Elizabeth Ann Belcher

Elizabeth Ann Belcher May 13th, 1937 – September 24th, 2025
Elizabeth Ann Belcher "Ann", 88, passed away peacefully at home, lavished in the love of her children, in the early morning of September 24th, 2025.
Ann dedicated over 40 years of her life to nursing, serving faithfully as both a charge nurse and an Administrator of Assisted Living at Baptist Healthcare Center in Lenoir City. She was deeply respected by patients and staff alike, known for going far beyond the expectations of her position to make sure everyone in her care felt safe, comfortable, and truly seen. She was the kind of nurse people remembered - not just because of her skill, but because of her heart.
Ann was also a devoted wife, serving alongside her husband in the church throughout their life together. She ministered faithfully to members of their congregations, offering prayer, encouragement, and counsel to those growing in their faith. Her love for the Lord and for others shaped everything she did. Born and raised in Rushden, England, by her late parents, Frank and Vera Travill, Ann always reflected on her early life with pride and deep fondness. England remained a beloved part of her identity - a place she carried in her heart and in her accent, which never faded (no matter how many decades she spent in the South). To her family, Ann was charismatic, warm, sassy, sweet, and deeply genuine. She was a fighter - full of strength, virtue, and a fierce kind of love that made everyone feel special. Her love went far beyond the traditional roles of mother, grandmother, or great-grandmother - she was also a loyal friend, a trusted confidante, and a safe place to land. She had many names over the years: Mum, Sweet Ann, Gramcracka - but the one closest to her heart came from her late husband Jack, who lovingly called her his "English Rose."
Ann met Jack in England in 1955 and married him the following year, on February 25, 1956. They remained devoted to each other through 68 years of marriage, raising a family and building a life marked by faith, service, and unwavering love. Their marriage was admired deeply by all who knew them. She remained faithfully by his side until his passing on October 30th, 2024.
To her children, she was a teacher of many things: how to be a Godly wife and mother, how to be loyal and dependable in work and relationships, and - just as importantly - how to successfully hide your shopping bags in the trunk to avoid your father's questions about spending. She had wisdom for every stage of life, and her children leaned on her often. While their father led them to the Lord, it was their mother who helped sustain and deepen that faith with tenderness, joy, and strength. She taught her children that nothing feels more loving and soothing than laying on your mother's lap getting your back scratched. It seems simple, but it carries love to your soul that you are always worth the effort.
Ann had a gift for making people feel comfortable being vulnerable - no topic was off limits. She invited others into bravery through honesty, and responded with compassion, acceptance, and love. She was intentional with people, always making them feel seen, heard, and valued.
She is survived by her children: Debra (David) Starling of Columbus, GA; Lisa (Michael) Doyle of Farragut, TN; Gordon (Cathy) Belcher of Kingston, TN; and Desirée (Stanley) Fryer of Phenix City, AL. She also leaves behind fourteen cherished grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren, and ten beloved nieces and nephews.
Her family and friends grieve the loss of such a vibrant, loving, and irreplaceable woman - but they also rejoice in her homecoming. She is now reunited with her beloved Jack and finally in the presence of her wonderful Savior, whom she loved and served so well. "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know." Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14: 1–6 To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Elizabeth, please visit our floral store.