VALLEY — Frank Lyons has been a good neighbor not just in the local area but also in many places he’s been sent to as a lay minister by the Church of Christ.

A dedicated Christian, Lyons is a retired minister, having served Northside Church of Christ in LaGrange for 11 years. He remains active in retirement at that church. Altogether, he was a minister for 22 years.

As a lay minister, he listened to people bear their souls to him and talk about their troubles.

“You wouldn’t believe the problems people have,” he said, “and so many times they just want someone to talk to. When they talk about what’s bothering them and they have a sympathetic ear, many times they will figure out what to do. There have been so many times when I’d listen to someone and then they’d thank me for letting them work it out on their own. People in need just need someone to talk to.”

One place Lyons has made lots of friends in recent years is Diversicare of Lanett. His wife of 65 years, Jean, is a resident there, and he goes to see her almost every day. Everyone on the staff looks forward to Mr.
Lyons coming by every day.

Frank and Jean have a son, Len Lyons, who lives in Ellerslie, Ga., and works in Columbus. They lost daughter Paula to cancer some three-and-a-half years ago.

“I’m still trying to come to terms with that,” said Lyons. “We miss her every day.”

Lyons has been blessed to have had a long life. He’s 85, and has two older brothers. Valley resident John Lyons recently had his 94th birthday and still maintains an active lifestyle.

The middle brother, Jim Lyons, is 89 and lives in Columbus, Ohio. He’s had some health issues, including heart bypass surgery, but it still plugging along.

“Each of us has been blessed with long life,” said Lyons, “and we’re grateful for that.”

Lyons is proud of his granddaughter, Christiana, who is a senior at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Fla., majoring in communications.

The ministry became a second career for Lyons after he retired from
the WestPoint Pepperell General Office in West Point.

“For a long time I was a lay minister,” he said. “I would go where they would send me. A lot of times I would fill in at a church until a permanent pastor was named.”

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