Ermadine Turnbo Riley, daughter of the late Andrew Chester (Andy) and Jimmie Ann Stegall Turnbo. She was born December 13, 1921 and was reared in Clifton, Wayne County, Tennessee. She passed away October 10, 2017 at her home.
She graduated from Clifton's Frank Hughes High School, received credits from M. T. S. U. and Columbia State and was a retired teacher.
She joined the Clifton Methodist Episcopal Church, South in May, 1933 at the age of 11 years and remained loyal to her Methodist roots throughout her life. She was married to J. Erving Riley on July 4, 1940 and three daughters, Deanna Gayle, Jayne Evelyn and Debra Kaye were born to this union. Ermadine and J. Erving lived on Beech Creek, Wayne County, TN and reared their daughters on the farm. Upon retirement, they left the farm after 47 years to move on July 4, 1990 to Frank Boyd Street in Waynesboro, Tennessee. Ermadine remained here for the remainder of her life. J. Erving died on October 5, 2004.
A retired teacher in the Wayne County Shcool System, she worked in grocery stores, in factory's, served as lunchroom supervisor and Wayne County Election Office Deputy Registrar and work on the farm doing anything that was there that she needed to do. She served on the Wayne County Library Board for several years, worked in the Wayne County Historians Office, served in different offices for the Historical Society, helped with the war publications, organized the Captain John Henry Culp Chapter of the United Daughters, was active in the D. A. R. Chapter for 25 years. She had the church books, Riverside and It's Chrisian Heritage and Wayne County Methodist Churches published.
She enjoyed music all of her life, played in her high school band and sang in the Riverside Quartet. She enjoyed traveling and learning customs of other countries and enjoyed her friends and genealogy. Most of all, she enjoyed her family and hearing all about their activities.
She was preceded in death by a great-granddaughter, Reagan Elizabeth Rainey; son-in-law, Charles Baxter Rainey; brother, Lester Lee (Leck) Turnbo and sisters, Mary Kathryn Turnbo Mathis and Berniece Evelyn Turnbo Cromwell.
She is survived by daughters, Deanna Gayle (Joe) Bryant, Jayne Evelyn (Paul Dillard) Chase and Debra Kaye Rainey; grandchildren, Henry Joe Bryant, II, Jeffery Alan Bryant, Angelina Leanna Bryant Cormier, Jason Andrew Bryant, Christina Machelle Chase Jackson, Todd Riley Chase, Jay Paul Chase and Eunis Chadwick Rainey; great-grandchildren, Tabitha Ann Bryant, Kenneth Tanner Cormier, Jeffrey Tyler Bryant, Chase Bryan Jackson, Sawyer Douglas Jackson, Lucas Todd Chase, Dylan Samuel Chase, Brenden Chadwick Rainey and Deven Thomas Rainey and a great-great-granddaughter, Sidney Leann Mattern; nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends.
Services will be Saturday, October 14, 2017 at 1:00 PM at Shackelford Funeral Directors chapel, Waynesboro, Tennessee, with Shayne Riley and Tommy Flood officiating. Burial will follow in Culp's Cemetery, Waynesboro, Tennessee with Shackelford Funeral Directors, Wayne County, directing. Visitation will be Saturday, October 14, 2017 from 9:30 am to service time at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be Chad Rainey, Todd Chase, Jay Paul Chase, Jeff Bryant, Tom Mathis, Charlie Cromwell, Gene Lee Turnbo and Dennis Turnbo with Ric Wilson, Jim Byrd, Herbert Brewer, Bob Rains, Dallas Council and Billy Stegall as honorary pallbearers.