Lila Blake Upchurch

Lila Blake Upchurch passed away peacefully on the 21st day of May 2013. She was born in Wake County, the daughter of the late John Metrice Blake and Lelia Thomas Blake. Lila is survived by her precious loving and caring daughter, Debbie Faulkner of Garner. Lila was predeceased by her husband, John Howard Upchurch. They had 57 wonderful years together. John loved and cared for his family and he was a wonderful person. Lila was predeceased by her two sisters, Aline Strother and Kathleen Maynard; three brothers, Norman Blake, James Blake, and William Blake. Lila was also predeceased by her son-in-law, Shawn Faulkner. Shawn was really an inspiration to Lila and she loved him very much. Debbie was truly the wind beneath her mothers wings. She was always there giving encouragement, love, care, and support. Words cannot express the love that Lila had for Debbie, as well as the love that Debbie had for her mother. Lila leaves behind to cherish her memory her special friends whom she loved and enjoyed being with so many times, Melissa Adams of Angier, Carla R. Davis of Raleigh, George R. Barrett and Ann Kirby of New Bern, Gaye and her husband, Louis Woodruff of Fuquay, Margie Webb and Anna Jo Edwards of Garner, Willie Rowe of Raleigh, and a host of other friends and relatives. Lila cannot begin to say how much she appreciated the friendship, love and all the expressions of kindness shown to her by these dear special friends. To some of Lilas friends she was affectionately known as Miss. Lila. Lila always enjoyed visiting with her daughter Debbie and husband Shawn, and playing with her beautiful grandcat Miss. Kitty. Lila is survived also by several nieces and nephews, and a sister-in-law Louise Upchurch, who were all so good to her and she loved them very much. Lila will be greatly missed and will live on in the hearts of those who loved her. Above all, Lila put her faith and trust in Jesus Christ and accepted him as her Lord and Savior. Her wish is that all might accept him so that they may have life eternal. Lila was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church of Garner for many years. The visitation will be Thursday from 6-8 pm at Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, Garner. The funeral will be 2 pm Friday at the First Baptist Church of Garner. Burial will follow at Montlawn Memorial Park, Raleigh. Debbie wishes to express special thanks to Mamas Angel, Sarah Creel, also Linda Strickland and Nicole Fredley for the loving care they showed my mother this past year and to all of her neighbors and friends who so faithfully visited her during her illness. Thanks also to Dr. Michael James and Heartland Hospice for their kind care. My Mother wrote her own obituary several years ago as an expression of her love for her family and friends. Flowers are accepted or contributions may be made to Garner First Baptist Church or Heartland Hospice of Raleigh.