Connie Christopher's Obituary
Celebrating the Life of Connie Christopher
December 9th, 1957 – October 2nd, 2025
“You can go sit on a fat baby’s ass.”
We smile every time we hear Connie’s favorite comeback, because it captures her plain-spoken humor and steady honesty. From the start, she showed us that love could be warm and direct at the same time.
Connie was born in Charleston, West Virginia, and that mountain strength never left her. She later made Nashville, Tennessee her home, filling every corner with yarn, music, and laughter.
Mom was kind, supportive, determined, compassionate, and always truthful. She gave hugs as quickly as she spoke her mind, and both felt like a gift.
She kept her hands busy with knitting and crocheting, turning skeins of yarn into blankets that warmed beds and hearts alike. Arts and crafts time often ran late into the night, because she “just had one more row” to finish.
The kitchen was her second studio. Friends and family still trade her recipes, trying to match the taste of her fried egg sandwiches, potato salad, or tater tot casserole, though no one ever gets it quite right.
Rock music poured from every speaker she owned, and Def Leppard held the top spot on her playlist. On Sunday afternoons, she switched to football with her baby sister, Tammie, cheering hard for the Dallas Cowboys and coaching from her recliner.
Faith anchored her life. She read her Bible daily and loved watching church shows, especially Pastor Creflo Dollar, finding calm guidance in each sermon.
Family gatherings were sacred events. Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter meant good food and family time. It didn’t need to be a special occasion to break out the Triominos with Connie making sure everyone was playing fair.
Connie is cherished by her daughter Geneva Gillmer, son-in-law Eric Gillmer, grandson Brandon Gillmer, and granddaughter Rachel Gillmer. She now reunites with her beloved husband Dale Christopher, whose memory she carried close every day. She had a heart bigger than the world.
We will remember her quick laugh, her straight talk, and the way she never left a friend hungry or cold. Mom, thank you for showing us how to love boldly—rest easy, and know your warmth lives on in every blanket, every song, and every shared meal.
She was preceded in death by husband of 48 years, Dale Christopher, her parents, Geneva and Charles Pence, 3 brothers, George Pence, Charles “Chuck” Pence, and Jerry Wayne Pence, and aunt, Janet Tilley.
Those left behind to cherish her memory are daughter, Geneva (Eric) Gillmer, grandchildren Brandon and Rachel Gillmer, sisters, Tammie (Lee) Pence, Shirley Koenig, brother Mark (Stacey) Pence, her fur babies, Boots and Easter, many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, cousins, sisters and brothers in law, and special close friends, Ann, Carol, Sammie, JB, and Nita.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation for her funeral expenses. You can reach Spring Hill Funeral Home directly at 615-865-1101.
Arrangements entrusted to Spring Hill Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5110 Gallatin Pike, Nashville, TN 37216, 615-865-1101, https://www.springhillfh.com.
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