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Church Hill, TNValerie "Irene" Collins LiffordThe earthly realm lost an amazing woman on Friday, July 11, 2015, but heaven was made brighter and was filled with song upon her arrival. Irene Lifford, who passed away at age 95, was a testament to the power of a life grounded in faith and family – because both meant everything to her. She was a devoted wife, a wonderful mother to five, and a caring, doting grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great grandmother to many, all of whom called her "Mamaw". Irene lived a rich, full life, and when passed away, it was with peace and she was with her family in the Lifford family home, listening to recorded music of her daughter's angelic voice. A million words cannot capture what Irene meant to those who knew her and loved her. Her magical powers to grow any and every vegetable in her garden were unsurpassed, and Irene still worked her garden every day into her 90s. As she ate like a bird all her life, Irene grew things not for herself, but for family and friends who loved her cooking. Irene's cornbread dressing is regarded by many as the best that has ever been made. She and her late husband, the Rev. George W. Lifford, moved from Hancock County, her birthplace, early when they married and settled in Church Hill, where she spent the rest of her life. She was a strong woman who raised her children, four loving sons, Ralph, Elbert Lee "James, Jerry and Leonard, and her one precious daughter, Nannie "Lou", who passed away two years ago and met her mother in heaven. Rich in wisdom, Irene supported and advised her husband George as he preached the gospel at churches thoughout the region, and especially at their home church, Mountain View Baptist in Church Hill. Mountain View was Irene's church family thoughout her years, even after George's passing in 1988, and it was a loving church family. She was devoted to the church that sat down the hill from her house, enough so that she cleaned Mountain View into her early 90s. The bedrock of her soul was her Christian faith, and Irene was happy to share that with others, though she was never showy about it. In fact, she was happy to share everything; she fed those who were close to her and those who she barely knew, and she welcomed anyone and everyone into her home. A fiercely independent woman, Irene learned to drive in her 60s and burned up the roads after that. She had a sharp, mischievous sense of humor and used to love to have her grandchildren camp out on her porch – because she loved them, but also because it gave her the opportunity to appear as a "haint" in the middle of the night. Her kindness to all people serves as a model for all people to follow. Each Christmas Eve, her small house would burst with family and friends who came for food, gifts and for the children to see the arrival of Santa Claus. One year when the Santa suit could not be found, Irene took it upon herself to fashion a Santa suit from scratch and did her best to be Kris Kringle – it was explained to her surprised and happy grandchildren that this somewhat odd-looking Santa had had a wreck on the way. Though Irene was careful to listen four times more than she spoke, she was full of amazing stories, and she said more than once that she thought about writing a book about her life. It was indeed a life worthy of a book. Though her words and stories are not captured on paper, those stories and words are engraved in the hearts of her family and her countless friends. They will continue to share her stories and those memories with others – as an ode to the memory of a woman who lived a remarkable live, and more importantly, made the lives of everyone she knew so much better. Irene was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. George W. Lifford, her daughter, Nannie "Lou" Lifford Arnold; her parents, Tyler and Bertha Collins; sisters, Leona Hilton, Osa Mae Collins, Nellie Ruth Roberts, Hazel Roberts; brothers, Cecil and Dan Collins.Irene is survived by her four sons; Ralph Lifford and special friend Patty Holbert; Elbert Lee "James" Lifford and Juda; Jerry Lifford and wife Wanda; Leonard Lifford; and son-in-law Robert Arnold, Jr. and wife Shirley; Seven grandchildren – Wes Lifford and wife Laura; Todd Lifford and wife Christina; Mike Arnold and wife Julie; Teresa Henegar and husband David; Ryan Lifford; Brad Lifford and wife Tammy; Brett Lifford and wife Jessica; Nine great-grandchildren – Lochlan and Liana Lifford, Holly Humphrey; Amanda Jones and husband Jeremy; Sophia, Olivia and Adam Arnold; Mikaela Lifford and Will Lifford; Four great-great grandchildren – Anna and Noah Clark; Kira and Keaton Dishner. Sisters – Mabel Goins and Joy Gisewite. Several beloved nieces and nephews. Special and faithful friends – Barbara Moore Clipse; Judy Arnold Christian, Pat and Herman Dobbs and all of her loving church family of Mountain View Baptist Church. Special niece and caregiver, Helen Hilton Ferrell.The family will receive friends on Sunday, July 12, 2015 from 4:00-6:00pm at Johnson Arrowood Funeral Home, 320 Grandview St, Church Hill, TN. A celebration of Irene's life will be held at 6pm at the funeral home, with Irene's pastor and dear friend who is like a son, Rev. Ronnie Trent officiating. Special music will be provided by Debbie Trent and her two daughters, Andrea Patterson and Kristen Seaver, along with the Mountain View Baptist Church choir. The gravesite service will be held on Monday, July 13, 10:00am at Church Hill Memory Gardens.Pallbearers will be Irene's loving church family, Royce Begley, J.T. Bruner, Herman Dobbs, Sam Manis, Bill Pounders, Bill Smith, Jerry Sutherland and Donnie Trent.In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Mt. View Baptist Church, 308 Shelby Ave, Church Hill, TN 37642.Irene's family expresses their sincere appreciation for the prayers, love and extreme kindness extended to them over the years. To leave an online message for the Lifford family, please visit us at www.jfhonline.com.THANK YOU BRIAN!