Helen Carolyn Collier Gill
July 27, 1927 -
November 12, 2017

Visitation

November 14, 2017
4:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Service 

November 15, 2017
10:00 AM

Interment

Obituary

Funeral service for Mrs. Helen Carolyn Collier Gill of Petersburg, TN will be conducted Wednesday, November 15, 2017 at 10 AM at Petersburg First United Methodist Church with Reverends Beulah Edmondson and Denny Moore officiating. Burial will follow in Old Orchard Cemetery next to her husband, William Warren Gill.

Helen Carolyn Collier Gill, fondly called Mama Gill by family and friends, was born on July 27, 1927, and died on November 12, 2017, having reached ninety years of age. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Gill and her parents, Jepp and Neil Collier, all of Petersburg, Tennessee, and her sister Mary Neil Lindstrom, Huntsville, Alabama.

Carolyn received her B.S. from Middle Tennessee State College and married William Warren Gill, Jr. from Petersburg, January 1, 1950. She taught at Blanche and Petersburg High Schools, Eighth District School, and Central Junior High in Fayetteville. Carolyn and William raised their three children on their farm on Chestnut Ridge Road, two miles from Petersburg, where they lived together for sixty years.

She is survived by her brother, Jim Collier (Betty); sons, W. Warren Gill, III (Lissa) of Murfreesboro, James Alan Gill (Teresa) of Shelbyville, and daughter Gloria Gill Meadows (Doyle) of Fayetteville; grandchildren, William Warren Gill IV (Meg), Greer Clark Gill, James Alan (Bo) Gill, Jr. (Emily), Joseph Tyler Gill (Staci), Caroline Collier Meadows, and Mindi Meadows Posey (Frank); great-granddaughters, Everleigh Gill, Lotti and Lila Gill, and Harbor Posey.

Carolyn loved her Alma Mater, Middle Tennessee State University and the First United Methodist Church, Petersburg. Gifts to a scholarship endowment that has been established in her honor will be appreciated by students for many years to come. Please make donations to: Carolyn Gill Ag Scholarship, c/o MTSU Foundation, Box 125, Murfreesboro, TN 37132 or First United Methodist Church, 207 Church Street, Petersburg, TN 37144. Contributions in Carolyn’s name to your church, library or charitable institution will be appreciated.

Visitation with the family will be held Tuesday, November 14, 2017, at 4 PM until 7 PM at Higgins Funeral Home. Higgins is honored to be serving the family of Mrs. Gill.

Video Services

21 Comments

  1. Charlotte May

    Mrs Gill was my 6th grade teacher @ 8th district, down in the trailors. She was one of my favorite teachers. Although I havent saw her in many years, I remember her well. So sorry for the loss.

    Reply
  2. Marcia Warren-Lewis

    Ms. Carolyn was my idea of a “fine Southern lady”. She had a heart of pure gold and such a beautiful smile. I know her light will be greatly missed by all.

    Reply
  3. Stacy Johnson

    I had the opportunity and pleasure to have Mrs Gill as a teacher at Eighth District and then again at Central Jr High. The lessons I learned from her have stuck with me even to today. My prayers for peace go out to her family.

    Reply
  4. Nancy Smith Patrick

    Loved this woman. she was my favorite teacher in school and just an amazing all around lady. she will be sorely missed

    Reply
  5. Kay Honey

    Gloria & Family, I am so sorry for your loss. Your mother was a sweet and pretty lady. Prayers and comfort. Kay Honey

    Reply
  6. Jeff Smith

    In what seems like a lifetime ago, she was our neighbor. We moved to Petersburg from Huntsville, and the Colliers and Gills were on either side of where we lived. They were always very welcoming and made us feel at home because that’s just the kind of people they were. A sweet lady.

    Reply
  7. Rhonda Wilbanks

    So sorry to hear of Miss Carolyn passing. She was always such a great person to talk to, always kind and full of sweetness. I know she will be deeply missed by all that knew and loved her….

    Reply
  8. Larry and Wanda Hames

    Mrs.Carolyn was such a sweet person.She was a beautiful Lady both inside and out.May God bless her family with strength and comfort.

    Reply
  9. Ellen and Mike Freeland

    Gloria, Lois called to tell me of your mother’s death. We send you our sincerest sympathy.

    Reply
  10. Jimmy and Diane Buchanan

    To the Family, What a beautiful and gracious southern lady! I remember the many times my mother and I visited in your home. I never saw her without that wonderful smile and twinkle in her eyes. May God give you comfort and peace.

    Reply
  11. Christi Swinford Thompson

    Mrs. Gill was a special lady and left her mark on so many in this community. I was honored to have her as a teacher, and even years after that jr high class, she remembered me! Prayers for the family at this time.

    Reply
  12. Lisa Brooks Reese

    Always loved Mrs Gill.. She was my teacher at Central… Prayers for her family…

    Reply
  13. Lois E. Chaplin

    Gloria so sorry to read about your mom. She was a special Lady. I remember her teaching at Blanche High School. My sympathy to the family.
    Lois Elmore Chaplin.

    Reply
  14. Doug Gilbert

    I remember her from Bible School. Such a wonderful person.

    Reply
  15. Tony Smith

    she was my 8th grade history teacher at CJHS. she was one of my favorites.

