Lucille Banister Caruthers , 101, of Madison, MS formerly of Greenwood, MS died April 25, 2014 at St. Dominic in Jackson, Ms. Graveside services will be held Monday, April 28, 2014, at 2 P.M. at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Greenwood, MS. Wilson & Knight Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Caruthers was born April 2, 1913 in Lebanon, KY to Dr. Robert Martin Banister and Pearl Dow Banister. She was a resident of Greenwood for 87 years and a member of the Leflore County Early Settlers society. She later moved in 2005 to The Home Place in Madison, MS.

She graduated from Greenwood High School in 1930 and Delta State Teachers College in 1935. She was a member of the 50 year DSU Golden Circle. Her long teaching career started in Holcomb, MS. For 23 years, she taught second grade at W.C. Williams Elementary, in Greenwood. Before retiring she also taught for the U.S. Armed Forces in Wurtzburg, Germany, the public school systems of Athens, GA. and North Sunflower Academy of Drew, Ms.

In 1990, the Memphis commercial Appeal featured Mrs. Caruthers as "A volunteer who makes life better for others." Her volunteer activities earned her card of thanks form President George H. Bush. She was recognized for 25 years of service to Cottonlandia Museum. She greeted tourists and conducted tours at the Mansion in Florewood River Plantation State Park and presided as President of the Friends of Florewood. Mrs. Caruthers volunteered at the Greenwood Leflore Hospital as a "Pink Lady." As president of the Lefleur Garden Club, she oversaw the landscaping of the Golden Age Nursing Home. As an active member for over fifty years of the Chakchiuma Chapter of The Daughters of the American Revolution, she joined the Cameo Society.

A lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church, she held leadership positions in the United Methodist Women. She was a Charter Member of the Greenwood Community Concert Association. Participating in the Great Books Discussion Group at the Greenwood Leflore Library, Mrs. Caruthers wrote book reviews for the Memphis Commercial Appeal. She also taught the Frank Laubach program, "Each One Teach One," teaching illiterate adults to read. She gave of her time as a guest reader to the residents of Indywood Retirement Home.

Mrs. Caruthers is preceded in death by her parents, her husband James Edgar Caruthers, her granddaughter Cynthia Banister Hardin Murphy, her son-in-law A.W. "Bubba" Shurden and her sister Jospehine Banister Miller.

She is survived by her daughters Jo Lynn Vaughan of Madison, Ms, Ann Dow Shurden of Ridgeland, MS; grandson Steven Hardin of Madison, MS; grandson Led Vaughan of Phoenix, AZ; grandson Stafford Shurden of Drew, MS, Granddaughter Laura Dow Madison of Monroe, LA; sister Frances Rabb House of Greenwood, MS and seven great grand children. Her namesake is Lucille Shurden Madison.