ALISON “TIPPY’ LYELL (1940-2024)

Alison Jean “Tippy” Reimers Lyell, age 84, passed away peacefully at her Jackson home on November 1, 2024 surrounded by her family. She was born August 30, 1940 at the old Baptist Hospital in Jackson, the second child of Warren Denkmann Reimers and Lorna Margaret Anderson Reimers.

Her brother Fred gave his baby sister her name “Tippy,” and her mother called her “Alison Jean” only when she was in trouble. Tippy grew up in Jackson, attending Power Elementary School (1st to 3rd) and St. Andrews Episcopal Day School (4th to 6th) and then Bailey Junior High (7th to 9th), Murrah High School (10th), and Graham-Eckes School in Palm Beach, Florida (11th to 12th). As a child, she spent several summers with friends at Camp Nagawicka in Delafield, Wisconsin.

She attended Hollins College in Virginia and was presented by the Mississippi Debutante Club in 1959. She graduated in 1962 from Sophie Newcomb College in New Orleans where she was a member of Chi Omega and was elected to Mortar Board. The summer after graduation, she studied painting and drawing in Florence, Italy at the Villa Schifanoia under the guidance of the Dominican nuns with her college friend Jo Brown of New Iberia, LA. She laughed about her return trip in steerage with only $1 left in her purse by the time she got home.

Tippy found painting in Jackson too solitary and started using her artistic talents in volunteer organizations and clubs. In the Jackson Junior League, she worked on several Carnival Balls, the tennis tournaments, Southern Sideboards Cookbook, and served as Treasurer. She was a charter member of the Gallery Guild, worked on the Mississippi Arts Festival, and was a member of the Mississippi Arts Association, the Arts Study Club, the Jackson Opera Guild, the Jackson Ballet Guild, and the Kidney Foundation. She was president of the Mississippi Debutante Club and was later a member of the Debutante Mother’s Club.

In 1963, Betti Brown Watters introduced her to her future husband, Louis James Lyell, whom she married January 25, 1964. Daughters Lorna Margaret and Louise Hallam were born in 1965 and 1966 respectively. She joined St. Andrew’s Episcopal Cathedral and helped on the St. Andrew’s Bazaar and Wednesdays at St. Andrew’s for many years. She was instrumental in starting the St. Andrew’s Day School Triangle Club and worked on the school’s 25th anniversary celebration which included a May Day maypole festival.

After 18 years of volunteering, she went into the custom framing business with her friends Walter and Mimi Sistrunk next to her brother John’s store “Greenwing.” When that finished, she became involved with two projects she loved: The Crosby Arboretum and The Friends of the Walter Anderson Museum. She was a longtime member of Matron’s Luncheon Club, the Palladium Club, Les Cours, the 75 Club, and participated in Play Readers until the age of 82. As a member of St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, she hosted for many years the annual church Christmas Party at her home.

Tippy played tennis until everyone got too serious about it. She played bridge until it wasn’t as fun as it always had been. She always loved to fish like her Grandma Fay and took up piano lessons and tap dancing when she was in her forties. Her artistic Christmas cards were treasured for over twenty years by those who received them. She loved each of her six godchildren: Avery Jenkins, Carter Watters, Jack Freeman, Rebekah McKeown Sanders, Melanie Koch, and Douglass McLaurin. Being Presbyterian originally and not having agodmother at her baptism, she chose later in life Winston Jenkins to be her godmother.

In the early 1990s, she took an inspiring watercolor class from the talented Wyatt Waters. The watercolor paintings she did at Ojibway Lodge on Lake Temagami on vacationare treasured by her family.

Her childhood friends labeled themselves “The Fabs” which
stood for “fabulous friends forever.” They had many girl trips together over the years as empty-nesters. She and Louis loved to travel throughout their marriage and had many wonderful trips abroad before his death in March 2023. She was affectionately called “Tip” by her grandchildren.

She is survived by her daughters: Lorna Margaret Lyell Chain (Tom) and Louise Hallam Lyell Lampton (Luke);
grandchildren Crawford Denkmann Lampton, Alison Ross Chain, Garland Dudley Lampton, and John Lyell Chain; brothers Fred Reimers (Margie) and John Reimers (Trisha); and sister Margaret Reimers Graves; and many nephews and nieces. Pallbearers were Crawford Lampton, Garland Lampton, John Chain, Frederick Reimers, Will Reimers, and Carter Watters. Honorary Pallbearers were Dr. Luke Lampton, Tom Chain, Fred Reimers, John Reimers, Jack Graves, Jim Graves, Garland Lyell, Henry Lyell, and Bob Graves.

The family wishes to thank caregivers Dianne Jones, Kenny Jones, Ieshia Harden, Vicky Shirley, Distany Rattler, and Angela Davis. The family also expresses its appreciation to Hospice Compassus.

A memorial service was held at St. Stephen’s Anglican Church conducted by Fr. Nevada DeLapp on Wednesday November 6 and graveside services and burial followed at Greenwood Cemetery in Jackson.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Andrew’s Observatory Endowment Fund, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis, and St. Stephen’s Anglican Church.

THE LOUIS AND TIPPY LYELL FAMILY--- This photo features the family of Louis and Tippy Lyell in Vermont at a family reunion. Tippy loved spending time with her family, especially her four grandchildren.