Jimmie Wall Farris

MRS. JIMMIE WALL FARRIS, of Memphis and Pensacola Beach, Florida passed away on Friday, May 15 in Memphis at the age of 81 after a long battle with Lewy Body disease, a debilitating neurological illness. She was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, William W. Farris, Sr. A devoted mother and wife, she retired from the United States Department of Defense after 25 years of service. She leaves behind her five children, Bill Farris, Jr., of Somerville, Karen Nippert of Germantown, Jim Farris of Memphis, John Farris of Memphis, and Laura Statham of Collierville. She was a longtime political activist serving on the Shelby County and Tennessee Democratic Executive Committees for decades, and until recently was a member of the Democratic National Committee. She was a delegate to the 1992 democratic national convention and a Super delegate at the 2004 and 2008 conventions. She was a member of the Democratic Women of Shelby County for many years. Mrs. Farris played a key role in the organization and development of democratic clubs in Germantown, Cordova, mid town, Bartlett, Collierville, Frayser and east Memphis that flourished during the 1990s and early 2000s. These democratic clubs provided a reliable base of support for local, state and national democratic political candidates as they sought votes in Shelby County. Several of these democratic clubs continue to thrive today as a result of her early vision and effort. But her real passion in politics was being prepared for election day, and she developed a strong reputation for her election day organization of ward and precinct poll workers for democratic get-out-the-vote activities. She was active in local, state and national democratic politics for at least 60 years. Along with her husband Bill, former Chair of the Democratic Party of the state of Tennessee, they worked tirelessly on behalf of education, civil and women’s rights, and the principles of the Democratic Party. As an example of her belief in fundamental civil rights for people, at one point in her life in the late 1960s and early 1970s, she testified on behalf of African Americans whom she believed had been discriminated against by the Federal government. She believed that these individuals had been passed over for promotions that they deserved. Born in New Albany, Mississippi, Jimmie grew up in Jackson, Tn. where she attended Northside High School and was graduated as salutatorian, selected as poet laureate and chosen May Queen of her senior class. She was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. C.C. Wall, Sr. of Jackson, her sisters, Mary Wall Brown and Dorothy Wall Morrison, a brother, C.C. Wall, Jr., and a cousin, Myron C. “Sonny� Wall. She was an active proponent of the arts and was appointed to the Tennessee Arts Commission by then Governor Lamar Alexander. She was reappointed to the Tennessee Arts Commission by democrat Ned Ray McWherter after he became Governor. She served as President of the Tennessee Ballet, and along with her daughter Laura, pioneered a program in schools to teach dance and movement to the blind, which helped in their spatial awareness. In 1985, in her role as President of the Tennessee Ballet, she secured the funds to bring Mikhail Baryshnikov to Memphis to perform for a benefit of the ballet and actually entertained the star at her home on Sweetbriar. She also wrote a cookbook entitled “What’s Cooking in Politics�, filled with recipes from political leaders from across the country to benefit the Tennessee Ballet, and a second edition was printed and sold to benefit Friends for Life, the local H.I.V. service organization. She received her Bachelor of Professional Studies from the University of Memphis, and met her husband Bill while attending Cumberland School of Law. She was a member of Eudora Baptist Church for 56 years, and she loved and felt close to the congregation of Eudora where she rarely missed Sunday School or worship service. She was a selfless person who did all that she could to provide love and encouragement to her husband and family. In addition to her children, she leaves behind 14 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. She will be remembered by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren as someone who always tried to find the “good� in everyone. Visitation will be Sunday, May 17, from 3-5 p.m. at Memphis Funeral Home on Poplar Avenue. Services for Mrs. Farris will take place at Eudora Baptist Church, 4684 Poplar Avenue at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 18, with interment at Elmwood Cemetery immediately following the service. Memorials may be sent to the William W. and Jimmie W. Farris Scholarship at Southwest Tennessee Community College Foundation or Eudora Baptist Church. Memphis Funeral Home Poplar (901)725-0100 memphisfuneralhome.net