Elizabeth Harris Redmond
November 14, 1909 ~ January 6, 2010
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Elizabeth Harris Redmond, of Asheville, died peacefully and gracefully in her home on Wednesday evening, January 6, 2010, after completing more than 100 years of exceptionally successful living.
This celebrated and accomplished matriarch, mother, wife, sister, teacher, southern chef and raconteur will be dearly missed. Her powerful influence, however, continues to enrich and color the lives of hundreds of people.
She descends from the earliest European settlers in the Swannanoa Valley. The daughter of the late Mary Davidson and John Harvey Harris, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Raymond; eldest son, Johnny; sister, Louise Harris Jones and brother, Harvey.
Surviving are sons, William H. (Bill) and Joseph L. (Joe) and granddaughter, Anita Cameron.
She was a Pioneer and lifelong member of Oakley United Methodist Church and retired from Oakley School.
Funeral services will be 11:00 am Wednesday at Oakley United Methodist Church with Reverend Russell Pierce officiating. Burial will follow at Green Hills Cemetery.
Her family will receive friends from 4:00-7:30 pm Tuesday at Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue.
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Mrs. Redmond was my teacher at Oakley many years ago. She was a wonderful person and an inspiration to those who knew her. She has shaped many young lives within her teaching career and will surely be missed. There is much consolation in knowing that God has a much better place for us and that we all may meet again there.
Mrs. Redmond was my fourth grade teacher at Oakley Elementary School. I have only good memories of Mrs. Redmond. She was a kind, compassionate teacher who made a difference in alot of lives.
Joe and family,
My prayers are with you and the family. i loved growing up being neighbors and i loved your mother. i know Daddy,Mama and miss Redmond are talking about old times. love Janie
Joe and family,
My prayers are with you and the family. i loved growing up being neighbors and i loved your mother. i know Daddy,Mama and miss Redmond are talking about old times. love Janie
Our condolences to our good friend Bill Redmond and his family and friends. May God bless you all. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
What a wonderful teacher she was! Mrs. Redmond was always one of my favorites at Oakley….That was 42 years ago and I still remember what a sweet lady she was. I loved her.
I also had Mrs. Redmond in the fourth grade some 47 years ago. She was a great teacher, and encourager. She was a loving teacher that always saw the best in her students, worked with them patiently to help them reach for high standards. Never embarassing her students if they were slow at catching on to something. Never placing labels on a student. She made each of us proud when we succeeded in her class. Each day in her class was a joy, and a journey that made me love going to school.
I went on to teach and coach in Buncombe County Schools for 30 years. Some said I wasn’t capable of going to college!
I know I made Elizabeth Redmond proud that I was one of her students. I always tried to see the promise in my students as she did me.
Happy home coming Mrs. Redmond! God Bless You!
Please accept my sympathies. I also had Mrs. Redmond for a fourth grade teacher and our family attended Oakley Methodist with her. I have always credited her with instilling a love of reading in me. After lunch each day she would read chapters of a book to us. I can remember her reading Little House In the Big Woods and telling us if we wanted to know more about the little girl to read the other books – and, believe me, I did and didn’t stop there!! I have thought of her often over the years.
Ann Griffin Stumpe
Our hearts and prayers are with you all at this time and may your memories comfort you.
My Aunt Elizabeth will always be remembered by those who know her.
I have many fond memories of spending time with Mr.& Mrs. Redmond, especially during my teenaged years. Johnny, Billy & Joe were like brothers to me and their home was my home. Although we now live away from Asheville, my wife, Waynette & I loved to visit with her occasionally. She never changed. We both loved her and will surely miss her.
Jackie & Waynette Miller
Aunt Lid, the person, next to my mother that had the powerful influence in the direction of my life. A person whose advice I often sought. I knew though, don’t expect a flowered opinion if you ask. If you asked you got the truth of what she thought, not what you wanted to hear. We will miss you! Lee
my deepest sympathy to all the family.It was such a joy to see Elizabeth each time she came to the Ozarks to visit.I am sure she is keeping heaven’s kitchen busy .She was a great lady and such a joy to us all.Thanks for letting her be a part of my life.She made the world a better place.
