Lillie Simmons Cuthrell, 99, of Winston-Salem peacefully transitioned to glory on Thursday, January 5, 2023.  She was born October 7, 1923 in Winston-Salem, NC to Alberta Gaines and Samuel Reid Simmons, Sr. Lillie attended 14 ^th Street Elementary School. After graduating from Atkins High School in 1940, Lillie migrated to New York where she was employed in the New York City Department of Juvenile Justice.

She received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Empire State College. She was a very devoted member of St. Augustine Presbyterian Church in Bronx, NY and was involved in the Ladies Usher Board and the Altruist Club. In addition, she was active in the Local 1475 labor movement. Lillie served as the President of the Toastmistress Club and received awards for her public speaking.

Upon retirement in 1986, she returned to Winston-Salem to live with her sisters, and they were affectionately known as "The Golden Girls" and "CBS." She renewed her religious affiliation with Grace Presbyterian Church and served faithfully as an Elder, Moderator and Vice-Moderator of the Deacon Board, member of the United Presbyterian Women, as well as a deacon ministering to the sick and the shut-ins. In her spare time, she volunteered for the National Black Theater Festival and was a member of the Duplicate Bridge Club and the Thursday and Friday Pinochle Clubs. She also enjoyed participating in the games and activities with her many friends at the Holiday Forsyth Court retirement center. Family and history were very important to Lillie. Hence, she was one of the key organizers and historians for the Watson-Gaines-Clinton Family Reunions. Lillie played forward on the Atkins High School Varsity Basketball team. In 2011, she was inducted into the Atkins High School Sports Hall of Fame.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her siblings, Samuel Jr., Edward, Naomi Simmons, and Willie Lee Bradshaw; and her nephew, James G. Bradshaw. Lillie married the late George Cuthrell in 1947 but there were no children from this union. Lillie will be fondly remembered as an exceptionally strong woman and a very devoted, loving, and caring aunt.

She is survived by her niece, Carolyn Morgan; nephews, Cecil Bradshaw (Jusolyn) and Bryant Keith Simmons; great-nieces, Kristin Morgan, Kala Bradshaw, and Ciceli Bradshaw; great-nephew, Eric (Sarah) Morgan; Godson, Derek (Susan) Johnson; beloved friends, Sandra and Jasper Brown, and Billie Matthews; and a host of other relatives and friends.

A viewing will be held from 1:00pm until 5:00pm Thursday, January 12, 2023 at Russell Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00am Friday, January 13, 2023 at Grace Presbyterian Church.  Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. The family visitation will be held from 10:00am until 11:00am on Friday at the Church.