Hildred Ellis Naylor

NAYLOR KINGSPORT, Tenn. - Hildred Ellis Naylor, 83, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, of Kingsport, formerly of Jefferson City, went to be with her Lord Jesus Christ Wednesday, May 16, 2007. She was born March 26, 1924, in Steele, Ala., to W.J. and Nellie Ellis. After graduating from Howard College (now Samford University), she taught school for over 30 years in Alabama, North Carolina and Tennessee. She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Minnie Lou Cope; and her husband, Dr. Gerald Wayne Naylor. Dr. Naylor served as pastor to churches in Morrisville and Cooleemee, N.C., as well as interim pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, N.C. They retired together in Jefferson City after his long tenure as professor of biology at Carson-Newman College. She is survived by two daughters and a son and spouses, Richard and Phyllis Naylor Davis of Clemmons, N.C.; Wesley and Deborah Naylor Kloos of Fuquay-Varina, N.C.; and Gerald Wayne and Sarah Naylor, Jr. of Kingsport. She is also survived by seven grandchildren and spouses, Lauren Chapman, Janice McDermott (Jameson), John Davis, Rachel Lock (Jeffrey), James Ballard, Gerald W. Naylor III and Robert Naylor. She is survived by a great-granddaughter, Savannah Lock; a brother-in-law, Dr. Will A. Cope (Fran), of Cary, N.C.; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Pallbearers will be Richard Davis, John Davis, Gerald W. Naylor III, Wesley Kloos, James Ballard and Jeffrey Lock. The family will receive friends at 1 p.m. today, May 19, at Crestwood Funeral Home in Gadsden, Ala., with services to be conducted at 2 p.m. at the funeral home, with Gerald W. Naylor Jr. officiating. The family would like to express their appreciation to the staffs at Darby House, Jefferson City; Wellington Place and Wexford House, Kingsport; and Adventa Hospice Services, Kingsport, for their compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City.