Mrs. Josie Mae Lyons, 75, a retired cook and longtime resident of Atmore, fell asleep in the arms of Jesus on Thursday, March 19, 2015, at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, Fla.

A native of Atmore, Ms. Lyons attended Escambia County Training School. She cooked for many years in Atmore and then at the Brewton Motor Inn Restaurant in Brewton. She was a member of Gaines Chapel AME Church, where she was a member of the Gospel Chorus until her health failed. She had a passion for fishing and she liked football — the Dallas Cowboys were her favorite team.

Those that are left to embrace the memories of her life are three daughters, Diana (Harry) Adams, Sandra Poindexter (John Anderson), both of Atmore, and Shelia (William) Hauser of Pensacola; four sons, Elijah (Olivia) Lyons of Atmore, Rickey (Tammy) Lyons of Brewton, and Kenneth (Darlene) Lyons and Randy Lyons, both of Atlanta, Ga.

Funeral services will be held Friday, March 27, at 11a.m. from Gaines Chapel A.M.E. Church, 122 Carver Ave., in Atmore, with the Rev. Freddie D. Banks, eulogist, and the Rev. Joseph Williams, host pastor.

Inhumation will be in Fairview Cemetery. Her body will lie in state from 10 a.m. until funeral service time on Friday and public viewing will be Thursday from 2 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at the funeral home with Turner Funeral Chapel, LLC, directing.