Lila Frances Foote

Lila Frances Foote, 103, of Iuka, MS, passed away on January 20, 2015, on the same property where she was born on June 24, 1911. This daughter of Edgar Hulett and Leafy Grisham Broughton was the town's oldest living resident.
Mrs. Foote graduated from Iuka High School in 1929, and four years later she received her B.A. degree from Mississippi State College for Women in Columbus. She accepted a teaching appointment at Harmony Hill School in Tishomingo County, moving within two years to a much larger Burnsville School. Re-entering the teaching field after raising three children to school age with her husband's help, she taught high school English and Literature for twenty-five years before retiring in 1973.
As a lifelong Southern Baptist, Mrs. Foote held the record for being the longest continuous member of the Iuka Baptist Church. She also taught Sunday School classes and joined the choir in some years. As a part-time volunteer, she served the congregation as its librarian.
Mrs. Foote had often talked up advantages of living in Iuka as visiting family members from Texas listened. She was especially enthusiastic about her social/civic group winning a $10,000 Kroger Company award in the "Build a Better Community Contest." The 20th Century Club of Iuka received big city headlines for gaining the national first place award.
Responding to a family inquiry about her lifelong hobbies, she once replied "music and painting". But, among her bridge group, the members knew she enjoyed her afternoons, too, seated at the card table of another member's home.
Funeral services are scheduled for 3:00 p.m., Friday, January 23, at the Iuka Baptist Church, officiated by Bro. Johnny Hancock. Interment will follow in Oak Grove Cemetery. Pallbearers include James Grisham, John Kent, Bill Moore, William Crossett, Richard Clark, and Tommy Dean. Honorary Pallbearers include Mack Lloyd Wadkins and Lawrence Barkley. Visitation will be held for one hour prior to service time at the church on Friday. Cutshall Funeral Home of Iuka is entrusted with arrangements.
Lila Frances Broughton Foote was preceded in death by her husband, Avon Ruble Foote; her parents; one sister and one brother. She is survived by a daughter, Glenda Foote King and husband, Bobby Frank King, of Florence, AL; two sons, Avon Edward Foote and wife, Dorothy Gargis Foote, of Florence, AL, and John David Foote and wife, Leah Hale Foote, of Clarksville, TN; seven grandchildren, Tracy Milligan Northcutt of Fairhope, AL, Chele Foote Scott of Easley, SC, Charles MacArthur Milligan, Jr. of Florence, AL, Sean Marshall Foote of Auburn, AL, David Hale Foote of Murfreesboro, TN, Anthony Edward Foote of Roanoke, VA, and Kevin Avon Foote of Tuscaloosa, AL; eighteen great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the Iuka Baptist Church Library Fund.