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423-266-2454 | Longtime Teacher Was Avid Sail Boat Racer posted November 10, 2011
She is survived by her husband, Harrison W. Gill, Jr.; her sons, Harrison W. Gill III and LTC Allen J. Gill; their wives, Patsy Gill and Yon Gill; seven grandchildren and her sisters, Bonnie Bledsoe and Mary Stevenson. Edna was born in Chattanooga, on October 28, 1926, the daughter of William D. Jacoway and Edna Cureton Jacoway. She lived most of her life in Chattanooga. She graduated from City High School on June 1943 at the age of 16, and from the University of Chattanooga in 1947 with a degree in Mathematics and a minor in Chemistry. She was a member of the Pi Phi Sorority. In 1948, she began her teaching career at Girls Preparatory School, and then taught at the old Chattanooga High School. In the middle 1950’s she moved to Europe, and taught the dependents of Air Force families in the Department of Defense School in the town of Udine, in northern Italy. After returning to Chattanooga in 1956, she met her husband, Harrison, at Privateer Yacht Club (PYC) on Chickamauga Lake, where she had owned a sail boat and raced in the weekly races. They were married on June 6, 1958, and they remained members of PYC for over 50 years, racing sail boats in the club races on Chickamauga and cruising the lake and the Tennessee River. Edna left teaching to start her family as a devoted mother and wife. She returned to the City School System in the 1960’s, subsequently teaching at East 5th Street Junior High, Northside Junior High and ending her career at Hixson High School in 1987. She also spent time teaching night school at UTC, in various volunteer adult literacy programs, and in the Ben Mott Program for underprivileged children at First Christian. Edna was an active lifetime member of the First Christian Church, serving as both a deacon and an elder. For many years she taught childrens’ and adults’ Sunday school classes, was a long-time member of the Christian Women’s Fellowship, and served in various volunteer positions. She was active in many of the city wide organizations, including the Opera Guild, in which she served as President. She also was a longtime member of the Stuart Heights Garden Club. Because the First Christian Church sanctuary is under renovation, funeral services will be held at the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, at 5401 Highway 153, on Saturday, November 12, at 2:30 p.m., with Reverend Paul Rebelo officiating. The family will receive friends from 1-2:30 p.m. on Saturday, at the North Chapel. The burial will be at Forest Hills Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Edna’s name to the church endowment fund, 650 McCallie Ave., Chattanooga, Tn. 37403. Arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson, Tn. 37343. Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com. |
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