She was born in Tryon to the late George Counts and Isabel Worthy Counts. She graduated from Tryon Colored School. While in high school, she delivered the Tryon Daily Bulletin throughout the community. After graduation, she handed her job down to her younger sister, Lola Counts and went with her older sister to New York to find work in order to go to college. She worked three months and saved her money, brought it home, gave it to her mother and left for Bennett College in Greensboro, N.C.

After her freshman year, she went back to New York to work. She worked for three months, saved her money, brought it back home to her mother and left for her second year at Bennett College. This went on for four years.

Upon graduation from college, she went to New York. She found a job in Stamford, Conn.

She met and fell in love with Richard Lyons. They were married in 1973. After 10 years, they retired and moved to Tryon.

Lyons said she wanted to give something back to the community that molded her. She did ‐ during the course of 23 years, she worked as an assistant at Tryon Elementary School, worked with veterans through the Red Cross, volunteered at the homework center, was on the board of directors of social services, the board of Outreach Ministry, the family selection of Habitat for Humanity, the board of Roseland Community Center, and she was a member of the Second Wind Hall of Fame.

Lyons joined Garrison Chapel Baptist Church in 1943 and has a been a faithful member ever since.

She is survived by one sister, Lola Dudley, two brothers, Ulysses Counts and Fred Counts, and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009 at the Garrison Chapel Baptist Church in Tryon, with the Rev. Keith Knox officiating.

Wilson Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements.

‐ paid obituary