Mabel B. Pittard

August 07, 2008 03:41 pm

— Aug. 4, 2008

Mabel Baxter Pittard, 97, of Crossville, passed away Aug. 4, 2008 at Cumberland Medical Center in Crossville. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Friday, August 8, at First Baptist Church, Murfreesboro, with Dr. H. Eugene Cotey officiating. Visitation with the family will be from 10 a.m. to noon Friday, Aug. 8, at First Baptist Church, Murfreesboro. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery.

Mrs. Pittard was born in Lawrenceburg, TN, and was the daughter of the late William Newel and Emma Elizabeth Ogle Baxter.

Mrs. Pittard was married to the late Dr. Homer P. Pittard who died in July 1981. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Murfreesboro, a graduate of Middle Tennessee Teachers College and a retired teacher having taught at Mitchell Neilson and Central Middle School. Mrs. Pittard had a long and distinguished career in the Rutherford County School System teaching for many decades and having taught many thousands of pupils. Her knowledge of math was unsurpassed as she continued to tutor students of all ages specializing in advanced algebra and calculus for pre-college and MTSU students. Her encouragement and wiliness to tutor young people was demanding but she sacrificed her time until the age of 96 mentoring and teaching eager young people that wanted to learn.

She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Middle Tennessee State University Dames Club and the Rutherford County Historical Society. She and her husband, the late Dr. Homer Pittard, co-authored “The History of Rutherford County.” Mrs. Pittard worked tirelessly for many people and causes over her long teaching career and for her community but most of all she was a dedicated wife and mother serving her family, Church and God.

Survivors include her daughter, Ann Smith and her husband Nick of Crossville; daughter-in-law, Janice Pittard Sasser of Franklin; brother, Joe Baxter of Waco, Texas; sisters, Polly Cantrell of Murfreesboro and Ruth Kennedy of Gloucester, VA; grandchildren, Jenny Smith of New York City, Melinda Reed of Lascassas, Sarah Hobbs of Macon, GA, Mary Pittard of Murfreesboro and Emily Loyd of Murfreesboro; and great-grandchildren, Colby Reed and Kate Reed.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her son, the late Honorable John B. Pittard, a former attorney in Murfreesboro and city councilman who died in July 2001.

Active pallbearers will be Mark Reed, Colby Reed, Tim Smith, John Royster, Chip Loyd, Ben Hobbs and Charles B. Cantrell.
Honorary pallbearers will be Tommy Hord, Ron Taylor and Paul Ranz.

Memorials in memory of Mrs. Pittard may be made to the Homer Pittard Campus School or the library at John Pittard Elementary School.

Woodfin Memorial Chapel (www.woodfinchapel.com) is in charge of the arrangements.