| Sources |
- [S74] Atchley Funeral Home Records, Volume IV, 1987-1999, Larry D. Fox, (Smoky Mountain Historical Society), 13 Oct 1994.
Verna Mae Fox Justus obituary
- [S73] Rawlings Funeral Home, Book 2, 6 May 1969.
David Bruce Justus obituary
- [S23] Atchley Funeral Home, (http://www.atchleyfuneralhome.com/), 12 Aug 2013.
January 1, 1938 - August 12, 2013
Resided in Franklin, TN
Wilda Grace "Toots" McMahan
January 1, 1938 - August 12, 2013
Wilda Grace McMahan, age 75, a native of Sevier County, passed away peacefully and into the hands of God and the loving embrace of her mother and father on Monday, August 12, 2013 at the Claiborne and Hughes Health Center in Franklin, TN after several months of declining health.
To most of her family and Sevier County friends she was known either as "Toots", Wilda Grace, or simply as Miss Wilda. To her 4 grandchildren, she was known as "Granny".
Wilda Grace was born on Jan. 1, 1938, the daughter of the late Benjamin (Ben) H. and Mayme Melita Williams McMahan of Sevier County. She was the valedictorian of the Pittman Center High School class of 1956 and graduated from East Tennessee State College (ETSC) in Johnson City with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education in June, 1960.
After graduating from college, Wilda worked for the Knox County School System for 4 years, mostly as a teacher at Sterchi Elementary School in Knoxville. She left her teaching position in May, 1964 to prepare for the birth of her first child. In 1981 she returned to full-time work as a teacher for the Sevier County School System. Wilda was a teacher at Seymour Primary School for 5 years followed by 4 years as a teacher's assistant. In 1989 she transferred to New Center Elementary School in Sevierville where she continued to work as a teacher's assistant until her retirement in June, 2008. She also worked at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge for several summers.
Wilda married James M. Wright of Catawba, VA on April 14, 1962 at the Inskip United Methodist Church in Knoxville and then lived on West Parkway Avenue in Knoxville for several years. In February, 1965 her first child James Montgomery Wright, Jr., nickname "Monty" was born followed by another son Jason Benjamin Wright in January, 1968. Wilda moved with her husband and two sons to the Madison, WI area in the summer of 1968. In 1970 the family moved to Minnesota and lived on Hearthside Road in Cottage Grove (a suburb of the Twin Cities) until 1978. The family then moved back to East Tennessee and lived on Eldorado Circle in Seymour for several years. During these years Wilda was a wonderful stay-at-home mother to her sons, doing countless things for them such as helping with school work, scouts, and other activities. Following her divorce in 1983 Wilda remained at the Seymour address until both of her sons had graduated from college. She then lived for several years on River's Edge Lane in Sevierville until her retirement, at which time she moved near her son Jason and his family, first in Calera, AL and then in Franklin, TN.
Wilda Grace is a Christian - a woman of deep spiritual faith. She was a member of the Richardson's Cove Baptist Church from childhood until 1994 when she moved her membership to First Baptist Church of Sevierville. While a student at ETSC, Wilda was an active member of the Baptist Student Union. She was also a member of the Woodbury United Methodist Church in Woodbury, MN from 1972-1978.
Wilda maintained very fond, loving memories of her father Ben McMahan, always cherishing the 10 years she had with him until his passing in February, 1948. Her mother Mayme had previously died 9 days after delivering Wilda, her only child, on Jan. 10, 1938.
She was preceded in death by her parents Ben and Mayme McMahan; her adoptive parents Bruce and Mae Justus of 3176 Pittman Center Road (old Route 9) Sevierville; her half brother Homer McMahan who lived in East Tennessee and Cleveland OH; her aunt Viola Williams Elder of Sevierville; her cousins Ben, Ernest, Pearl, Blaine & wife Bonnie, Willa Mae, and Floyd, all from Sevier County; her in-laws Rosie Wright of Catawba, VA, George & Bernice Gerlach and Colleen Smith of Philadelphia, PA; and several special people in her life, especially Edkar & Dorothy Willis of Knoxville, Art & Helen Knisley of Madison, WI, Mrs. Winifred Tiley of Hatboro, PA, and Tom Wood of Garnet Valley, PA.
She is survived by the greatest joys of her life - son Monty Wright and his wife Helen of Mechanicsville, MD, son Jason Wright and his wife Jamie Fritts of Franklin, TN, and especially her 4 grandchildren; Katherine Grace, Benjamin James, Logan James, and Samuel Barrett.
She is also survived by her brother and his wife John Edward and Mildred Justus of Sevierville; her cousins Grace Watson and J.R. Layman, also from Sevierville; her special nephews & nieces Kathy Paes & husband Jeff of Dunwoody, GA, John Justus & wife Denny of Daytona Beach, FL, Sharon Arwood, Blake Justus, Beverly Loveday & husband Kipp and Eric Justus of Sevierville; her many great nephews & nieces; her in-laws Iris Kostric of Pulaski, VA, Carole Vasquez of La Mesa, CA, Jim & Toni Fritts of Rockford, TN, the Gerlach family of Philadelphia, PA, Jim Wright of Knoxville, TN; her special friends Betty Jean Rhyne of Greenback, TN, Sandy Wilks of Cottage Grove, MN, Sandy Heard of Forest Lake, MN, Cathy McDaniel of Calera, AL, Pastor Mike Satterfield of Calera, AL; special families in her life, specifically the Schardin family and Chen family from Cottage Grove, MN, and the Yelinek family of Mechanicsville MD. Finally, the countless students who she taught & helped over the years, especially at Sterci Elementary School in Knoxville and at New Center Elementary School in Sevierville.
Wilda always took great pride in being a native of Sevier County - never forgetting her true "home", no matter where she lived. She loved her boys, her daughters-in-law, and especially her 4 grandchildren immensely. Being around them brought great joy to her life. Wilda was an avid reader. She enjoyed making scrapbooks, working with young children, time spent with family and friends, talking to people, traveling, and sight-seeing. She had an outgoing personality and displayed that "Sevier County charm" to all she met. Wilda was especially close to her brother Ed and cousins Blaine and Willa Mae.
The family thanks the following persons in Franklin, TN. The staffs at Grace Healthcare and at Claiborne and Hughes for making Wilda's last few months as comfortable as possible; Dr. Kenneth B. Dodge, M.D. for the care he provided her.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Wilda's name to Richardson's Cove Baptist Church, 3107 Pittman Center Road, Sevierville, TN 37876, or Willowbrook Hospice, Inc., 381 Riverside Drive, Suite 440, Franklin, TN 37064.
Family visitation will be held at Richardson's Cove Baptist Church, 3107 Pittman Center Road, Sevierville, on Saturday, August 24th starting at 11 AM. A "Celebration of Life" memorial service will begin at noon with Pastor Dr. David Ayers officiating. A graveside service and inurnment will follow at the McMahan-Richardson Cove Cemetery.
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1938 - 2013 (75 years)
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