Evelyn "Carney" Overall Farris

Nashville - Evelyn "Carney" Overall Farris, age 92, passed away July 18, 2025.

Born December 1, 1932 in Nashville, Tennessee, she was preceded in death by parents Dr. James Carney and Evelyn Duncan Overall, brother Dr. "Jim" Overall, Jr., her loving husband, Alfred Carter Farris III, and son Willis Manning Farris III. She is survived by her daughters Evelyn (Dan) Raines and Ginny (Gilbert) Gordon. Grandchildren: Nathanael, Miriam (Chris Graham), Annie Farris; Farris (Taylor) Smith, Anne Carney (Britton Woodall) Raines; Hannah, Graham (Ashley), Carter Gordon, and great grandchildren.

Carney was a life-long Nashvillian who walked with young friends from their beautiful stone house on Granny White to Stokes School. She went on to Ward-Belmont where she held several school offices and graduated in 1950. Her beauty attracted many suitors but Alfred also loved her for "her high ideals and stalwart nature". During her junior year at Vanderbilt, studying medical technology, she and Alfred married on March 28, 1953 and immediately moved to Norfolk, VA for his Navy appointment. After the birth of Willis and Evelyn, they moved back to Nashville for Alfred to work in the family hardwood lumber business. Together they designed and built a Frank Lloyd Wright-style home on a hill on McCrory Lane overlooking the family farm. Carney creatively spearheaded a yearly Christmas Eve party, giving memories to their friends' children of homemade pinatas and caroling in the snow.

Carney was a cultivator, tending her garden of family, friends, ministry and beauty. A gifted seamstress who learned at her grandmother's knee, she smocked or knitted masterpieces for all her grandchildren over decades of sewing. She belonged to a sewing group with lifelong friends Mary Helen, Betty Ann, Betty, and Betty Ruth. A true craftswoman, she fashioned holiday wreaths with found items from nature and set a beautiful table, always with a creative flower arrangement.

She also cultivated deep relationships with her grandchildren, nephews and nieces through intentional phone calls, visits, and prolific note-writing. She kept in touch with her MacDonald, Duncan and Warren cousins throughout the years when they weren't able to visit in their adored Monteagle Assembly.

In the early 1970s during a lay-renewal at First Presbyterian Church, Carney and Alfred were impressed to open their home to people who were looking for answers to life's questions. This led to Beech Creek Fellowship, an eclectic, residential and visiting community where they could work with their hands and ask tough questions. Carney creatively fed lunch to all with help from Phoebe and Betty, her prayer sisters.

In 1980 Evelyn, Alfred and Carney worked with street children and under-served women in Uganda, followed by 35 years of various ministries in what became their second home. This extended Carney's friendships and letter writing around the world. During this time they also moved to a new farm in Orlinda, TN. Windy Acres became another type of fellowship that drew people to learn about the stewardship of creation, and where Carney joyfully shared food from her kitchen garden.

After Alfred's death in 2020, she made her home at Blakeford. We are grateful for those who cared for her in these last years.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, August 23, 2025 at 3:30 in the sanctuary at First Presbyterian Church, 4815 Franklin Pike, Nashville, with visitation in Courtenay Hall from 2:30-3:30.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to:

First Presbyterian: https://fpcnashville.onlinegiving.org/donate/customform/1189#!/

Monteagle Sunday School Assembly: https://monteaglesundayschoolassembly.org/

Siloam Clinic: https://siloamhealth.org/