessly hand made many of the costumes that were used for years to come in a number of the Jerger student plays. She silently kept photos and works of her students to later send to their parents upon the accomplishment of milestones throughout their lives.
In 2012, Eleanor retired from teaching to become a stay-at-home grandmother. She continued to tutor students and volunteer at Jerger as long as her health permitted.

Eleanor was a member of the Thomasville Town Committee of the National Society of Colonial Dames in America, Thomasville Landmarks, Thomasville History Center, the Rambler Rose Garden Club, and a founding member of All Saints Episcopal Church where she taught Sunday school and served on the alter guild as well as acting as a member of the vestry. She was also previously a member of the Thomasville Junior Service League and the Archbold Auxiliary.

Eleanor is survived by her children Mary Lawrence Lang (Ashley) of Thomasville and Roy M. Lilly, III (Nicole) of Savannah, her grandson Ashley Pierce Lang, Jr and granddaughter, Rhodes Eleanor Lilly. She is also survived by her brother John S. Hand (Lois), her sister-in-law Lavinia Krech, and brother-in-law George R. Lilly, II (Nelray), nieces, nephews, great nephews, and a great niece. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her younger brother William Lawrence Hand. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to All Saints Episcopal Church 443 S. Hansell St Thomasville, GA 31792 or a charity of the giver's own choosing.