Lillie Mae "Tootsie" McCard

     Lillie Mae "Tootsie" McCard, a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on November 7, 2023, in Valley, Alabama. Born on July 26, 1936, in Potash Ridge, Alabama, Tootsie was a beacon of love, laughter, and kindness to all who knew her.

     Tootsie was a woman of many talents and passions. She was an avid gardener, whose love for nature was reflected in the beautiful flowers and plants she nurtured. Her green thumb was only matched by her caring heart, which she poured into her work as a caretaker and a waitress. Tootsie's nurturing spirit extended into her later career in daycare, where she cherished every child she cared for as if they were her own. Her love for life was infectious, often expressed through her enjoyment of singing and dancing.

     Tootsie was known for her friendly and gentle nature, always ready with a kind word or a comforting hug. Her sense of humor was a source of joy for her family and friends, her laughter a melody that will be deeply missed. She was a pillar of strength and a source of inspiration, embodying resilience and grace in every aspect of her life.

     Tootsie was a member of Community Baptist Church in LaFayette and also attended Faith Evangelistic Church where she was very active until her health declined. Tootsie is survived by her children, Jean Beck (John), Bennie McCard, Becky Smith, and Raetta Nash. She was a proud grandmother to Neal Spear, Douglas Melton (Tammy), Michael Dunaway, Anita Scott (Donnie), Cathy Smith (Ryan), Lisa Nash, Bennie Joseph McCard, Jr., and Claire Moody.

     Tootsie was also blessed with eighteen great-grandchildren and twenty-six great-great-grandchildren, each of whom held a special place in her heart. She is also survived by her sister, Ethel Aikens, and several cousins.

     She was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur “Mack” McCard; parents, Henry and Odessa Camp; children, Rachel Dunaway, Larry McCard, and Gary McCard; sisters, Pearlie Jones, Annie Ruth Smith, and Aileen Cotney.

     Tootsie's life was a testament to the power of love and the strength of the human spirit. Her memory will forever be a beacon of hope, a reminder of the beauty of life, and an inspiration to live each day with kindness and joy. As we mourn her passing, we also celebrate the remarkable woman she was, and the incredible legacy she leaves behind. Tootie's light will continue to shine brightly in the hearts of all who knew her, a lasting tribute to a truly remarkable woman.

     Funeral services for Tootsie will be held on Friday, November 10th, 2023 at 3:00 PM (EST) at the Johnson Brown-Service Funeral Home Chapel in Valley. Interment will follow in Shawmut Cemetery. The Reverend Eric Rice will officiate. Tootsie’s family will receive friends Friday afternoon from 2:00 PM (EST) until the service hour at the funeral home.

     Tootsie’s family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff of EAMC Lanier Nursing Home and Chattahoochee Hospice for the kind and loving care they provided.

     Please visit Tootsie’s Memorial Tribute page at www.johnsonbrownservicefh.com to leave a kind word for her family, to share a memory of Tootsie, or to light a Remembrance Candle in her memory.

     Johnson Brown-Service Funeral Home of Valley directing.

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