Elaine E. Moncrief

Mrs. Elaine England Moncrief, age 95, passed away with her loving family by her side at Maury Regional Medical Center on Saturday, October 8, 2016.

A graveside service for Mrs. Moncrief will be held on Tuesday, October 11, 2016 at 12 Noon at Arlington Cemetery, where she will be interred beside her beloved husband Horace, as was her wish, in Mt. Pleasant with Randall Lawrence of Mt. Juliet, Roger White, Jr. of Columbia and Gary Allen of Gilbertsville, KY, conducting the services. The family would like to invite friends to join them at Blevins Hall inside Williams Funeral Home in Columbia after the service for a time of gathering, visiting and reflecting on the life of their beloved “Gram”.

Keith Lawrence, Kelson Lawrence, Kasey Lawrence, Kirby White, Andrew White, Robin White, Will Buchanan, Tyler Moncrief, Joshua Bare and Wes Dugger will serve as pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be made to Columbia Central High School, 921 Lion Parkway, Columbia, Tennessee 38401 or to Hospice Compassus, 1412 Trotwood Avenue, #5, Columbia, Tennessee 38401.

Elaine was born on May 16, 1921 in Mt. Pleasant, Tennessee to Robert Lee and Nora Kate Williams England. On July 19, 1940, she married Horace Carr Moncrief, Sr. and they began their family, eventually having five children together. Elaine was an extraordinary lady with many talents which she excelled at. These included sewing, crocheting, knitting, wood-working, painting and playing the organ. She was also an avid reader and loved politics, including following the presidential election up until just a few days before her passing.

Mrs. Moncrief was also a successful business woman, owning and operating Columbia Print Company beginning in the 1960’s. She retired from the printing business in the 1970’s and began a new career. One day her grand-daughter-in-law asked if she would be interested in babysitting and once she said, “yes”, a whole new world opened up for her. She kept many children from birth until school age. Until her final retirement, she kept approximately thirty children in her home. They were her pride and joy and they all felt as loved as if they were part of her own family. One of the mothers recalls of “Gram” that, “She was exactly who I had prayed for to love and nurture my sweet girl while I had to work. Gram was certainly a gem and will be missed by many!” During those years Gram was as happy as she could be.

One other important joy in Elaine’s life was traveling. In 1988 she traveled to Europe to visit her son, Horace, Jr. and his wife Vicki who lived in Switzerland at the time. She enjoyed this trip with her sister, Louise Murphy and niece, Kay Murphy Nichols. Her second most favorite trip was at the grand age of 90. She and her daughter, Kathy White flew to St. Luci, Florida to visit her son Steve and his wife Sue. She also took her great-grandchildren Sara and Robin on this trip and made a memorable trip for all of them.

She was a member of Craft Memorial Methodist Church and dearly enjoyed singing in the choir there for many years. She also served in several leadership positions over the years, working to serve the Lord and her church family in any way she could. She remained active until her beloved husband became disabled and she had to stay with him constantly until he had to be admitted to the VA Hospital in Murfreesboro.

Elaine lived with her daughter and son-in-law, Kathy and Roger Dale White for the last ten years of her life when her health had started failing. She remained with them until her health started failing and she was admitted to the hospital on October 7, 2016.

Her granddaughter, Shannon remembers Gram this way: “Even after turning 95 in May, she still stood her ground and always wanted it no way but her way. But, in the end, she taught us so much more than we could ever begin to share.”

Mrs. Moncrief is survived by her children: Randall & Marilynn Lawrence of Mt. Juliet, TN Horace & Vicki Moncrief of Clarksville, TN Steve & Sue Moncrief of Moneta,VA Richard & Carol Moncrief of Wetumpka, Al Kathy & Dale White of Columbia, TN; grandchildren: Roger & Anita White, Shannon & Jeff Buchanan, Minta & Jim Getzen, Melissa & Ken Cobbler, Kara Moncrief, Tyler Moncrief, Keith & Tricia Lawrence, Kelson & Karolyn Lawrence, Kasey & Keli Lawrence and Kaitlynn & Joshua Bare; great-grandchildren: Kirby, Andrew, Robin, Sara, Will, Madeline, Will, Wyatt, Mason, Keely, Ali, Ethan, Megan, Tristan and Macy; and several loving nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her siblings: Henry Russell England, Robert Lee England, II, Neal Williams England, Jimmy England, Lucy Kathryn Ford, Etta Mae Scarborough, Helen Margaret Sherron, Norma Ruth Allen and Louise E. Murphy.

The family would like to thank Maury Regional Medical Center, the ER, Dr. Ben Gardner, Dr. Joseph Wollas, Hospice Compassus and John Blevins and Paula Lindsey with Williams Funeral Home for their help during this time.

Williams Funeral Home of Columbia is assisting the family with the arrangements and online condolences may be made to the family at www.williamsfh.com .