Lola Belle Calhoun Scott, 99, of Athens, born in McMinn County on March 14, 1917, passed away peacefully on October 19, 2016,with her family by her side.
Many who are reading this will remember being taught by Lola or know someone who was. She began teaching in a one room schoolhouse in the McMinn County community of Poplar Hill, earning $65.00 a month, plus $10 to also be principal and janitor. Many years and many classrooms later, Lola retired as a third-grade teacher from North City School in Athens, the school where her father was the first principal. After retirement, she began a second career in Adult Basic Education. She taught ABE for eleven years at the McMinn County Justice Center and elsewhere. She took great pride in helping her students earn GED diplomas. Into her early nineties, she loved teaching life-coping skills to special education students at Tri-County Center and Morning Star. For Lola, "It was a joy to see people learn."
Because of her commitment to helping others through education, in 1995, she received the Tennessee Education Association's E. Harper Johnson Human Relations Award. The honor had particular meaning for her, because the statewide award is named after a legendary Athens educator. In March, 1999, Athens City Council presented Lola their Very Important Volunteer Individual (VIVID) Award. She was North City School's 1980-81 Teacher of the Year. In 1989, she was Volunteer of the Year for the Athens office of the Tenn. Dept. of Human Services. Also in the '80s, she received the Teacher of the Year Award from The Optimist Club of Athens.
Lola held various offices in Alpha Delta Kappa Sorority, an international honorary organization of women educators dedicated to educational excellence. She established the M.R. Calhoun Mathematics Award at North City School to honor her father.
Her own education included studying at Ward Belmont College in Nashville and later receiving a B.A. from Tennessee Wesleyan University before taking several courses at Middle Tennessee State University toward her Master's degree. Prior to becoming a teacher, she attended nursing school in Nashville and worked as a nurse for Dr. Ed Foree. Throughout her life, she cared for ill relatives and friends and had a gift for comforting people during their transition out of this life.
Before her death, Lola was the oldest living member of First Baptist Church of Athens where for many years she sang in the choir. She also was in the church's handbell choir, served as Sunday School Outreach Director, and was on the church's History Committee.
A quote she treasured exemplifies her philosophy: "No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of others." The love that surrounded her at the end of her long years was a testament to living with a compassionate heart.
Lola was preceded in death by her parents, M. Roy and Mae Hanks Calhoun, sister Jewell Wright and brother Brigadier General John M. Calhoun.
She is survived by her daughters, Ann Scott Davis, Mayor of Athens and Sarah (Sallie) Scott Ashford of WA (husband Bill Compher); granddaughter, Whitney Malone of Nashville; sister-in-law, Sue Calhoun of Knoxville; niece Sara Simpson ( husband Ben); niece Ellen Lawson (husband Robbie); nephew Colonel James R. Miller (wife Sissy) of Franklin; grandnieces, Jamea Harper (husband Cy) of Porter, TX, Lauren (Lolly) Miller of Nashville, Miriam Kohl (husband Jeff) of Franklin, and several grandnieces and grandnephews. Laura Brown LeNoir of Athens was beloved as "her third daughter." Lola previously was married to Charles F. (Shy) Scott, Jr. ,deceased.
The family extends heartfelt gratitude to Brookdale of Athens and the staff's
kind and expert care. "Miss Lola" loved the staff and thrived during her eight years at the assisted living facility.
She had many dear friends among its residents. During her years there, she had chaired the residents' council and once enjoyed playing piano weekly at the adjacent Clare Bridge Memory Care facility.
The family will receive friends from 11 am to 1 pm on Friday, October 21, 2015 at Smith Funeral Home with the funeral to follow at 1:30 pm at that location. A private entombment service will take place afterward at McMinn Memory Garden and Mausoleum.
Pallbearers will be Steve Heath, Paul Willson, Dr. B.E. LeNoir, III, Tom Biddle, John Proffitt, Hal Buttram, and Bo Perkinson. Honorary pallbearers will be Bill Chesnutt, Jerry Smith, Charles D. (Sonny) Pierce, and Tyler Forrest. Online condolences may be offered at www.jerrysmithfuneralhome.com.
Those wishing to offer memorial contributions may do so to McMinn County Living Heritage Museum, 552 W. Madison Avenue, Athens, TN 37303; First Baptist Church of Athens, 305 Ingleside Avenue, Athens, TN 37303; or a charity of the donor's choice.