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.
21 Comments To "Helen Carolyn Collier Gill"
#1 Comment By Wanda Shelton On November 13, 2017 @ 5:54 pm
I am so sorry to hear this news and my prayers are with the family.
#2 Comment By Lynne Baxter-Sitter On November 13, 2017 @ 6:06 pm
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
#3 Comment By Lenace Hyde Vaughn On November 13, 2017 @ 6:39 pm
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
#4 Comment By Nancy cottrell On November 13, 2017 @ 10:25 pm
Love to all the family. What a privilege to have cared for Miss Carolyn. She was a Beautiful soul.
#5 Comment By Kim Halcomb Cowart On November 13, 2017 @ 10:54 pm
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.
#6 Comment By Linda Holland On November 13, 2017 @ 11:26 pm
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.
#7 Comment By Tony Smith On November 14, 2017 @ 12:47 am
she was my 8th grade history teacher at CJHS. she was one of my favorites.
#8 Comment By Doug Gilbert On November 14, 2017 @ 1:04 am
I remember her from Bible School. Such a wonderful person.
#9 Comment By Lois E. Chaplin On November 14, 2017 @ 1:50 am
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.
#10 Comment By Lisa Brooks Reese On November 14, 2017 @ 3:03 pm
Always loved Mrs Gill.. She was my teacher at Central… Prayers for her family…
#11 Comment By Christi Swinford Thompson On November 14, 2017 @ 6:19 pm
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.
#12 Comment By Jimmy and Diane Buchanan On November 14, 2017 @ 7:41 pm
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.
#13 Comment By Ellen and Mike Freeland On November 14, 2017 @ 9:52 pm
Gloria, Lois called to tell me of your mother’s death. We send you our sincerest sympathy.
#14 Comment By Larry and Wanda Hames On November 14, 2017 @ 11:31 pm
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.
#15 Comment By Rhonda Wilbanks On November 15, 2017 @ 3:04 am
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….
#16 Comment By Jeff Smith On November 15, 2017 @ 7:22 am
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.
#17 Comment By Kay Honey On November 15, 2017 @ 2:46 pm
Gloria & Family, I am so sorry for your loss. Your mother was a sweet and pretty lady. Prayers and comfort. Kay Honey
#18 Comment By Nancy Smith Patrick On November 15, 2017 @ 4:38 pm
Loved this woman. she was my favorite teacher in school and just an amazing all around lady. she will be sorely missed
#19 Comment By Stacy Johnson On November 16, 2017 @ 9:22 pm
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.
#20 Comment By Marcia Warren-Lewis On November 16, 2017 @ 11:47 pm
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.
#21 Comment By Charlotte May On November 19, 2017 @ 1:08 am
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.