Twylla James

Twylla Rene James, 59, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, June 22, 2017.

Twylla was born Aug. 10, 1957, to Bill and Florence Ross James in Cape Girardeau.

Twylla received a degree in home economics from Southeast Missouri State University, but her love for books and libraries started at an early age, when she insisted her parents take her to the Cape Girardeau Public Library.

After college, she worked for the Cape Girardeau Public Library, serving as its outreach librarian, taking books to people whose circumstances didn’t allow them to get there, such as firemen, nursing-home residents and the home-bound. Twylla continued her career with Southeast Missouri State University’s Kent Library, where she enjoyed being with her “work family” for 22 years.

Twylla loved the Lord and was a friend and blessing to all those who knew her. The song “This Little Light of Mine” was significant to Twylla and was evidenced in the way she used the gifts the Lord had given her.

She was one of the founding members of the Lynwood “Chain Gang,” a ministry that met each week to make crocheted items to be given as extensions of love and care. She also played piano and organ at Southside and Fellowship Baptist churches for several years, as well as sang in the Lynwood Baptist Church choir.

Twylla felt a call to share the Light outside the United States through mission work in Belarus, Nicaragua, and Honduras and even recently working on a degree in English as a second language to enhance her work on mission trips.

Twylla had an easy laugh and grew a broad circle of close and loving friendships. She enjoyed being with others and was quick to organize a get-together. Her creativity and enthusiasm always livened up an event, whether she was helping in a Christmas program dressed as an elf, posing at the fountain in front of Kent Library dressed as Mary Poppins, decorating the Phi Kappa Phi entry for the Southeast Homecoming parade or just being herself.

Twylla’s resilience and faith in God have been evident throughout her life and especially during her battle with cancer. She used the situation to provide hope and encouragement to others and, as she faced the final stages of the swiftly moving disease, hoped others would be reminded how quickly life can change. Twylla’s symbol through the process was the acronym F.R.O.G., Fully Relying on God, which she did and hoped that others would do the same.

She was preceded in death by her parents and an aunt, Karen Shrum.

Twylla is survived by an aunt, Sharon (Dick) Estes of Springfield, Missouri, and uncles, Charlie Shrum of Farmington, Missouri, and Thomas (Betty) Ross of Cape Girardeau.

Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Lynwood Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau, with the Rev. Mark Anderson officiating. Burial will be at Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery in Cape Girardeau.

Memorial contributions may be given to Lynwood Baptist Church or Southeast Cancer Center.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.

Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.