“I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where, I love you straightforwardly without complexities or pride. I love you because I know no other way than this. So close that your hand, on my chest, is my hand. So close, that when you close your eyes, I fall asleep.”
Pablo Neruda

Lillian Doris Winston transitioned from this life Thursday, July 9, 2020, to join her dear, departed family members. At 87 years old, she died peacefully and joy filled after a nine-year encounter with Alzheimer’s disease.

Lillian was born June 12, 1933 to Robert Terry and Logie Agnes Cook-Terry in rural Brookhaven, Mississippi. She attended Brookhaven public schools and was baptized into St. Paul’s Missionary Baptist Church. In 1943, Lillian’s parents decided it was time to move their family west to Sacramento, California. Two years later, in 1945, they moved 80 miles south to Oakland where her father, Robert Terry, worked at the Oakland Naval Shipyard. For a time, the family lived in the notorious and now historic, Harbor Homes Housing Project on Mooreship Avenue in West Oakland. It was temporary housing built by the government during WWII to house thousands of workers coming into California from the South to find work.

As a young woman, Lillian converted to Catholicism and attended Mass at St. Patrick’s Church in West Oakland for many years. She was blessed with a deep abiding faith in God and lived her religious values daily. Lillian’s beauty, sparkling personality and joy attracted the attention of the young John W. Winston, Jr. He sought a courtship and offered to pick her up from Oakland's Hoover Junior High School in his green Cadillac. Quickly, he learned that the only way he could take her out on a date, was if accompanied by one of her sisters.

That tactic apparently proved successful. In 1949, Lillian Terry and John W. Winston, Jr. were married. Lillian gave birth to three wonderful children: Ingrid, Christal, and John. They settled in Oakland where John soon became a Doctor of Chiropractic. In addition to being an amazing and devoted mother, Lillian returned to school and worked for many years as a certified nursing assistant. Later, she turned her full attention to assisting her husband in his chiropractic practice in Oakland. A career change then moved her to the old Emporium-Capwell Department Store in downtown Oakland where she worked as a seasoned sales associate until deciding to retire and focus her attention on spoiling her one and only grandson, Lawrence.

As a little country girl growing up in rural Mississippi, Lillian, an avid “daydreamer,” always knew her life would be full of grandeur. She especially loved fishing, watching old movies, solving word puzzles and walking to explore areas she loved. Affectionately referred to as “Ol’ Lil,” Lillian was a vibrant woman with an adventurous spirit. She traveled to Japan, Rome, the Caribbean, Hawaii, and other wonderful places. One of the many things she did as a philanthropist was host foreign students from Japan. Lillian was blessed beyond measure with a wonderful life. Her cup ran over with love.

A dedicated lifetime learner, in 1973, Lillian learned to fly an airplane and received her student pilot certificate. She served as president of The 13 Charms, Inc., a nonprofit organization and social group that raised money for college students and families in financial distress in her community. Not many people know that she enjoyed a modeling career but if you were ever entertained at one of Lillian’s elegant parties, you know she was the proverbial “hostess with the mostess.” She thrived on entertaining and making people happy. She could lay out a feast that words simply fall short of describing. In fact, Lillian will be forever remembered for her “all day” family barbecues and lazy days in the park with the family.

Lillian was a fabulous lady until the very end. She kept her hair impeccably styled, lipstick refreshed, nails manicured and toted her constant companion: her purse! Despite being stricken with Alzheimer’s, the one thing Lillian could remember into her final days was how to count her money.

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