Lois Jean Furman

The Rising of the Sun

On June 17, 1929, in Chicago, Illinois, the world was graced with the arrival of Lois Jean Hundley. Her proud parents, Frederick Douglas and Hattie Jewel Hundley, welcomed their first child—a beautiful baby girl who would grow to touch countless lives. Two years later, her sister Reita Helene joined the family, completing a loving home filled with music, faith, and joy.

The Brilliance of the Sun

Lois embraced her faith early, accepting Jesus Christ as her Savior and joining Morgan Park Seventh-day Adventist Church through baptism. At just 17, she began serving as the church pianist and later as organist—a ministry she faithfully carried out for nearly sixty years. Her music was more than notes; it was worship, and it blessed generations.

Her heart for service extended far beyond the piano bench. Lois led Women’s Ministries, reaching out to women in prison with compassion and hope. She nurtured children through Sabbath School and supported charities dedicated to their well-being. Her life was a melody of generosity and grace.

Education was important to Lois. She attended Shiloh Adventist Academy, graduated from Finger High School, and earned a Bachelor of Science in Secretarial Science from Oakwood College in 1950. It was at Oakwood that she met Benjamin Franklin Furman, a kind-hearted veteran from Virginia. Their meeting was a divine appointment, and on November 26, 1954, they began a beautiful journey together. Their greatest joy came with the birth of their son, Frederic Geoffrey Furman, the apple of their eyes.

Later, God expanded Lois’s heart to include Emilia Wade, who came from Belize in the early ’90s. Lois welcomed her as a daughter, and their bond was precious. Her nephew Vincent and nieces Vikki, Valerie, and Vernice also held a special place in her heart, lovingly calling her “Mommy Auntie.”

Lois’s professional life reflected her elegance and skill. She worked in law offices as a clerk and stenographer, and her exquisite penmanship made her a sought-after calligrapher. In her later years, she served as a middle school clerk on Chicago’s West Side, leaving a legacy of diligence and kindness.

The Setting of the Sun

In 2005, Lois and Ben moved to Nashville to be near their children Emyria and Fred and their grandsons, Evan and Elliot. Though the transition was challenging, Lois soon found family and fellowship at Hillcrest Seventh-day-Adventist Church, where she played the piano for the Ebony Ensemble. Her love for children and Christian education never wavered. She was a big supporter of the HEAP ministry, an educational scholarship program, at Hillcrest.

In her final years, Lois moved in with Fred and Emyria. She was with Emyria, surrounded by her loving family, until she peacefully fell asleep in her Savior’s arms on November 21, 2025. Her humor—dry and witty—her warm hugs, and her generous spirit will be deeply missed. She was a beautiful soul who longed for the day when the trumpet will sound and Christ will return.

Her Legacy

Lois was preceded in death by her parents, Frederick and Hattie Hundley; her sister, Reita Perry; her beloved husband, Benjamin Franklin Furman; and her cherished son, Frederic Geoffrey Furman. She leaves behind a loving family: daughter-in-law Emyria Dunn Furman; grandsons Evan Frederic Furman and Elliot Franklin Dunn Furman; nephew Vincent Perry (Maria); nieces, Vikki Perry Thomas, Valerie Perry Terrell, and Vernice Perry Cozey; goddaughter, Emilia Wade; and a host of extended family and friends who loved her dearly.

Lois’s life was a song of faith, service, and love—a melody that will echo in our hearts until we meet again.