Lillian Marjorie Matthews Click, age 88, passed away early Tuesday morning, January 22, 2013, in Haw River, North Carolina. She was born February 20, 1924.

A native of Cosby, she was one of five daughters born to William and Leota (Layman) Matthews of the Chavis community.

Born into a musical family, she and her sisters Sammie, Elsie, and Naomi, sang in a quartet, traveling to numerous church services, homecomings, reunions, and funerals to share their talents.

She attended Cosby Academy and following her graduation from Cosby High School in 1943, she became one of a special group of patriotic citizens who worked in "The Secret City," now Oak Ridge, on the Manhattan Project on the development of the highly secret atomic bomb.

Following the war, she and another Cosby native, Charles Hartsell Click, newly home from his military service, were married at the home of the late Rev. W. C. Sauceman on March 22, 1946.

After her marriage, she was employed as a clerk by three Newport businesses: Jenkins & Darwin, The Bootery, and Ashley's Outlets.

For many years, she and her husband resided in the former home of his parents, Benjamin and Julia (Hartsell) Click in Bogard, where they reared their three sons: Duaine Hartsell Click, Michael Lee Click, and David Click.

The Click family's membership and service to Union Missionary Baptist Church in Bogard pre-dates the Civil War, and Lillian's membership remained there until her death.

Following her husband's death in 1989, Lillian continued to reside in the family home, welcoming dozens of relatives each summer for family reunions and get-togethers, until ill health necessitated her move to North Carolina.

She will be remembered as a loving daughter, wife, mother, and grandmother, a dear and faithful friend, a gracious hostess, and a devoted lover of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

In addition to her husband, parents, grandparents, and in-laws, she was preceded in death by her sisters Inez Matthews and Sammie Matthews Hall, and brothers-in-law Rev. Hubert Hall, Sr., Jake Bomar, and Martin Lunsford.

Left to treasure her memories are her sons and daughters-in-law Duaine and Pat Click of Newport, Michael and Linda Click of Haw River, North Carolina, and David and Adriana Click of Florida; grandchildren Angie Click, Denise Barrett, Terri Hall, Sheri Large, Tim Large, and Robert Large, Michelle Poole and Melynda Kimber, and Sammy Click and David Click, Jr.; great-grandchildren Wayne Brandon, Audrey Conard, Madelyn Naillon, Sierra Large, C.J. Click-Kimber, Kyara Kimber, Brianna Kimber, Kaleb Large, and Logan Large; and great-great-grandchildren Martin Cox and Halle Lillian Cox.

Additional survivors include her sisters Elsie Bomar and Naomi Lunsford, both of Cosby, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Frances 'Pat' and Tom Chism of Ft. Worth, Texas; brother-in-law Jerry Even of Chicago, Illinois, and sister-in-law Mary Lou Click of San Antonio, Texas; numerous nieces and nephews and their families, and a host of cousins and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 7:00 p.m. Friday, January 25, 2013, in the Manes Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Wiley Woody officiating. The family will receive friends from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Friday at Manes Funeral Home prior to the funeral services.

Burial will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 26, 2013, in Union Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Duay O'Neil, Warren Bryant, Eugene Arrowood, Estel Daniels, Mike Bryant, and Sherrell Byrd.

In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made to Union Baptist Church, P. O. Box 868, Newport, Tennessee 37822.

Family and friends may sign the guest register online at www.manesfuneralhome.com.

Manes Funeral Home in charge