Jewel Geneva Wright Liles was born on April 4, 1917 in Lawrence County, near Loretto, Tennessee and passed away on Friday, February 13, 2015 at the age of 97.
Jewel was preceded in death by her husband: Rev. Leslie H. Liles, Sr.; parents: Olaf Phillip and Martha Temperance Benefield Wright; siblings: Wilson L. Wright, Charles T. Wright, Esmond Wright and Bessie Faye Wright Tays. She is survived by her sons: Leslie H. “Woody” (Donna Kay) Liles, Jr. and Rev. Walter Dwight (Denise) Liles; sister: Ruby Wright Hurst; and sisters-in-law: Mamie Liles Hester and Evelyn Liles Luckett.
Jewell was born into a musical family and from an early age showed herself to be a talented singer and a natural keyboardist. With her sister Ruby Myrtle Wright Hearst, she began to sing duets from the time she was eight years old. They both attended the legendary James D. Vaughn School of Music in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, now known as “the birthplace of Southern Gospel Music”. Among their classmates were members of the Singing Speer Family. After their education at the Vaughn School, Jewel and Ruby (then known as “The Wright Sisters”) performed gospel music and led “singing schools” at various churches in Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama.
Jewel wrote songs from an early age, and eventually several of her compositions were published by herself, by James D. Vaughn Music Publishing Company, and by the Benson Company in Nashville.
Through her experience with the James D. Vaughn Music School, Jewel committed her life to Jesus Christ, and all who have ever known her will attest to her passionate, lifelong devotion to the Christian faith.
On October 9, 1939, Jewel married Leslie Haywood Liles. She then devoted her life to being a wife and homemaker. They had two children, Leslie Haywood “Woody” Liles, Jr. and Walter Dwight Liles.
Jewel was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, in which her husband, Rev. Haywood Liles was an ordained minister for many years and served several rural congregations as pastor. After Rev. Liles’ death in 2002, Jewel made her church home at Mt. Joy Cumberland Presbyterian Church, where she had served many years as church pianist, and where prior to his ordination, Haywood had served as song leader, deacon and elder for many years.
Funeral services to celebrate the life of this wonderful Christian lady will be held on Thursday, February 19, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. at Mt. Joy Cumberland Presbyterian Church with Bro. Mark King and Rev. Dwight Liles officiating. Burial will follow at McClain Cemetery in Mt. Pleasant. The family will visit with friends on Wednesday, February 18, 2015 from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Williams Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant.
Micky Allen, John Rainey, Billy Grimes, Andrew King, Jonathan King and Jimmy McClain will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be the elders of Mt. Joy Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
The family would like to give special thanks to Signature Healthcare for the care of Mrs. Liles during her final illness.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations are encouraged to Mt. Joy Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
Williams Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements and online condolences may be made at www.williamsfh.com.
