Marilucile Counce

“Then He'll call me some day to my home far away, Where His glory forever I'll share.”

Marilucile Dodd Counce, age 99, passed away on November 11, 2025, at her home in Martin, Tennessee, where she lived for the last 92 years.

Parents Clarence Holman Dodd and Lula Travis Dodd welcomed Marilucile into this life on Summer Street in Martin on January 16, 1926. By age seven, they had their young daughter enrolled in piano lessons in town. Marilucile loved making music and was enlisted to play the organ at First United Methodist Church at age 16. She graduated from “the old Martin High School” in 1944 as Salutatorian of her class. She then attended Martin Junior College, where she met her husband, Elmer.

During her career as an organist, Marilucile was privileged to play for many, many weddings through the years. Unfortunately, she forgot to keep count. She could also be relied on to play for funerals in the days when you had to have a person at the keyboard for that important experience and refused to ever be paid for these. She enjoyed playing for Church revivals and was so humbled and grateful when people would tell her how her music moved them or even helped lead them to be saved. When she talked of some of her favorite experiences, she always included the times she got to accompany church soloists. Another thrill she got out of her long life was getting to snap pictures with famous people—Shirley Temple Black, Ronald and Nancy Reagan, the Oak Ridge Boys, and Mike Huckabee to name a few. She always seemed to be able to finagle her way into the head of the line and have the biggest smile!

Her favorite hobbies were playing the organ and piano, stitching delicate needlework, spending time with her grandchildren, turning the vegetables Elmer brought in from the garden into delicious meals. Affectionately dubbed the Go-Go girl by family and friends, she embraced every opportunity to ---- joining Elmer at his Soil and Water Conservation Conventions, attending at least eight Republican Conventions in her lifetime, and later journeying alongside her children and grandchildren, her adventurous spirit always shining through.

Marilucile was delighted being a homemaker and took joy in creating a beautiful home for her family. She was an active member at First United Methodist Church in Martin, TN, where she served as a Sunday School teacher and as a member and two-time president of the First United Methodist Women, along with playing the organ. She was awarded a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Music Education from the University of Tennessee at Martin and was active in the UTM Faculty Women’s Club. Marilucile also taught piano and organ lessons for many years in the community. She was active in the Weakley County Republican Women and was selected to serve as a National Elector in the 2004 and 2008 Presidential Elections. In addition, she was elected as a delegate to numerous Republican Conventions. Marilucile was an active member of many organizations, including the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Eastern Star, and the Philharmonic Music Club, serving as President in 1953 and 1966. She remained a member as this group transitioned to become known as the Philharmonic Music Guild in 1971. Mrs. Counce was a Rotary Ann years ago and played for the Rotary meetings, but in later years she loved being involved as a full member of the Rotary Club. The American Legion Auxiliary and Weakley County Farm Bureau meetings were also regular stops in her calendar of events. She could often be caught delivering a spray of home-grown roses or a plate of cookies fresh from her oven or one of her famous Key Lime pound cakes to someone in need of a little cheer.

Marilucile sought to live by Romans 12, being a “living sacrifice” and sharing God’s love and light every moment of every day. She left an indelible spark on the lives of her family and those around her, making their world a better place through her music, wisdom, encouragement, and steadfast devotion to follow God’s word. She believed in putting God first, and her answer to any problem, large or small, was PRAY.

Marilucile is survived by one son, Benjamin Travis (Lugenia) Counce of Caruthersville, MO; five grandchildren, Anna Beth (Andy) Kallenbach , Emily Marie (Shane) Gulley, Trisha Lynn Counce, Alyssa Renee Counce, and Benjamin Edward Counce; five great grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Elmer Wylie Counce; two brothers, Benjamin Edward Dodd and Robert Travis Dodd; and two sister-in-laws, Dean Stubblefield Dodd and Elaine Dodd.

Funeral Services will be on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at 11:30 am at First United Methodist Church in Martin, TN.
Pastor. Sharon Austell will officiate the service.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, November 22, 2025, beginning at 9:00 am until 11:00 am at First United Methodist Church in Martin, TN. 
Graveside service and burial to follow at Eastside Cemetery in Martin.

Murphy Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, Memorial donations may be made to:
The Elmer Counce Memorial Scholarship Fund at UT-Martin in her memory
(mfbaker@utm.edu, 731-881-7623)
https://giving.utm.edu/counce

The Music Fund at First United Methodist Church- Martin
225 Main St.
Martin, TN 38237