Vera Lillace Wilson Harper was born September 11, 1914 in Wayne County, TN, the daughter of the late Samuel Theodore and Sally Beulah Roberson Wilson. She married
J. B. Harper on July 10, 1932 and he preceded her in death on January 4, 1996. Mrs. Harper was a homemaker, a member of the Scotts Chapel Freewill Baptist Church in Cypress Inn, Tennessee and was an active member at Collinwood Senior Citizens. Mrs. Harper departed this life, Saturday, December 16, 2017 at her home at the age of 103 Years, 3 Months, 5 Days after brief illness. Survivors include a son, William Carl Harper, wife, Judy of Iron City, TN; daughters, Agnes Lovall Sanderson of Florence, AL, Sue Miles Wertz, husband, George of Gurley, AL, Barbara Long, husband, Flavis of Chattanooga, TN, Sally Brewer, husband, Bennie of Gallatin, TN, Brenda Squires, husband, Keith Crow of Franklin, TN and Wanda Harper Thompson of Cypress Inn, TN; daughter-in-law, Sallie Harper of Cypress Inn, TN; 22 grandchildren, 40 great-grandchildren, 26 great-great-grandchildren, 8 great-great-great-grandchildren and 19 step-great-grandchildren and a sister, Irene Hogan of Iron City, TN. In addition to her husband and parents, Mrs. Harper was preceded in death by a daughter, Tamzy Onell Harper, sons, Waylon Odell Harper, Sammy Larry Harper and James Byron Harper, grandson, Barry Wayne Nafe, great-grandson, Chance Nafe, an unnamed great-great-grandchild and son's-in-law, John Sanderson, Larry Ayers, H. C. Thompson, Jr. and Tom Squires. Special thanks to Sharon Davis, Dr. Danny McFall, her quilting buddies and Roger C. Balentine, a lifelong friend and professional, who was thought of as family and was at most all special events for her...they loved each other. We, her children, want to thank our sister, Wanda, for taking such great care of Mother all these years and for giving mother the opportunity to enjoy traveling until her death. Services will be Thursday, December 21, 2017 at 11:00 AM at Shackelford Funeral Directors chapel, Collinwood, Tennessee, with Luke Calton, Greg Eaton, Camryn Eaton and Junior Overstreet officiating. Burial will follow in Railroad Cemetery, Iron City, Tennessee with Shackelford Funeral Directors, Wayne County, directing. Pallbearers will be her 22 grandsons and granddaughters with her 4th, 5th and 6th generations serving as honorary pallbearers. Visitation will be Wednesday, December 20, 2017 from 5 pm to 9 pm and Thursday, December 21, 2017 from 9 am until service time at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to the James Harper Courage Award (special Olympics), % Jenny Haddock, Bank of Collinwood, PO Box 8, Collinwood, TN, 38450, to the Hospice group or to a charity of your choice.