I grew up next door to Mrs.Redmond and played with her three sons, Johnny,Billy,and Joe. She and Raymond were so much fun to spend time with, and frequently invited me on picnics and outings. She was always such a positive force and just seemed to enjoy living. One hundred years of life well lived! She will be missed by me and so many others.
Please accept our sincere condolences on your loss. We know she was greatly loved by all who knew her. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
My thoughts and prayers are with the family. I also had Mrs. Redmond in 4th grade at Oakley School some 48 years ago. She was always so caring, understanding, loving and compassinate. My mother had died the year before and she showed me that life can go on. I remember as if it were yesterday, she and I leaned up against the old radiator in the classroom and she asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up and I told her I wanted to be a teacher just like her. I went on to become a teacher and taught in Buncombe County Schools for 30 years. She told me how proud she was of me but I owed so much to her. She was a special lady.
Sandy Merrill Ford
Bill and family, Very sorry for the loss of your wonderful mother. May God hold you close and give you peace! Lisa
My condolences to the family.
JOE & BILL,
DENNIS & I RENTED THE GARDAGE APARTMENT IN 1983 TO 1984.
I MET LIB AT CREATIVE HAIR STYLES.
SHE WAS ALWAYS SO CARING.WE HAVE
THOUGHT OF HER OFTEN.
OUR THOGHTS AND PRAYERS
ARE WITH YOU. SUSAN & DENNIS GREGORY
Bill and Family,
My condolences. I know your mother was well loved and has touched many people. My God’s grace be with you and your family in your time of loss. Jeanne and I will continue to pray for you and your family.
Bill, although I never had the pleasure of meeting your mother, I’m confident that she was a fine woman because her love and character are reflected in her son. We are all sadened by your loss.
Bill,
I know you are deeply saddened by the loss of your Mother. Be comforted in knowing that her memory will always be with you. What a blessing to live to be 100 years old and be surrounded by such love and devotion. Celebrate her life. May God be with you.
Anita Hopper
So sorry to hear about your mother. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Mrs. Redmond was one of my very favorite teachers during my journey thru Oakley School over 50 years ago. She instilled in me a great love of books which I still enjoy to this day. I will always remember her with a great fondness.
Joseph, Your Mother was one of the most gracious women I’ve ever met. Warm regards,
Bill, Andrea and Joe
I am so sorry to hear about your Mom. I know she was greatly loved and taken care of by all of you. May God Bless and take care of you durning your time of need.
My condolences to Bill and his family. What a great lady to have lived a century and leave such a legacy ! May God’s comfort strengthen you in the days ahead.
Rejoice in the memories and carrying her story forward. God Bless!
I was a student in Lib Redmond’s fourth grade class about 50 years ago. There would be no way to count the lives of children Ms Redmond touched. I feel very fortunate and blessed that she crossed my path in life. She was an Icon in our community. God speed Ms Redmond.
Bill & Andrea,
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
To Bill and Family — During this difficult time, please find solace in the fact that you are being held up in thought and prayer by so many of your friends and relatives. God bless.
Bill,
You are in my thoughts and prayers.
What a long and purposeful life your Mother lived!
Jeri Bird
Bill,
My prayers are with you and your family. May God be with you all during this difficult time.
Our prayers are with you and your family in this time of personal loss. Know that she is in a better place, with our Lord Jesus.
William, 100 wonderful years your family has been blessed with. Our prayers are with you in your time of loss. Love you Velma, Earl, & Jim
Bill, So very sorry about the loss of your Mother.
Jerry
Bill: Very sorry to hear about the loss of your mom. After reading the guest book, we can tell she was well loved. Please give our best to Andrea and the rest of your family.
Mr. Redmond and Family – We’re so sorry for your loss. In time beautiful memories will lighten your heart and make you smile. Your in our thoughts and prayers.
Lib was all things admirable in a human being toward which I could aspire, and mostly fail. She was grounded, gracious, witty and without sanctimony. Lib was fun to be with–all the while walking her path with a sure step quite remarkable to observe. The best of teachers she instructed by living, which she did with great heart. When my mother died Lib allowed me to adopt her–a true test of her unfailing good humor. Mother and friend to three, yet mother and friend to all who met her. Joseph and Bill: my condolences for your loss as we all celebrate her life.
