Lucille Woodham Foley was born September 25, 1927, in Covington County, the daughter of Charles Nelson Woodham and Ruby Butler Woodham. Lucille is married to Robert W. Foley, and they have one daughter, Laurie Nell Foley of Southlake, Texas. Upon graduation from high school, Lucille began working at First National Bank of Opp. She was promoted to Assistant Cashier in 1956 and retired from baking December 31, 1990, as Senior Vice-President.
Lucille’s forty-six-year career with First National Bank of Opp provided an excellent launching pad for her many areas of service. She was fortunate to work for an institution whose philosophy of service coincided with her own. Consequently, she never had to separate her service activities from her banking career. Her involvement with banking organizations has given her many opportunities to promote Opp all over the state. Many of those with whom Lucille has become acquainted with over the state have said that Lucille Foley always left a positive impression of Opp. Over and over one can hear from associates over the state of the positive impression Lucille makes for Opp. Lucille became a charter member of Opp Business and Professional Women’s Club and served as Charter President in 1959. She has served with this organization in several capacities, and her most recent accomplishment was chairing a fund-raising committee to raise funds for the G. Cleve Pierce Memorial Footbridge at Lake Frank Jackson State Park. Enough funds were raised to build an educational unit honoring Dr. A.B. Lee and in memory of Ida Scofield. Lucille also served on the district level as District Director and District Treasurer. Other areas of service include the Opp Historical Society, Alabama Bankers Association, National Association of Bank Women, LBW Foundation, Alabama Future Farmers of America Foundation, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Opp and Covington County Area Chamber of Commerce. She served as president of the Chamber of Commerce in 1993-1994, proving herself and able leader. She has been an active member of The First Baptist Church of Opp and has served in many capacities from nursery worker to trustee. She is always willing to serve wherever she is needed. Lucille is currently serving as vice-president of the Alabama FFA Foundation Executive Committee. Due to her untiring efforts, more than $400,000 has been raised to support FFA members in our state.
Simply listing organization memberships does not begin to accurately describe or do justice to the contributions that Lucille has made to the citizens of Opp. As one of her colleagues on the state level wrote of her “In any arena of municipal growth and development for Opp that one can name, Lucille Foley is known to be a major participant even though she may be working quietly behind the scenes.”
Although Lucille is well known throughout the state, in business circles, the people of Opp know her for other reasons. As someone said, “no job is too large or too small for her”. Lucille has served as chairman of the Beautification Committee and continues to work as a member of that committee. Almost everyone in Opp has seen her planting flowers, weeding a flower bed, or picking up litter. Everything that she does is a labor of love for Lucille because she sincerely loves the people of Opp and wants to make Opp a better place for everyone. After her retirement from banking in 1990, Lucille started a Bed and Breakfast to give friends a place to stay while enjoying the comforts of home and feeling the “spirit of Opp”.
Lucille has been particularly active in service to senior citizens. She visits the sick, visits nursing home patients, drives elderly people to church, meetings, the grocery store, the doctor, or wherever they need to go. She always has time for others, and she has a gift for making people feel comfortable.
Lucille has the unique ability and organizational skills to involve others and build team spirit, and get things done. The years have proved beyond a doubt that Lucille is a “people” person who finds joy in serving others and building up her community. She is a person who keeps on keeping on as is evidenced by her nearly forty years of service with the American Cancer Association and other organizations. She never seems to get discouraged and she doesn’t show signs of stopping. Every committee, every club and every town need a Lucille. Her contributions to Opp will echo for generations. She was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1995.
