Lillis Maria Seymour-Thurston

Lillis Maria Seymour-Thurston Age: 77 Years of #217-A Soldier Road, 
completed her life of service at 10713 Greenwich Lane Wellington, Florida 33414 on Friday, August 27, 2021.

Lillis was born at Tea Bay Cat Island, the Bahamas on Friday, September 03, 1943, 
John and Maud Seymour. Affectionately called her 'Lil' or "The Indian Queen" 
because of her long, beautiful curly hair.

Lillis was a very affectionate, loving, and brilliant child who spent her formative years in 
Knowles settlement where she attended 'Knowles All-Age School'.

Matrimony 
Upon completion of school, she briefly served as a Hall Monitor/Teacher's Aid 
before she left beautiful Cat Island for Nassau to further her education. 
During her studies in Nassau, she met a tall, handsome young man by the name of 
Charles Thurston, affectionally called Charlie. They were smitten and married 
within a few short months of meeting.

Family Life 
The union of Lillis and Charlie was a world-wind romance. Lillis gladly took on the roles of 
a loving housewife and homemaker for her family. As it was customary in those days, 
she stayed home to raise their children but did so devotedly with adoration. 
Anyone who knew this couple, always commented on how much they loved each other, 
as they would often see Lillis accompanying Charlie in his truck while working for the family. 
This union produced eleven wonderful children and lasted more than thirty-five years 
until Charlie's untimely death.

Spiritual Life 
It was after Charlie's death, in June of 1994, that Lillis found healing and comfort 
by accepting the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ by joining the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. 
She was a very active and devoted member of Grants Town where she became a choir member 
and made several mission trips throughout the United States and Canada. Because of her caring 
and generous nature, she volunteered in the Soup Kitchen where she truly loved talking with 
the people that she was assisting. This passion led to her accompanying her fellow church members w
ith visiting the Sick & Shut-ins prior to the pandemic.

Lillis was a devoted prayer warrior. She was an advocate for morning prayer with her children 
and grandchildren before they left for work or school. She would also spend hours praying for 
the Sick & Shut-in, world peace, the Bahamas, and her beloved church – the members and their families.

A Time to Die 
In mid-June 2021, Lillis travelled to Florida to attend her grandson's graduation service, 
and to enjoy the summer with her daughter and grandchildren. However, during that trip, 
she started to experience some discomfort that required medical attention. After a brief hospital stay, 
she traveled back to Nassau, but was summoned back again to Florida due to the test results of her prior stay.

Upon her return, Lillis was hospitalized for the second time in July and was released on August 26th. 
On August 27th, 2021, at 5:30am, she went peacefully to Glory while at her daughter's home, 
surrounded by her children and grandchildren.

Lillis is preceded in death by her: 
Husband: Charles Thurston;
Sons: Johnathon, Nathan and Julian Thurston;

The Radiance of this "Sapphire of A Gem" will always glow in the hearts of her:
Three Sons: Charles, Reuben and Elgin Thurston;
Four Daughters: Rhonda, Lovenia and Shanna Thurston and Natasha Armbrister;
Thirteen Grandsons: Calvin, Charles, Rashad, Chase, Justin, Demargio, Elgin Jr., 
Rashando and Ashley Thurston, Peyton Gray, Nathan and Keith Sands and Stephen Woyome;
Eleven Granddaughters: Giann, Misty, Tashante, Nicolette, Nathalie and Elginique Thurston, 
Krystin Sands, Latisha Weech, Annica Gray, Celeste Gray-Carey and Hannah Afi Woyome;
Eight Great Grandsons: Raja Weech, Michael and Nathan Sands, Liam, 
Jeremiah and Malekeigh Thurston, Matthew Nixon and Jaedin Kelly;
Seven Great Granddaughters: Jahniyah Sands, Teren and Tien Weech, Aryanna Burrows, 
Lataria and Madison Nixon and Zhyon Thurston;
Two Sisters: Meryl Butler and Cynthia Seymour-Moss;
Two Sons-in-law: Raymond Armbrister and Troy Sweeting;
One Daughter-in-law: Ellarice Forbes-Thurston;
Two Grandson-in-law: Terrance Weech and Andrew Carey;
Five Brothers-in-law: Leo and Alexander Thurston, Neville Seymour, 
Collin Butler and Ritchard "Ritchie" Williams;
Four Sisters-in-law: Rethia Thurston, Geraldine "Jerry" Thurston-Williams, 
Rosemary and Isamae Seymour;
Other Loving Family and Friends Including: The Deal, Rolle, Smith, Gray, 
Wilmott and Delancy Families, William Hepburn, Roslyn Lockhart, Calvin and Charles Brown, 
Alton and the Forbes Family, Caren Murphy, Janice Butler, Sharana Rolle, Kashala Forbes, 
Dr. Stephen Woyome, Elvis Carey, Faith Major, Tanesha Miller, Ted Hall, Jacqueline Deleveaux, 
Joyclyn Armbrister, Gertrude Knowles, Otis Gibson, Keith Hepburn, Garth and Ronald Small, 
Evertt Archer, Kermit Moss, Shanique Mitchell, Adrian Thurston, Lashan, Winifred Armbrister, 
Ellamae Rolle, Keith Sands, Tony and Florinda Martiniello, Mr. and Mrs William Hepburn, 
Deaconess Roach, Elder McCoy, Pastor Leonardo Rahming and their Families, 
The Grants Town Seventh Day Adventist Church and Soup Kitchen, The Silver Treads Salvation Army, 
Gambier Family,  The Soldier Road and Red Land Acres Families, and many other family and friends 
too numerous to mention.
Special Thanks to: The Staff at JFK Medical Center in Palm Beach Florida, 
Bahamas Customs Exuma, Owners, Operators and Employees of J.B.R and Tops Building Supply 
and Charles W. Saunders Schools for their support.