Bill,
My prayers are with you and your family,
Jo
Dear Bill and family,
You are in my prayers during this time of sorrow. May the peace of God , which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Phil 4:7, Blessings,
My condolences to her family – both natural and extended. Aunt Elizabeth was no blood relation to me, but that never stopped her from treating me and my siblings like her own family. I have vivid memories of picking blackberries with her. And out in those fields, on those hot summer days, her gregarious and welcoming personality made quite an impression on me. To borrow a line from Jimmy Stewart, she was ‘lit from within.’ Her passing is a loss for Asheville, but also an opportunity to celebrate a life. She brought such joy and warmth to the world. She will be missed.
So sorry for your loss
The Jerry Lytle Family
Mrs. Redmond was my fourth grade teacher. I have such fond memories of her. She instilled in me a lifelong love of learning. She will be sorely missed by many! My thoughts and prayers are with her family. May God bless and comfort you in this sad time.
Sincerely,
Peggy Parton
Bill, this is just a short note from my wife Patty and I to pass along our deepest sympathies and heartfelt prayers to you and your entire family.
Lib Redmond was indeed the end of an era. I was born ‘across the fence’ from the Redmonds in 1953. Through the 56 short years of my life, Mrs Redmond was the icon of my hometown and it gave me great comfort to know she was in the house on the other side of the fence. She was a classmate of my father’s. A picture from about 1916 or so shows her with a ribbon in her hair standing for a first grade school picture with my father and other classmates at Oakley school in Asheville.
Her resillience and sense of humor gave everyone around her strength. She was a solid and simple Christian believer. I had the privalege to sit with her a few years ago at the back porch and discuss her beliefs…nothing fancy..just faith from the heart. A stunning country cook, I became addicted to her sourcream corn muffins that she brought to my father’s funeral in 1990. Her stories and jokes will always reside in the happiest corner of my heart. And to repeat a familiar quote from her that always brought chuckles across the fence: ‘Howd your coderapus seem to gashiwait??’
Bill,
I’m sorry for your loss. You and your family are in my prayers. God Bless you and may God smile on you.
Bill,
My thoughts and prayers are with you and all of your family during your time of great loss.
Bill,
I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Elizabeth Redmond inspired students from Oakley Elementary, fellow church members at Oakley UMC, and all members of the Oakley community. What a blessing she has been to my whole family!She cared for all, and unhesitatingly shared her wealth of knowledge.What a gracious lady we have lost,but how wonderful to have had her in our lives. Joe and Bill, sincere condolences in the loss of your great mother,and thank you for always sharing her with the rest of us.
Thinking of you, love you….Suzy
I have only known Mrs. Redmond in the last 5 years of her life and I can only imagine the vitality of her younger years. But even so, her strong spirit was more than evident in the time I’ve known her. I’m blessed to have called her neighbor. Her history helps lend a sense of place to our family and makes me feel proud to call Oakley home. It seems that I am not the only one who wants to be like Elizabeth Redmond when I grow up. 🙂 Blessings to all who have known and loved her, especially her dedicated family.
Bill,
I am so sorry to hear of your mother’s passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Very respectfully, Jay Petree
Mrs. Redmond was my 4th grade teacher. I loved her dearly. She so very kind to me. I will remember her always. I passed her house a thousand times and wondered if she still lived there. I regret not taking the time to stop in and share how much she meant to me. I hope she somehow knows now.
God bless,
Annette Holland Lanning
Dear Bill,
We are so sorry to hear about the loss of your mother. We would like to extend our deepest and sincere condolences to you and your family.
Bill and Joe, I am sorry to hear about your mom’s passing. I have many fond memories of her as a kind and good soul.
Bill,
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time. May God shower you with His abundant peace and grace.
Denise
Bill,
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this time of sadness.
Bill, I feels so sorry for your loss.
Bill,
Please accept my deepest sympathy. Your mother will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Bill,
I know how much your Mom meant to you. My sincere condolences to you and your family.
Bill, I am very sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
I remember that wondering eye… that I would hide from for the entire two years that I was ever around her.
And that finger… to that chin.