Lora Mae Green Lunsford

Lora Lunsford passed away on Monday, June 11, 2018, in Cleveland, Tennessee.  Lora was born on May 22, 1943 and grew up in McMinn County, Tennessee, the second of three daughters born to Cleo Gladys (Jones) Green and Tommie Taylor Green, who preceded her in death.  She was Deputy Clerk and Master of Bradley County Chancery Court from 1977 until her retirement in 2005. 

Through example, Mom taught all her children many valuable lessons.  Like most children, we ignored most of what she had to teach until the experience of age and temperance of time revealed her to be smarter than we realized.  Mom understood that there is worth and goodness in everyone and that you cannot judge the content of a person’s character by appearance, wealth or social standing.  She was right.  Some of the kindest, most understanding people we have met have been the same people others view as questionable at best or worthless and contemptible at worst.  Mom taught that we should care for everyone even, or especially, when it is most difficult to do so.  This lesson was most important in the last few months of her life – Mom could be difficult on the best day but we had absorbed the need to act with kindness instead of react with emotion and this (mostly) allowed us to move forward with some amount of compassion.  At her best, Mom knew the value of working hard to make your way in life as well as persevering when life seems most difficult.  She was a strong, stubborn and intelligent woman who expected the same in her daughter, niece, granddaughter and grandnieces.  She was also a fierce defender of her son and grandson and committed her life to their wellbeing.

In addition to her biological children, Mom was a mother to her nephews, niece, grandchildren and grandnieces as well as anyone else who came along and was in need of advice or protection, care and compassion.  She was not wealthy and lived a modest life but Mom opened her home to anyone who needed it for as long as necessary.  She loved animals and flowers. 

Those who will remember and who learned from Lora include her daughter, Denise Lunsford and her partner, Richard Brewer of Charlottesville, Virginia; her son, Michael Lunsford of Cleveland, Tennessee; and grandchildren, Michael Wayne Lunsford of Cleveland and Trip, Addie and Chance Brewer of Charlottesville.  Her sisters, Mildred Hammonds of Georgetown, Tennessee and Grace Fugate of Calhoun, Tennessee provided loving care to Lora until the end.  Also remembering her are nephew, Johnny McKee; niece, Marla Richeson and her husband, Alan; grandnephew, Taylor Fugate and his wife, Rebecca; and grandnieces, Kylee Richeson and Katie, Alexis and Sarah McKee.  Lora will also be remembered and missed by Becky Perry, her longtime friend and Mimi to Lora’s many children.

 Her family will receive friends from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. on Thursday at Fike-Randolph & Son Funeral Home.

We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Lunsford family guestbook at www.fikefh.com.