Lilian 'Flower' Robinson Ross, former faculty, dies

On Nov 30, 2009, former Seabury professor, Lilian 'Flower' Robinson Ross died. Please see the following note from OC Edwards and the attached obituary. May Flower rest in peace and may light perpetual shine upon her. I hope you will join me in praying for Charlie as well.

faithfully, Elizabeth

from OC Edwards:

Elizabeth,
Will you please see that news gets to alumni of the death of Lilian "Flower" Ross on Monday, November 30? She and her husband Charles Winters taught pastoral theology from, I think, 1989 to 1994. She had suffered long from a lung infection, but a little over a week ago that became complicated by acute sciatic pain. When she went to the hospital, it was discovered that she also had penumonia. She went back to Deerfield, the Episcopal retirement community in Asheville, but to the skilled care section rather than their apartment. Next morning the staff called Charlie to tell him that she did not rouse. She was taken to the hospital and was on life support for three days. She died at 10:40 AM on Monday, November 30. The funeral will be at All Souls Cathedral in Asheville, probably on the afternoon of Saturday, December 12. Charlie is very sad, but recognizes that she could not and should not go on the way she was. Jane and I were with them through a lot of this.

Thanks,
OC

Lilian Flower Robinson Ross Obituary:
Passed away peacefully in Asheville, NC on November 30, 2009.Though she suffered the last few years of her life with serious health problems, she remained positive and grateful for the life that she had lived. She was 80 when she died. She leaves behind her loving husband, the Rev. Charles L. Winters, one brother, Murray Robinson, Bloomington, Indiana, four children from a previous marriage; Dr. Rusty Ross, Mobile, Alabama, Susan Shodroski, Frederick, Maryland, and Murray Ross and Frances Ross Nolan, Birmingham, Alabama. She also leaves behind two step-children, Tony Winters, New York, NY and Karen Vaught, Atlanta, Georgia, as well as 9 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Flower lived a remarkable life, having been born in Atlanta, Georgia at the beginning of the Great Depression, the oldest of three children. Flower’s given name was Lilian but she was nicknamed Flower, a reference to Lilly, her name. Her mother was Margaret Mitchell’s typist when she wrote Gone With The Wind. Flower attended Mary Washington College and received her Masters degree from Loyola University in New Orleans. Flower worked for the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama while her children were young and later worked for the School of Theology, The University of the South, where she married Charles Winters in 1980. Along with Charlie, she helped create and champion Education for Ministry, an educational program for lay-people in ministry, still widely used throughout the Episcopal Church. Over the years Flower traveled extensively in Asia, Europe, Australia, and North America while serving as a trainer of mentors for EfM groups all over the world.

Flower and Charlie joined the faculty of Seabury-Western Seminary in Evanston, Illinois where they both taught until their retirement in 1994. They moved to Asheville, North Carolina to be close to friends and immediately joined All Soul’s Cathedral. Flower remained active in lay ministry until her health prevented her from continuing. Flower and Charlie eventually moved to Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community where she lived at the time of her death. Flower was an excellent ballroom dancer, an avid reader, a cat-lover, a lover of good food, a generous person, a thoughtful friend, a grateful servant, and a devoted spouse. Her presence will be missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

A Celebration of her life and a memorial service will be held at All Soul’s Cathedral, 9 Swan St, Asheville, NC 28803-2674,(828) 274-2681, at 2:00 PM on Saturday, December 12, 2009 with the service of Holy Communion, concluding with the Interment of Ashes in the church garden, followed by a reception in Zabriskie Hall at the Cathedral. For those wishing to commemorate Flower’s life, the Flower Ross Memorial Fund has been established at All Soul’s Cathedral.