Mary Nelle Hutcheson Chumley

Mary Nelle Copass Hutcheson Chumley passed away peacefully in her sleep on January 9, 2026, at age 96, in the same house where she had lived for the last 67 years.
Born April 1, 1929, in Gamaliel, Kentucky, to Clyde and Marie Copass, Mary Nelle was a devoted daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother whose kindness and warmth touched everyone she met. Her indomitable spirit and generous heart knew no bounds. She was often described as a force of nature, and the personification of the Energizer bunny.
Her Christian faith guided her daily life of compassion and service. She was known to family, friends, mail carriers, waiters, and people behind the counter wherever she shopped for her friendliness, kindness, and generosity. She was strong-willed, hospitable, cheerful, loving, encouraging, and loyal to the end. Once a friend of Mary Nelle’s, always a friend.
Mary Nelle became intimidatingly good at nearly everything she attempted and intentionally used her many gifts in the service of others, whether it was sewing, cooking, painting, flower arranging, wedding management, or teaching. She volunteered ceaselessly and often said she would rather wear out than rust out.
For most of her time at the church of Christ in Green Hills (formerly Granny White), Mary Nelle took great joy in teaching the cradle roll class, meeting, teaching and loving hundreds, if not thousands of young people, many of whom remained friends into their adult life. In the time of life that some would consider elderly, Mary Nelle kept a busy schedule, exercised every day, and amusingly to many of us, enjoyed cooking for ‘the elderly.
After many years of service, she began reaping a heap of rewards.

She was the Lipscomb Representative of the Decade (1950s)

Lipscomb Alumnus of the Year (2006)

Bill Franklin Volunteer of the Year (volunteer work at Lipscomb), an award covering eight states

Honored with a Day of Recognition by the State of Tennessee and Governor Bill Lee

Founder and Charter Member of the Associated Women of Lipscomb

Mary Nelle was preceded in death by her husband, John C. Hutcheson Jr., to whom she was married for 35 years until his death in 1986, and her second husband, Charles E. Chumley, to whom she was married for 14 years until his death in 2004.
She is survived by son John (Lynn) Hutcheson, daughter Margaret (Randy) Deaton; five grandchildren: Josh (Heidi) Hutcheson, Evan Hutcheson, Erin (Raphi Victor) Hutcheson, Jake Deaton, Alex (Libby) Deaton; and eight great grandchildren: Cooper Powell, Isaac Morrow, Winnie Hutcheson, Naomi Victor, Jaxon, Eloise, Rosie and Gemma Deaton. She also considered Charles Chumley’s children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren by both his previous marriages to be hers as well.
A memorial service will be held at the church of Christ in Green Hills, 3805 Granny White Pike, Nashville, TN 37204, on Saturday, January 31st at 2 p.m., with visitation times on Friday, January 30th from 6-8 p.m., and Saturday at 1 p.m.
Despite the fact that mom dearly loved flowers (and probably would have liked to create the flower arrangements for her funeral), the family requests that donations be made to one of the scholarship funds at Lipscomb University associated with Mary Nelle: the John and Mary Nelle Endowed Art Scholarship Fund, the Chumley Bible Knowledge Award Endowment, or the A.W.L. Mary Nelle Hutcheson Chumley Endowed Scholarship.