Lucille Culver

Lucille Gray Culver, 85, of Duncan Road, died February 10, 2008 at Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System. Born on June 10, 1922 in Wabash County, IL., she was the daughter of the late Walter and Eva Newman Gray. She was married to Daniel L. Culver for 44 years until his death in 1988. Mrs. Culver graduated from One Room Union School in the Antioch Community of Wabash County in 1938. The Culver's owned daniel's den antiques shop in the Berea area of Greenville for many years. She was retired from Publix Grocery Store on Wade Hampton Blvd, where she and her good friend Lorraine Davis were demonstrators in the Bakery, Deli, Meat and Produce Departments. On Saturday's, "Miss Lou" would read to children while their parents shopped in the store. That was the favorite part of her job. She was a very lively little ole lady and the children adored her. During WWII, she was employed by the Department of the Navy and had top secret security clearance and repaired Radar in damaged Navy seaplanes at Breezy Point, Norfolk Naval Base, Norfolk, Virginia. She was a member of Woodruff Road Christian Church. She had been living with her daughter in Spartanburg for the last several months, and attended Bethel United Methodist Church with her family in Spartanburg for many years. She was called Gogga by her family and close friends. She was a wonderful cook and baker and also made jellies and preserves. Her favorite time was playing or reading to her many grandchildren. She loved going to the beach with her family and picking up sea shells. She loved to take pictures of her family and friends. Surviving are a daughter, Connie Culver Long of Spartanburg; a son, Stephen Daniel Culver of Rockport, TX; six grandchildren, R. Brian Long and his wife, April, of Keller, TX., W. Ashley Long of Spartanburg, Abigail Culver Duclos and her husband, Rob, of Spartanburg, Amanda Culver of Baytown, TX., Audra and Seth of Rockport, TX.; three great grandchildren, John Long of Keller, TX., Averee and Carter Duclos of Spartanburg; a brother, William Gray of Albuquerque, NM.; two sisters, Alice Gray Baumgartner of Evansville, IN and Jane Gray Kleinschmidt of Grayville, IL.; and many nieces and nephews in several states. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a son-in-law, John Michael Long; a brother, Warren Gray; and two sisters, Laura Gray and Irene Gray Carr. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Bethel United Methodist Church Child Enrichment Center, 245 S. Church Street, Spartanburg, SC 29306. Visitation will be held Thursday, February 14, 2008 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Thomas McAfee Funeral Home, Downtown. A graveside service will be held Friday, February 15, 2008 at 12:00 p.m. at Greenville Memorial Gardens.