Delilauh Packer Jones Obituary in Louisville at W.T. Shumake & Daughters Funeral Home

Obituary For Delilauh Packer Jones

Delilauh Packer Jones, 85, of Louisville died Tuesday at Lyndonwoods Nursing Home.

Visitation 10:30am – 11am Monday at W.T. Shumake & Daughters Funeral Home 3815 Newburg Road. Funeral to follow at 11am. Burial Petersburg-Newburg Cemetery.

On Saturday, October 12, 1935, in Louisville, Kentucky, parents David and Catherine Packer, officially welcomed their daughter, Delilauh Packer-Jones, into this world. Rarely did anyone call her Delilauh; instead, she called herself Lila while others referred to her as “Honey”.

Educated in the Jefferson County Public School system, Lila was a graduate of the colored Central High School. After graduation, her brother encouraged her to apply for a job where he worked at the Briner Biscuit Company. Lila followed his instructions and was hired. She was a dependable worker there until her early retirement due to the company leaving town.

Lila was fun-loving and very caring. She was also an independent woman. This was evident when she took on the task of learning how to repair broken things around the house. She became her own plumber and handywoman. Lila even helped her neighbors with odd jobs, and probably one of her biggest tasks was when she assisted in the painting of the exterior of her neighbor’s house.

In her spare time, she enjoyed watching vintage cowboy movies, listening to rhythm and blues music, and walking around the neighborhood. She was the “neighborhood watch” before it was popular. Whenever she went to the grocery store, her basket was filled with snack foods. Regularly, she would cook Kentucky Oysters (chitterlings) and freely offer them to her guests. However, cooking was not a strength of hers, and Lila didn’t mind sharing that she was no chef. She just did enough to keep herself and others alive and kicking.

Lila was preceded in death by her parents, Catherine and David Packer; sister, Mary Beard; brothers, Moses and David Packer. Sadly, on Tuesday, February 9, 2021, at the age of 85, Deliauh Packer-Jones departed this life. She leaves to cherish her memory her nephew and caregiver, J. W. Beard; and a host of extended family, neighbors, and friends.