Florine Lyles

Anne Florine France Lyles, 94, passed peacefully surrounded by family on Thursday, May 13, 2021. Flo lived life joyfully, with a generous spirit and positive attitude, enjoying family and friends, as they also enjoyed her. She was a devoted wife for 61 years to Frank Arromanus Lyles. Flo and Frank shared a deep, lifelong love and respect for each other, always thinking and acting with integrity and kindness for others. Flo was a loving mother to four children, grandmother to seven grandchildren, and devoted daughter, sister, niece, aunt, godmother and friend.

Flo grew up in Spartanburg and was a lifelong, active member of Central United Methodist Church, where she was baptized and married. Her faith was evident as she served energetically in many leadership and service roles, including Altar Guild, UMW Circle, and many service programs providing food, shelter and other resources for community members. As young adults, Flo and Frank were among the original members of the Garrett Sunday School Class, where they learned, worshipped, and helped grow the church for over 50 years.

Flo graduated from Converse College, with a year at Sophie Newcomb (Tulane University). After a year working in New York City, she returned to Spartanburg and enjoyed writing copy for a local radio station. She gave up paid positions after she was married, but never stopped learning, caring for her family and seeking out ways to make others’ lives better, whether through spearheading a major fundraiser or delivering a meal to a sick friend.

Flo generously contributed to many Spartanburg community organizations. Her volunteer work helped many lives through The United Way, Meals on Wheels, various child advocacy and adult literacy programs, The Junior League, where she served as Board Vice-Chair, and The Georgia Cleveland Home, where she served as Board Chair. She also served as Chair of The Assembly, and was a member of the Thursday Study Club, and Tome and Tare.

She delighted in gardening and birdwatching and was skilled at attracting countless birds to her garden. She also enjoyed music, boating, sailing, travel, bridge groups, and working jigsaw and word puzzles with friends and family.

For 17 years she was an active and engaged resident at Summit Hills in Spartanburg and welcomed many new friends into that community, while also retaining connections to life-long friends. During the past year of Covid, she lived with her daughter's family in Atlanta, where she adapted cheerfully to late dinner times, walks that lasted longer than she anticipated, and lots of laughing with family and new friends. She was blessed with good health, strength, and joy up to her last day, when she passed quickly from a stroke.

Flo had a calm demeanor, a sharp mind, and a fun sense of humor. She remained always thoughtful, cheerful, patient, and gracious, and was deeply loved by those who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Arromanus Lyles; mother, Lucille Norris France and father, Bertram Holroyd France; and brother, Thomas Norris France. She is survived by children Lawrence France Lyles of Dallas, Texas; Bertram Thomas Lyles, his wife Jeanne and sons Thomas and Frank of Nashville, Tennessee; Lucille Norris Lyles Henner, husband Thomas, children Ryan, Jacob and Madeleine Anne of Avondale Estates, Georgia; and Frank Arromanus Lyles Jr, wife Jacqueline, and children Caroline and Frank III of Atlanta, Georgia, as well as 14 nephews, nieces and others in her extended family.

A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, May 22, 2021 at Central United Methodist Church. Friends and family are invited to a reception to celebrate her life immediately following the service at Wayne and Karen Lyles’ home and back garden at 696 Brookfield Road in Spartanburg.

In lieu of flowers, the family would be grateful for donations to Central United Methodist Church, 233 N. Church Street, Spartanburg, SC 29306; Converse College, Institutional Advancement, 580 E. Main St., Spartanburg, SC 29302, or Alzheimer’s Association, South Carolina Chapter, 4124 Clemson Blvd–Suite L, Anderson, SC 29621.

The family deeply appreciates the loving support and friendship of caregivers Tonya Cheeks Meadows and Geraldine Robinson in Spartanburg.

Floyd’s North Church Street Chapel