Lucy Wood Wilkerson, 89, of Gaffney, died Thursday afternoon, Nov. 12, 2009, at Clemson Downs Health Facility from complications resulting from her long battle with leukemia and congestive heart failure.

She was born on July 12, 1920, and her parents were Wilma Gaffney Wood and James Kirkland Wood. Lucy’s childhood and adolescent years were spent growing up in the beautiful and heartwarming glow that is so well known to the people of Gaffney. There she met her sweetheart, the late Paul "Bud" Wilkerson. They were married in 1937 and stayed lifetime companions for 70 years.

Lucy was known for helping others in need. She was an active member of Westminster Baptist Church, served on the Foster Child Review Board in Columbia, and assisted her husband with many endeavors to help the poor, needy and uneducated. She loved to take long walks on a flower-laden spring day and she was devoted to animals, especially cats.

Surviving are three children, Lawrence B. and Barbara Wilkerson of Falls Church, Va., Mary Judith and Terry Wilson of Kettering, Ohio, and Sally and Ronald E. Simmons of Liberty; 10 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

Services will be held Thursday, Nov. 19, at 2 p.m. at Shuford-Hatcher Funeral Home. Friends and family visitation will be one hour prior to services from 1-2 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Tri County Technical College to The Paul and Lucy Wilkerson Endowed Scholarship or to the American Cancer Society.

An online register is available at www.shufordhatcherfuneralhome. com.