Shirley Walne Tenison, 87, passed away peacefully at home on May 4, 2023, just one day shy of her 88th birthday.
Shirley was born on May 5, 1935, in New Orleans, LA to parents Mary Edith French Walne and James Austin Walne and spent her childhood in Memphis, TN, Vicksburg, MS, and Clarksdale, MS. The family moved to Yazoo City, MS in 1949 where Shirley attended Yazoo City High School. She was a high school majorette and a young beauty, earning the titles of Miss Yazoo and Miss Hospitality in the Miss Mississippi Pageant of 1953.
After graduating high school, Shirley headed to Oxford, MS to attend Ole Miss where she was a cheerleader, elected a “Top 5 Ole Miss Beautie” in the Parade of Beauties of 1955, and a proud member of the Chi Omega Sorority. Shirley stayed in contact with many of her college sorority sisters her entire life. Her years growing up in Mississippi were memorable and formative, making her the friendly, polite, and poised Southern lady that she was. Shirley always dressed stylishly and never left the house without her earrings and red “Cherries in the Snow” lipstick. She always wanted to look her best.
Shirley remained a “Mississippi Girl” her entire life, never losing that slow Southern drawl she was known for. She loved meeting anyone from the state of Mississippi, never hesitating to strike up a conversation to see if they might have a connection or a common friend. Like she always said, “Everyone from Mississippi knows each other!” She was so proud of her Mississippi roots.
Shirley left Ole Miss and moved to Nashville to become an American Airlines flight attendant, known as a “stewardess” back then. Living near Vanderbilt with other flight attendants, she was never far from the fun social activities. She soon met handsome bachelor and native Nashvillian Lon Tenison. Shirley and Lon married in 1957. At the wedding, her sister Joyce met Lon’s best man Billy Warner. Joyce and Billy married 5 months later. The sisters, together in Nashville, started their families and had so much fun raising their children with each other close by for support and family fun.
While raising her family, Shirley spent many hours volunteering at Julia Green Elementary School and was also involved in the community thru The Junior League of Nashville, Chi Omega Alumnae, and Westminster Presbyterian Church. She enjoyed active memberships in The Centennial Club, a Garden Club, Bridge Clubs, and a Book Club that had the same 12 members who met monthly for more than 50 years. She loved spending time with her friends. Shirley also loved to dance, teaching young teens how to dance at Fort Nightly in the 1970s.
Shirley had a creative spirit and an artistic eye that served her well as a successful Interior Designer, working at Bradford’s and Sprintz for over 25 years. She was passionate about decorating and never hesitated to offer her advice and ideas. She truly loved when anyone asked her to help them with decorating and selecting paint colors. She loved seeing beautiful homes and reading design magazines which she collected and read over and over and saved for many years.
In her later years, Shirley continued to enjoy playing tennis and bridge with her many friends and was doing both up until just a few short years ago. She was happiest at home, surrounded by her three cats Gracie, Pepper, and Little Lucie. She adored them.
Many thanks to the doctors at St. Thomas West and the wonderful nurses at NHC Place at the Trace who kept Shirley motivated to keep moving these last several months. And a special thank-you to Tamika McKnight and her amazing team who took such good care of Mama, making her last 3 weeks at home comfortable and happy. We are forever grateful.
Shirley is preceded in death by her late husband A.M. (Lon) Tenison, Jr, her parents Mary Edith and Austin Walne, and sister Joyce Warner.
Survived by her brother Jay Walne (Sarah) of Collierville, TN, children Lon Tenison (Chong), Clarksville, TN, Edie Harlin (Dee), Marietta, GA, and Trudy Seay (Ed), Franklin TN, and her four beloved grandsons who knew her as “Mamie”, Witt Harlin (Margaret), Longmont, CO, Thomas Harlin, Melbourne, FL, Eddie Seay, Atlanta, GA, Andy Seay (Frances), Franklin, TN, and two great-granddaughters Joanna and Ruth Seay.
Shirley is also survived by devoted friend Roland Holt, who brought her much joy, companionship, and encouragement in the last four years of her life.
Service will be held graveside at Mt. Olivet Cemetery on Saturday, May 13th at 3:00 pm with visitation beginning at 2:00 in the chapel.
Donations may be made in memory of Shirley to The Nashville Humane Association (www.give.nashvillehumane.org) or the American Heart Association.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.marshalldonnellycombs.com for the Tenison family.
For more obituaries visit https://davidsoncountysource.com/obituaries/
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