Mrs. Edna Eudora Pettit Oglesby's Obituary
On June 3, 2015 Ms. Edna Eudora Pettit Oglesby departed this earth and is now in the presence of her lord and savior. She left us in the 100th year of her life. At the time of her death, she was residing at Park Place Retirement Center, in Hendersonville, TN.
She was born January 12, 1915, in Nashville-Davidson County and lived here through her entire life. She was preceded in death by her father, Jesse Elmer Pettit; her mother, Samuetta Vester Pettit; her husband, Leon Bloch Oglesby (whom she married on Christmas Eve in 1936); two brothers; four sisters, and her beloved granddaughter, Jena Friedmann.
She is survived by her three daughters Pamela Reece, (Joe); Mignon Friedmann, (John); and Deborah McFarlin, (Danny); seven grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; and eight great, great grandchildren. Edna attended grammar schools at Buena Vista and Elliott and graduated in 1932 from Hume-Fogg High School in Nashville at the age of 16. She went on to pursue a career in business at the Watkins School of Advanced Typing, Shorthand, and Bookkeeping.
Her business career began the following year at First National Bank in Nashville where she worked for only three months before finding a more rewarding and challenging job at Nashville’s General Shoe Company (now Genesco). She literally pioneered the IBM keypunch operations there and became known as one of the fastest and most efficient key punch operators in the city. Because of her skills, she was in high demand by several Nashville businesses to work on special projects and to train employees at the dawn of the computer age. IBM later sent her to several companies to train employees in key punch operations.
She worked at General Shoe Company from 1939 until the end of WWII, when her first daughter, Pamela, was born. After that she was a stay at home mom until 1946, at which time she begin working for the State of Tennessee in the Employment Security Office. She worked there until 1949 when she had her second child, Mignon. After that she worked for the Baptist Sunday School Board until her third child, Deborah was born in 1950.
In 1951 she served on the Nashville School Mothers Patrol. Her corner was at Ninth and Clay street in North Nashville.
Her next job was with Johnson Freight Lines as supervisor over the IBM department. After Johnson sold out, she went to Cain Sloan Department Stores as their Data Entry Supervisor. She worked there until Cain Sloan sold to Dillard’s in 1978.
After leaving Cain Sloan, Edna worked at Emma’s Florist and later for Fleming Dairies. She sometimes worked three jobs, leaving one and going to the next because she had a family to support. She later taught data entry at Nashville Business College in the evenings.
Edna was an active member of the Church of Christ and was baptized in 1931. She was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star for more than 50-years at Buena Vista Chapter # 75, Rock City Chapter # 2, and Harvey Freeman Chapter # 181, she served in the capacity of Worthy Matron and as a Grand Chapter Committee Member, representing Buena Vista Chapter #75.
She was a talented doll maker, a member of The Historic Doll Club, and studied under noted doll maker, Maggie Head. Edna was skilled in household tasks as well as knitting and crocheting. She made stunning dolls as well as attractive wash cloths and Afghans for all her family members. She also played piano and the autoharp.
She celebrated her 100th birthday this year, with a gathering of over 150 friends, family, local dignitaries, and the staff and residents of Park Place Retirement Community. There she was presented with a plaque from the City of Hendersonville proclaiming January 12, 2015 as Edna Pettit Oglesby Day. She received a Sumner County proclamation in recognition of her 100th birthday and years of service to her community. In addition she received a letter of congratulations from President Barack Obama on becoming a Centenarian.
The family will receive friends from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, June 4 and from 1-2 p.m. Friday, June 5 at Spring Hill Funeral Home. A celebration of life funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, June 5, 2015 at Spring Hill Funeral Home with John Bradley and Danny McFarlin officiating. Interment will follow in Historic Spring Hill Cemetery. Family members will serve as pallbearers.
Arrangements entrusted to Spring Hill Funeral Home, 5110 Gallatin Pike, Nashville, TN 37216, 615-865-1101. www.springhillfh.com
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