Alicia Anne Berryhill Boswell

Alicia Anne Berryhill Boswell

On Monday evening, May 13, 2013, Alicia "Anne" Berryhill Boswell left this earth for her eternal home following an extended illness. Her daughters, Alicia B. Franco and Molly B. Allen were at her side.

"Live life to the fullest; it's a short journey. Don't ever get old; just keep on keeping on as long as the good Lord's willing was my mom's creed. My sister, Molly and I were blessed to celebrate Mother's Day with her again this year," said Alicia.

Anne was born on W. Grand Avenue in Jackson, TN on September 1, 1925 to Thelma (Harwood) and Dr. Grailey H. Berryhill. Along with her sister, Grailyn, she grew up in Jackson, attended Alexander Elementary School and Miss Mary Butler's School (a private Jackson institution with an emphasis on good manners, the art of conversation and dance; in addition to strict academic offerings).

In her youth, she enjoyed taking dance with Miss Emmy Carey and playing with neighborhood friends on W. Grand and Westmoreland Place. Often they crossed the ditch by swinging on grapevines. Once they came close to performing a tonsillectomy on a small child with Anne's dad's medical instruments. She loved riding horses. She and her sister were, also, part of a troupe of tumblers coached by Ralph Wilson with the YMCA who performed throughout West Tennessee.

Anne was a member of Kappa Chi sorority, elected TKO fraternity royalty, and was chosen as a member of La Jeunesse. While in college, she belonged to the sorority which became AOPi and was selected as a Princess of the Cotton Carnival in Memphis.

In 1943, Anne graduated from Jackson High School and continued her education at Gulf Park College in Gulf Port, Mississippi, a two-year girls' school. She completed her B.S. at Lambuth College in Jackson, TN.

As a college student, Anne endured several difficult operations in Chicago to improve her hereditary hearing loss. Because her father, daughter, and his six siblings were all deaf from birth, he was instrumental in helping to found the Hearing and Speech Center and the West TN School for the Deaf in Jackson.

Our mother served as a volunteer at the Hearing and Speech Center for many years during its inception. She knew the difficulty and frustration of hearing loss and had great compassion for others who suffered with this deficit.

During her 20's, her dream to become a GM&O Railway Hostess never materialized due to her hearing impairment. Following graduation from college, our mom worked for her dad in his medical practice until her marriage. In addition, she occasionally filled-in for her friend, stockbroker, Tiny McKnight, at J.C. Bradford & Company.

In 1953, she married a young lawyer, James H. Boswell. Together they were active in the Tennessee Bar Association, Vanderbilt Alumnae Association and Vanderbilt Law School Alumnae. Many friendships were maintained, forged and renewed throughout the years as they attended meetings and social gatherings associated with these organizations.

Mom was a founding member of one of Jackson's legendary garden clubs started by Kathryn Harrison. She and Laura Clemmons served as the only two women on the first downtown council, and contributed to the development of downtown and the beautification of Court Square.

Our parents always enjoyed music, dancing and spending time with their friends. Their Couples' Bridge Club days were filled with food, laughter and a "little" card playing. Fellow members included: Beverly and Allen Fail; Luellen and R. E. Butts; Jackie and Ryman Ralls; "Bubba" and Gertrude Driver; Martha and Bob Gilbreath; and Betty and Oliver Graves.

Many fun times were spent at the horse races in Louisville, Hot Springs and Evansville with Margaret and Walter Hudson, Nancy and Horace Geyer, Jeanne and Donald Hanafee, and Pat and Dr. Leslie Traughber. They especially loved cheering for Cousin Hayes Biggs' horse at various tracks.

Our mother loved traveling with family and friends. She had just returned home from her grandson's recent wedding in Highlands, North Carolina the last weekend of April.

She adored growing up in Jackson; loved her parents and sister dearly. She shared stories about the families and personalities she had known throughout her life, during the Great Depression, and WWII. Everyone had a place in her heart.

Warm memories would surface as she spoke affectionately about the people who impacted her life through their kindness, bravery, selflessness, sacrifice, leadership, faith and work ethic - all qualities that spoke of her upbringing. She was thrifty and conservative, but gave freely of her time and talents.

Our mom had many talents, which included: sewing/embroidery, gardening, raising roses (or any plant, flower or tree), floral arranging, party planning and being a hostess, antiquing, painting, wallpapering, designing interiors, exteriors, & clothing, decorating, cooking, volunteering, and entertaining.

She loved people and adored children! She considered her daughters' friends like her own. Her home was a place where friends of all ages loved to visit and felt comfortable.

She was active in the following: Jackson Service League; DBS sorority sponsor; Jackson Planning Commission; First United Methodist communion prep, Altar Guild, Wednesday Family Night Dinners/Table Decorations, kindergarten Sunday school teacher and a member of the Dick Nunn and Mrs. Holland Sunday school classes; active in the Republican Party in West Tennessee; appointed to the Tennessee Arts Commission by Gov. Lamar Alexander; Bal Masque; the Jackson Country Club; and the Mary Anna Milk Fund.

Mom asked nothing of anyone that she would not have done herself. She was private in her faith, but tried to live her life as an example of Christ. She deeply loved her parents and honored them every day of her life. As our dad's health declined, she did her best to care for him in their home. We never knew a day when we didn't feel her love.

Our mom was preceded in death by our dad, James, on December 31, 2012.

Anne Boswell leaves two daughters, Alicia B. Franco of Jackson and Molly B. Allen (Andrew) of Erie, PA. Anne was proud of four grandsons: Stephen (Meredith) Franco of Winter Park, FL, James Franco of Boston, MA, Matthew Franco of Miami, FL and Christopher (Rebecca) Cochran of Atlanta, GA; her sister, Grailyn Brooks and her children and their families: Berry (Connie) Brooks, Tricia (Clift) Odom and Susan (Fred) Martin; sister-in-law, Mary Boswell Smith, and her children: Bill (Carol), Roy (Carol) and Mary Anne Smith; sister-in-law, Martha Boswell and her children: Joe (Carol), Judy (Pat) and Susan (Kelly), and cousin, Robert Harwood (Lucy) in Alexandria, VA.

"Alicia and I extend our heartfelt thanks to the outstanding doctors, nurses, therapists and support personnel for the care extended to our dear mother at JMCG Hospital and St. Francis Hospital in Memphis, We thank dear Ruthie who took such wonderful care of our mom. God's presence was with Mom along her journey and in all these caregivers. We thank the Lord for our mother," said Molly.

We ask that memorials be made to: The West Tennessee School for the Deaf (100 Berryhill Drive, Jackson, TN 38301); The West TN Hearing and Speech Center (65 Ridgecrest Rd., Jackson, TN 38305); RIFA (133 Airways Blvd., Jackson, TN 38301); The Wounded Warrior Project, (P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675); or First United Methodist Church (200 South Church St., Jackson, TN 38301.

Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, May 17th and from 10-11 a.m. on Saturday, May 18th at First United Methodist Church, prior to the funeral service at 11 a.m.

Lawrence-Sorensen Funeral Home is handling the funeral arrangements, (731) 424-2424.