LaVonne C. Jolley
Our Mother went to be with her Lord and Savior this past Saturday the 11th of November, 2023. Her love of her Dad, a US Veteran, always made Veteran’s Day special. She was 93 years old, born 11/27/29, and was to about to celebrate her 94th Birthday. She passed in the loving care of the Erlanger staff, including Ashley, Jenna, Natalie, Dr. Hornesby, Dr. Yee and Sherry, and her three children: Trisha Hunt, Cherie Jolley and Ed Jolley.
LaVonne is also survived by her grandchildren: Shane Belt, Wendi Black, Aimee Belt, Jeremy Gibson, Shannon Sizemore, Carolyn Stevens, Ed Jolley III, and Zach Jolley; great grandchildren Caleob, Talon, Avery, Andrew, Aurelia and Maddox; and great – great grandchild Caesyn Belt; other special loving folks: Laura Jolley, Her loving sister Dee Parker, Frank and Temple Eldridge, Jim and Catherine Eldridge (and Jan too!); and others who she loved dearly. A special thanks to Shannon Gibson: your help this year was truly a blessing and invaluable. Mom is preceded in death by her parents Mildred LaVonne Eldridge Collins and Horace Earle Collins, granddaughter Sara Catherine Jolley and great-granddaughter Emily Thompson, and former Husband Edgar M Jolley.
Mom graduated from GPS and furthered her education at Wesleyan College and graduated at the University of Chattanooga where she was a member of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority. She enjoyed flying and was even a pilot; and while married to Edgar M Jolley, flew in 1962 to track the General for Mayor Kelley so the train could be stopped in Chattanooga, what was known as the “Great Locomotive Chase”. Excitement seemed to be in her character as she enjoyed water skiing (even trick skiing on my Dad’s shoulders); showing and breeding ChowChows with several champions in her name; gardening and hybridizing daylilies creating and naming several after her granddaughters; design and construction, including designing her own home with a driveway through home like sized boulders; and genealogy. She held a several decades long career in Real Estate with Fletcher Bright and Mountain City Realty: she loved to sell that property and walk every inch.
She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Moccasin Bend Chapter; Americans of Royal Descent, Descendants of Knights of Garter – Windsor Castle, Colonial Dames XVII Century, Prudhomme Fort Chapter President and Tennessee State Chairman; Baronial Order of Magna Charta; Chattanooga Historical Association (past President); and a very active member of the Moccasin Bend Girl Scout Council for over 40 years ending. She also loved those Thin Mints and Do-si-Do’s. Chocolate, to the very end, was her favorite!
Her visitation and funeral service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in downtown Chattanooga. She was a long time member here and loved the Lee Anderson Sunday School Class and especially the sermons given by Ben Haden. Visitation commences at 11 AM on Thursday the 16th with the service starting at 12:30 PM. A family gathering will be at the cemetery after the service.
Memorial donations may be made to any Alzheimer organization striving to help find a cure; but also one that helps people with the disease and their families.
Arrangements are by Wann Funeral & Cremation Center, at the foot of historic Lookout Mountain, St. Elmo. (423) 821-7551 Share your memories at wannfuneralhome.com.