Lil DuPont is remembered this week for keeping things in order for a generation of students and parents through her work as secretary at Pierce County High School, Pierce County Junior High School and Pierce County Middle School.
DuPont, 87, of Patterson, passed away Friday morning, August 30, 2024, at the Hospice Satilla Hospice House in Waycross, following an extended illness.
“She was a role model and mentor to me,” recalls Perry Tison.
Tison retired as principal at Pierce County Middle School, but had known DuPont throughout their working careers.
“She made my job much easier and I am indebted to her for her service,” Tison recalls.
Tison says that during his tenure as principal — and indeed throughout her 20 year career with Pierce County Schools — DuPont handled attendance and displinary referrals.
“She was the first person everyone came in contact with when they entered the school,” Tison said. “She was firm, but she knew how to treat people and how to handle just about any situation that came up.”
Tison chuckles when he thinks about DuPont’s own discipline toward her job.
“Everything had a folder and everything had its place. She was efficient and organized and she maintained order,” he said.
Terri DeLoach, Tison’s predecessor and retired former PCMS principal and superintendent, echoed those remarks.
“I loved Mrs. Lil so much. She was one of the most loyal and dedicated secretaries that we had. She was committed to doing her best and she did it well. She was such a classy lady.”
DuPont was born in Pennsylvania and lived in Fort Lauderdale, FL, before making her home in Patterson in 1976.
In addition to her 20 year career with Pierce County Schools, she had worked as a substitute teacher, had worked for the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, as a waitress for Thom’s Smokehouse in Patterson and as a receptionist for South Georgia Insurance/Dixon Insurance.
She was also active and dedicated to her church and community. She was a long-time member of Patterson Baptist Church, where she was a former Sunday School Director for the Children’s Department, member of the WMU, and started the Widow’s Support Group which she led for 10 years.
She enjoyed being a poll worker for the Pierce County Elections Board and a volunteer at the area blood drives for the American Red Cross.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3, from the Patterson Baptist Church.
For a full obituary, please see page 3.
