Lillie Mae Sabb "affectionately known as "Lill" was born to the union of the late George and Viola Gadson on March 7, 1916 in Fort Meade, Florida. She was the third child of four children. Two sons and one daughter was also born to this union; Gustina and Johnnie preceded her in death.

Lill attended and graduated from Union Academy in Bartow. She was a musician for eight years for Galilee Baptist Church. Lill left Fort Meade and moved to Jacksonville, Florida and became a nurse at Brewster Hospital. In 1945 she moved to Indianapolis, Indiana where she fine tuned her many talents. Lill was an easy loving person who was kind to everyone. In 1947 Lill moved to Camden, New Jersey where she was employed as a nurse at Cooper Hospital. It was there in 1955 that she met and married a handsome young man named Isaiah "Rabbit" Sabb, whom is now deceased. She and her husband later moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where Lill became a full time fashion designer.

Lill was unbelievably easy to get alone with and had many friends in Philadelphia. She and Isaiah became active members of Metropolitan Baptist Church wherein they displayed their singing talents. Both joined gospel groups. Lill sung with four groups including three Tri County Mass Choirs. She loved singing. Lill was a dedicated missionary in her former church. She was the church announcer for 25 years and treasurer for 27 years. Lill's favorite committee was the scholarship committee.

Lill and her husband returned to Lake Wales in the early 90s. She began her religious affiliation with the First Institutional Missionary Baptist Church followed by Mt. Zion Progressive Baptist Church. She was an active member of Mt. Zion until her health declined. Lill spent her last few weeks at Dove Nursing Home followed by her final entry to Lake Wales Hospital.

Lill leaves to mourn her passing a family that includes several nieces and nephews, including: Carolyn Gadson of California, Robert Montgomery (wife, Valerie) of Palm Coast; Johnnie Ann Brown (husband, Ronnie) of Lakeland; George Gadson (wife, Phyllis) of Tamarac, Florida; Rodney Gadson of Lakeland; and Girard Gadson (wife, Tammy) of Palm Coast.

Lill mournful family also includes one son, George Ronald Sabb (wife Charlotta) and five grandchildren namely, Yacenda Ambrose (husband, Mario), and Sharon Oce (husband, Rastee), both of Miami, Florida; George Ronald Sabb II (wife, Brandi) and Heather both of Atlanta, Georgia; and Dexter Sabb of Bartow. Lill also has ten great-grandchildren. Ki Andre, Myacari and Symone Ambrose of Miami, Florida; Johnnie Law of Miami, Florida; Donquese "KiKi" Sabb of Bartow; A'Lyric, Aliyah, and Peter Warrick II of Atlanta, Georgia; Juri Sabb of Orlando, and George Ronald III of Atlanta, Georgia. Lill has one great-great grandchild Isaiah Ambrose of Miami.

Lill also leaves to mourn her passing several nieces and nephews. Five of them preceded her in death: Aldonia Morrison, Walter Pearsall, Julia P. Lee, MacArthur Pearsall, and Geraldine Bolden. Those surviving her include, Alvin Pearsall, Sr. (wife, Gussie) of Bartow; Gwendolyn Stroud of New London, Connecticut; Lemuel Pearsall, Shirley Palmer, and Hercules Pearsall all of Lake Wales; and Patricia Thompson of Tallahassee. She is also survived by one sister in law, Rosetta Sabb and a special kinship exists with Anna Lou Gadson, Eunice Pearsall, and Deborah L. Sullen.

Lillie Mae Sabb will also be remembered and cherished by her family and friends in Lake Wales, as well as those at Metropolitan Baptist Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her last remarks to her friends and loved ones are as follows: "Do all the good that you can while you can."

Visitation Thursday, March 26, 2009 at Mt. Zion Progressive Baptist Church 12 B Street Lake Wales, Fl. 6:00PM to 8:00PM.
Funeral services Friday March 27,
2009 11:00AM at the Church.