Uncrowned Community Builders

Lillie Anna is a native of Eastman, Georgia. She is the daughter of the late Rosa Ella Price and Arthur Augustus Thomas. Lillie is married to Isaiah Warren. She is the niece of Herman A. Price. Lillie is the youngest of four children. She is the sister of Arthur Thomas and sister in-law of Zipporah Thomas who lives in Eastman. Lillie is also the sister of the late William Thomas and the late Willie Clyde Helms. She is the proud mother of Devorah Christmas Maclin and grandmother of Marissa A. Maclin.

Lillie's mother, Rosa Ella traveled and worked in the hotel industry. Therefore, her grandparents John Sherman Price and Rosa Anna Price raised her and her three siblings.

John Sherman Price was a proud businessman and farmer. He owned two farms, a grit mill and cane mill, cotton gin, a sugar cane mill, storefront properties in Eastman, a cemetery and a church. In addition to all of this he maintained a large house in the city of Eastman. However, the challenge of owning businesses and farms and raising ten children did not prepare him for raising his four young grandchildren to adulthood.

Lillie and her siblings were great storytellers and today Lillie loves to tell stories about the real challenges John Sherman and Rosa Anna Price faced in raising the four, "Little Rascals of Dodge County".

When John Sherman and Rosa Anna Price died, Lillie moved to Buffalo and lived with her Uncle Herman A. Price and attended School #33. Later, she moved back to Georgia married William Christmas and decided to pursue a career.

Lillie began her career at the Dodge County Hospital in 1949, where she successfully obtained her L.P.N. license in 1950. She became the first black nurse to work in a public hospital in Dodge County. Even though the floors were segregated, Lillie worked in all areas of the hospital. She assisted in surgery, labor and wherever her services were needed. On many occasions she would work as many as 20 hours a day for she also worked as a private duty nurse. Lillie was called upon to testify in a malpractice case where she was one of the main witnesses.

At home she was constantly called upon or visited by members of the Black Community who were afraid of going to a doctor's office or hospital. She answered questions and helped to put them at ease by giving general knowledge of what to expect during their visit to an office or time spent as patients in the hospital.

Lillie assisted in the delivery of so many babies, that after naming girls after Lillie, families resorted to naming babies after her daughter Devorah.

In 1962, she returned to Buffalo with her daughter Devorah and continued to be very active.

She worked at the Deaconess Hospital for ten years and after a lengthy illness returned to work. Lillie serves as the caretaker for her Uncle Herman, who is 101 years old.

Lillie and her husband Isaiah are members of Saint John Baptist Church. She is a very active senior, who loves to dance, work in her garden, shop, collect items for garage sales, watch her favorite soap opera and participate in block club activities.