Clare Carpenter

Clare Carpenter

Nashville - Clare Drowota Carpenter passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 8, 2020, less than one week before her 92nd birthday. She was surrounded by her family and loving caregivers. An amazing mother, wife, sister and friend to so many, she was married for 66 years to William F. Carpenter, Jr., who died in 2018.

She is survived by three of her children, William F. Carpenter III (Trudy) and Frances McWhirter Andrews (Doug) of Nashville and Clare Carpenter of Greenville, South Carolina. In addition to her husband, Bill, she was predeceased by her son Russell, who died in 1983. She had nine grandchildren, who loved her very much, Mary Clare Carpenter Pyron (Jeremiah), Emily Carpenter Hellman (Michael), Russell Carpenter, Russell McWhirter (Noel), Terrell McWhirter (Maryanne), Hays McWhirter, Anne McWhirter, Lila Gray, Reed Gray and four great grandchildren.

She was the daughter of Dr. Frank F. Drowota Jr. and Vivian Russell Drowota. Dr. Drowota was the founding minister of Woodmont Christian Church in 1943, when the family accepted the call to move to Nashville to build a new church at the corner of Woodmont Boulevard and Hillsboro Road. For their first few years in Nashville, the Drowota family lived in the "Stone Mansion," which at that time also served as the church sanctuary and offices. Clare enjoyed telling stories of those early days living at the church with her parents and her late brother, Justice Frank Drowota III (Claire).

Clare's parents were from South Carolina, and she loved spending time there visiting her South Carolina cousins, many of whom shared in her 90th birthday party at the beach.

A voracious reader, Clare would often read several books a week. She developed a love for writing after her children were grown, and wrote many short stories, a collection of poems and one novel. Any similarities in her writing to family and friends were surely purely coincidental.

She rarely missed a game or any of the kid's activities. She especially loved MBA sports and was an avid fan, with her husband Bill, at football, baseball and lacrosse games for many years.

The family is especially thankful for an amazing group of caregivers, who cared for Clare after her husband Bill passed away. A private burial will be held at this time, followed by a celebration with friends in the future when it is safe to do so. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of your choice.

Guestbook at www.crawfordservices.com. Crawford Mortuary & Crematory (615) 254-8200.