Dorothy Lucille Fallen Talley

Dorothy Lucille Fallen Talley was born December 16, 1927 in Charlotte County, just across the Staunton River from The Cove in Halifax County, where her father grew up. She left this world April 4, 2025, at age 97. Her life of nearly a century was filled with unwavering love for her family, devotion to her church and to Christ, kindness to everyone around her, the best Southern cooking you’ve ever tasted, a green thumb that extended from camellias to scuppernongs, and an indomitable and unsurpassed optimism.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Leslie Hugh and Allie Pugh Wilkerson Fallen, her sister Irene Fallen Smith, and her beloved son in law Van Nichols “Buddy” Peace.

Her husband of nearly 50 years, Cecil “Trent” Talley Sr., died in April 1992. They married during World War II when Lucille was 16 years old and moved to Richmond, where Lucille was a “Rosie the Riveter” of sorts, working at the DuPont factory which made supplies for the war. She fondly remembered the excitement of VE Day, when all of Richmond took to the streets to celebrate.

Lucille and Trent returned to South Boston after the war where in 1957, they built a home from an existing log cabin, next to the South Boston Speedway, which was being constructed at the same time. Lucille worked at Burlington Mills for more than 40 years as a finisher, while Trent was the business administrator at Halifax Community Hospital for many years.

In that house on the hill, with a pond in front, Lucille and Trent loved and raised their two children, who survive, daughter Linda Dorothy Talley Peace, of Richmond, and son Cecil Trent Talley Jr. and wife Lisa, of Greenwood, SC. She is also survived by Katherine Trent Peace Fleck and her husband Jacob, along with their children Ava Dean, Kellam and Maggie, of Richmond; Van Nichols “Nick” Peace and wife Lindsey and their daughters Parker and Paige, of New Orleans; Ashley Talley, of Raleigh; and Ashton Richardson and children Harper Reese and Channing, of Rock Hill, SC. She is also survived by nephew David Smith and his wife Terri, and close family friends, Beth and Forrest Layne, and their son Joel, to whom she has been “Grandma” since the day he was born.

Thursday, April 10, at 11 a.m., Lucille Talley’s life will be celebrated at Main Street United Methodist Church, where she was a faithful and active member for more than 75 years. The family will receive guests one hour before, at the church. A graveside service will follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Main Street United Methodist Church.

Funeral services are provided by Powell Funeral Home, 1603 Wilborn Ave., South Boston, VA.