Gertrude Phillips Lyons, 95, widow of L. Clarence Lyons, Sr., died Wednesday, November 09, 2016, at NHC Healthcare. Born in Lee County, she was the daughter of the late Orville Monroe Phillips and the late Ada Belle Smith Martin. She was a graduate of Sumter High School and Montreat College. After graduation from Montreat, she taught first grade at Providence Elementary School in Sumter County and later served as a secretary at Shaw Air Force Base during World War II. Gertrude was a member of First Baptist Church for 73 years where she taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, and served as Organist for 32 years. She was also the Organist for Alice Drive Baptist Church in Sumter for 12 years and taught piano lessons in her home. She served as Organist for funeral homes in Sumter for many years, and played for many weddings in the Sumter area. Music was the love of her life, and Gertrude enjoyed serving the Lord through music whenever she was needed. She will also be remembered as one with a gift of hospitality, and her caramel cakes were legendary! She was an active member of the Order of the Eastern Star - Beuclare Chapter No. 20, where she served as Worthy Grand Matron and Organist. She also served as Grand Organist for the South Carolina Grand Chapter of the Eastern Star. She is survived by: daughter, Nancy Lyons Smith of Greenville; son, Larry Clarence Lyons, Jr. and his wife, Lisa Burnett Lyons of Simpsonville; daughter, Mary Lyons Burress of Sumter; a sister, Mary C. Batson of Marion; granddaughter, Kimberly Smith Gill and husband, Dr. Brian Patrick Gill of Bloomington, IN; grandson, Rev. Clayton Thomas Smith and wife, Terrica Radford Smith of Matthews, NC; granddaughter, Jennifer Lyons McKinney and husband, Matthew McKinney of Lexington; granddaughter, Megan Lyons Haddan and husband, Zachary Haddan of Easley; grandson, Benjamin Kyle Burress of Charlotte, NC; and granddaughter, Emily Caroline Burress of Sumter. She also had seven great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. The family would like to give special thanks to the staff of NHC Healthcare of Sumter, where Gertrude receive loving care during the latter part of her life. A worship service celebrating the life of Gertrude Lyons will be held at 2 P.M. Saturday at First Baptist Church with the Rev. Dan Barber, the Rev. Charles Clanton, and her grandson, the Rev. Clay Smith officiating. Burial will be in the Sumter Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 P.M. Friday at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and other times at the home of her daughter, 5 Fern Ct., Sumter. It is requested by the family that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to First Baptist Church, 107 East Liberty St., Sumter, SC 29150. Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.