Gloria Jane (Janey) Walters

Mrs. Gloria Jane (Janey) Walters, age 93, affectionately known as Mama Janey to her family and friends, passed away at NHC Columbia nursing home on Wednesday, October 14, 2015. She was a long-time resident of the Santa Fe/Bethel community, resident of Sheddan Drive in Columbia for 9 years and a current resident of Poplar Estates Assisted Living. Funeral services will be Sunday, October 18 at 2:00 p.m. at the Williams Funeral Home in Columbia with the Reverends James and Michelle Lunsford officiating. Burial will follow at the Cave Springs cemetery. Visitation will be Saturday from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Born in Erie, PA on Christmas Eve, 1921, Janey married Maxie Skelley Walters in 1943 and moved to the Bethel community in 1949. They enjoyed 53 years of marriage and had six children.

Janey was a hard working woman who gave her time and energy to volunteer work. She began her volunteer career at Maury County Hospital in 1955 organizing the Candy Stripers. She also volunteered in many other areas until her retirement in 2013. In all, Janey volunteered over 25,000 hours at Maury Regional Hospital.

In 2002, nominated by the Maury County Hospital Auxiliary, Janey won the prestigious Mary Catherine Strobel Award for direct volunteer of the year in the state of Tennessee. In 2011 she was awarded the United States President’s Volunteer Award presented by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation.

For many years she was active in the Home Demonstration Club and won many awards on her entries in the Maury County Fair. She was a 4-H Club leader and carried children to different events in the county. She was always active in the Santa Fe School PTA and served as President at one time. She supported her children in all school activities and ballgames. In later years she was an active participant in the Maury County Senior Citizens. She was a faithful member of Fly Church of the Nazarene.

Janey enjoyed being around people and was always ready with a joke. She could find humor in any situation and never lost her quick wit even in her latter days. She enjoyed making cakes for friends, nurses, doctors and other hospital personnel and was an excellent seamstress. She enjoyed her cats, watching TV, reading and cross word puzzles. She was known for her big St. Patrick Day’s parties, celebrating all holidays with cakes and gifts, and her cookie jar and hippopotamus collections. Her giving nature led to many receiving unexpected gifts throughout her lifetime.

She is survived by her children Randy (Salene) Walters of Columbia, TN, Dorothy Tucker of Hohenwald, TN, William Walters of Nashville, TN, Marietta Diaz of Columbia, TN, Wendy Walters of Anchorage, AK and Lori (Raymond) O’Field of Santa Fe, TN. Grandchildren Miranda (Jeff ) McCaleb of Lyles, TN, Amanda (Kevin) Oliver of Columbia, TN, Candace (Jeremy) Humphrey, Daniel O’Field, Robby O’Field and Joseph (Heather) O’Field of Santa Fe, TN and sister Marjorie (Henry) Ernst of Pennsylvania. Great-grandchildren Garrett and Taryn McCaleb, Christopher Dickey, Alyssa and Jasmen Johnson, Case and Brody O’Field, and Oliver Humphrey.

Janey was preceded in death by her husband Maxie Skelley Walters, parents Clarence and Dorothy Burrows Shattuck, brother Bill Shattuck, son-in-law Hoyt Tucker and grandsons Jason Diaz and Maxie Ray Tucker.

Pall Bearers are Eddie Kelley, Johnny McClanahan, Reddick Scott, Wayne Scott, Mark Priest, Aaron Priest, Jimmy Massey and Rodney Adams. Honorary pall bearers are members of the Maury Regional Hospital Auxiliary and members of Fly Church of the Nazarene. Memorials may be made to Fly Nazarene Church, c/o Michelle Lunsford, 2713 Fly Road, Santa Fe, TN 38482.