Ms. Deangela "Dee Dee" Jo Lilly

Ms. Deangela “Dee Dee” Jo Lilly, 56, formerly of Peoria, IL, took her rest at Sunrise Hospital, Las Vegas, NV, on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019. A Native of Peoria, IL, Deangela was the youngest of 12 children, born September 17, 1963 to the late Florence I. Lilly & Albert B. Lilly a.k.a. “Bird Lilly”. Affectionately known as “Dee Dee”, Deangela & her family were one of the Taft Homes keystone families, where she developed lifelong relationships and a passion for the people in public housing. Dee Dee went on to pursued a career in Property Management, focusing on Lower Income Based Housing. Dee Dee began as a resident aid, learning the system & working her way through the ranks; property inspector to assistant manager, and finally full property manager. Anyone who knew her knows that Managing Public Housing was not just a career for her but a calling; one that took her from Peoria (having managed all 3 properties, included her own starting point Taft Homes), to Rockford, IL, Phoenix, AZ, & Finally Nashville, TN where she retired only due to health complications. Dee’s life, aside from her career, was defined by two other aspects, Her relationship with God & her Family. Dee Dee was raised Catholic at Saint Mary’s Cathedral, but at age 15, she being nosey, and found her way to a New Hope Tent Revival, where she personally met God. Her New Hope experience gave her a lasting esteem for God, one that was exemplified in how she treated people. Her last church family was The Spirit & Truth Believers Fellowship (STBF) in Nashville, TN, which she attended as able with her son. And finally, her family; Being the baby of 12, with countless cousins, family was a very important factor for Dee Dee. Nothing brought her more joy than being with her siblings & cousins, close friends who were raised with her like siblings, and nieces & nephews who she revered as close as siblings. Dearest to her heart was her only biological child, Cameron Keith Walls, and Granddaughter Nevaeh Harris, whom she raised. Preceding Her in death are Her Loving Parents, Florence & Albert “Bird” Lilly; Beloved Grandfather Jerry “Gramps” Wires; Brothers James “Jimmy” Lilly, Al “Jr.” Lilly, & Darryl “Bingo” Lilly; and her Dearest Friends/Brother & Sisters: George Welch, Nettie, Lizzy, Barbara & Charlotte Lewis. Surviving are Her Son, Cameron Keith Walls, of Nashville, TN, Daughters, Nevaeh Harris & Shay Brown of Mesa, AZ; Longtime Companion Stevie Griffin of Chicago, IL; Siblings: Gerald (Helen) Lilly & Diane Lilly, of Nashville, TN, Dorene Nelson, Denise Lilly, and Darlene “Mary” Lilly, all of Las Vegas, NV; Dahline “Buck” Lilly, Debrina (Sylvester) Wilson, Darla Lilly, Doris Lilly, & Barbara Cagel-Welch, all of Peoria, IL; 4 additional grandchildren, and a host of Nieces, Nephews, Cousins and Friends. Funeral services/A Celebration of Life will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, November 16, 2019, at The Greater City of Refuge Worship Cathedral with a visitation at 9 a.m., where Bishop Timothy Criss is the pastor and Rev. Spencer Gibson will officiate. Deangela will be laid to rest at Historic Springdale Cemetery. Arrangements made with Simons Mortuary. Online condolences may be made at SimonsMortuary.com.

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Ms. Deangela "Dee Dee" Jo Lilly

September 17, 1963 - October 22, 2019