Annie Ruth (Gaskill) Wallace

Annie Ruth Gaskill Wallace, 93, passed away peacefully on November 17, 2017  at the Lantern at Morning Pointe  in Collegedale, Tennessee.  She was preceded in death by her parents, William Thomas and Hattie Belle Gaskill; her husband, John Wallace; three brothers, Tom, Billy, and Clint Gaskill; and a sister, Virginia Booker. She is survived by her children, Tom Smith and friend, Lisa;  Lecia Tilghman and husband, Michael, and Babbie Wallace; a grandson, Greg Smith; three great grandchildren, a great-great grandson; and cousins, nieces and nephews, who were all dear to her heart.

Born in Santa Fe, TN, from 5/07/24- 11/17/17, she filled her dash between those dates with love and laughter. Annie's love of acting carried over to her daily life, which might include a rendition of Minnie Pearl or a boisterous Cockney accent, which she used in the play Gaslight. Known for her Annie-ism's, her favorite was: “I love the Turner Classic Movie Channel. Now I can watch what I was supposed to read in school.”

She loved helping others and she loved Jesus, teaching children's Sunday School from the late 1950's through 2013. Her successful approach to teaching was simply “to see things through the eyes of children”.  She loved her family as well, remembering the time spent on Gaskill Branch in her youth, and using that as an example for raising her family. Firm but fair, she successfully raised her three children.

After attending Columbia Business College, Annie worked as a bookkeeper with Eubanks Office Supplies, the Coca-Cola Company, and Krystal Regional Headquarters. After her retirement, she had a second career in a health food store. She was actively involved in several areas, including Children's Theater in Nashville and Toastmasters International, where she won awards for her humorous speeches. She was a past president of Parent Teachers Association and served on the PTA County Council in Nashville. She was a member of Wesleyan Service Guild (now UMW), a Wesley Foundation Chairperson at MTSU, a member of Beersheba Springs Historical Society and was active in Women's Society of Christian Services.

A graveside service will be held on November 19, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. CST at the Santa Fe Cemetery in Santa Fe, Tennessee.  The family would like to extend their gratitude to all the staff at The Lantern at Morning Pointe of Collegedale and Hospice of Chattanooga for their attentiveness and loving care.  Memorial contributions may be  made to the United Methodist Church in Estill Springs, 215 Eastbrook Road, Estill Springs, Tennessee 37330 or Hospice of Chattanooga, 441 Oakwood Drive, Chattanooga, TN  37416. 

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