    Reply
  16. Linda Holland

    My mother and Carolyn were the same age and were friends. Carolyn was a true Southern lady in every sense of the word. She had a warm smile was always gracious and sweet. She will be missed.

    Reply
  17. Kim Halcomb Cowart

    Gloria, Doyle & Caroline, I am so sorry to hear of your mothers passing. I pray that God will provide peace. and comfort you during this sad time.

    Reply
  18. Nancy cottrell

    Love to all the family. What a privilege to have cared for Miss Carolyn. She was a Beautiful soul.

    Reply
  19. Lenace Hyde Vaughn

    Granny Gill was such a sweet lady and I loved speaking with her when we saw each other. She will be missed by all who knew her as she made a lasting impression on all of us who considered her our friend. Prayers to each of you!
    Love always !
    Lenace Hyde Vaughn

    Reply
  20. Lynne Baxter-Sitter

    Oh how I will miss your beautiful face. I had the honor to meet Ms. Gill during her stay at Southern Manor. Fly high my sweet angel, no more pain. To the family my sincere condolences. Praying for peace that surpasses all our understanding. Love ❤️/hugs/Prayers

    Reply
  21. Wanda Shelton

    I am so sorry to hear this news and my prayers are with the family.

    Reply

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Memories

21 Comments

  1. Charlotte May

    Mrs Gill was my 6th grade teacher @ 8th district, down in the trailors. She was one of my favorite teachers. Although I havent saw her in many years, I remember her well. So sorry for the loss.

    Reply
  2. Marcia Warren-Lewis

    Ms. Carolyn was my idea of a “fine Southern lady”. She had a heart of pure gold and such a beautiful smile. I know her light will be greatly missed by all.

    Reply
  3. Stacy Johnson

    I had the opportunity and pleasure to have Mrs Gill as a teacher at Eighth District and then again at Central Jr High. The lessons I learned from her have stuck with me even to today. My prayers for peace go out to her family.

    Reply
  4. Nancy Smith Patrick

    Loved this woman. she was my favorite teacher in school and just an amazing all around lady. she will be sorely missed

    Reply
  5. Kay Honey

    Gloria & Family, I am so sorry for your loss. Your mother was a sweet and pretty lady. Prayers and comfort. Kay Honey

    Reply
  6. Jeff Smith

    In what seems like a lifetime ago, she was our neighbor. We moved to Petersburg from Huntsville, and the Colliers and Gills were on either side of where we lived. They were always very welcoming and made us feel at home because that’s just the kind of people they were. A sweet lady.

    Reply
  7. Rhonda Wilbanks

    So sorry to hear of Miss Carolyn passing. She was always such a great person to talk to, always kind and full of sweetness. I know she will be deeply missed by all that knew and loved her….

    Reply
  8. Larry and Wanda Hames

    Mrs.Carolyn was such a sweet person.She was a beautiful Lady both inside and out.May God bless her family with strength and comfort.

    Reply
  9. Ellen and Mike Freeland

    Gloria, Lois called to tell me of your mother’s death. We send you our sincerest sympathy.

    Reply
  10. Jimmy and Diane Buchanan

    To the Family, What a beautiful and gracious southern lady! I remember the many times my mother and I visited in your home. I never saw her without that wonderful smile and twinkle in her eyes. May God give you comfort and peace.

    Reply
  11. Christi Swinford Thompson

    Mrs. Gill was a special lady and left her mark on so many in this community. I was honored to have her as a teacher, and even years after that jr high class, she remembered me! Prayers for the family at this time.

    Reply
  12. Lisa Brooks Reese

    Always loved Mrs Gill.. She was my teacher at Central… Prayers for her family…

    Reply
  13. Lois E. Chaplin

    Gloria so sorry to read about your mom. She was a special Lady. I remember her teaching at Blanche High School. My sympathy to the family.
    Lois Elmore Chaplin.

    Reply
  14. Doug Gilbert

    I remember her from Bible School. Such a wonderful person.

    Reply
  15. Tony Smith

    she was my 8th grade history teacher at CJHS. she was one of my favorites.

    Reply
  16. Linda Holland

    My mother and Carolyn were the same age and were friends. Carolyn was a true Southern lady in every sense of the word. She had a warm smile was always gracious and sweet. She will be missed.

    Reply
  17. Kim Halcomb Cowart

    Gloria, Doyle & Caroline, I am so sorry to hear of your mothers passing. I pray that God will provide peace. and comfort you during this sad time.

    Reply
  18. Nancy cottrell

    Love to all the family. What a privilege to have cared for Miss Carolyn. She was a Beautiful soul.

    Reply
  19. Lenace Hyde Vaughn

    Granny Gill was such a sweet lady and I loved speaking with her when we saw each other. She will be missed by all who knew her as she made a lasting impression on all of us who considered her our friend. Prayers to each of you!
    Love always !
    Lenace Hyde Vaughn

    Reply
  20. Lynne Baxter-Sitter

    Oh how I will miss your beautiful face. I had the honor to meet Ms. Gill during her stay at Southern Manor. Fly high my sweet angel, no more pain. To the family my sincere condolences. Praying for peace that surpasses all our understanding. Love ❤️/hugs/Prayers

    Reply
  21. Wanda Shelton

    I am so sorry to hear this news and my prayers are with the family.

    Reply

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *