Aliene Fann

Mary Aliene Fann, 89, retired elementary teacher for Nashville Metro Schools, and longtime resident of Nashville, died Sunday, January 19, 2025 at Morning Pointe Senior Living of Columbia.

Funeral services will be conducted Friday, February 7, 2025 at 12:00 PM at Trinity Lane Church of Christ 501 E Trinity Ln, Nashville, TN 37207 with Thomas Snow and Donnie Rhoten officiating. Interment will follow at 2:30 PM at Greenvale Cemetery in Greenvale, TN. The family will visit with friends on Thursday, February 6, 2025 from 4:00 PM till 6:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home and again on Friday, February 7, 2025 from 10:00 AM till the time of service at Trinity Lane Church of Christ.

The family suggest memorials may be made to Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort 410 Allied Dr, Nashville, TN 37211. Online condolences may be extended at www.oakesandnichols.com.

Born on July 7, 1935 in Lascassas, TN, she was the daughter of the late Elmer Mercer Fann and the late Gladys Weatherly Fann. Aliene graduated from Isaac Litton High School in Nashville where she was raised and made her life-long home there in Nashville. She received her B.S. from David Lipscomb College and went on to earn her Master’s degree in education from George Peabody College. She taught for forty years in Metro Nashville Public Schools, primarily first grade at Inglewood Elementary School in East Nashville. Aliene achieved Career Ladder status while in Metro Nashville Public Schools, which was considered to be an outstanding achievement. She was a member of the Tennessee Education Association and had a deep love for children and her teaching profession. Aliene was a very talented and humble educator who endeavored to give her students pathways to every success possible. In 1970 she was awarded the Metro Teacher of the Year and in 1989 awarded the Teacher of the Year for the Madison and Inglewood area schools. She was inducted into Delta Kappa Gamma Society International for Key Women Educators in 1966. She was a member of Alpha Nu chapter, where she maintained her membership for 59 years, and later became a charter member of Beta Upsilon in Nashville. She was very active in both chapters and used her experiences and gifts to benefit many committees, the Children’s International Educational Center being her favorite, where she served faithfully for a number of years. She was influential in returning the collection of Children’s International books to the downtown Nashville Public Library when its construction was completed. Aliene was honored with the Order of the Rose, a distinguished award, for her excellent contributions and leadership. Aliene was a long time member of Trinity Lane Church of Christ, where she was a very active Bible School Teacher and involved with the Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, and more recently a member of West Seventh Church of Christ, after moving to Columbia.

She is survived by sisters, Judy (Daryl) Bradshaw of Russell Springs, KY and Agnes Thomas of Bakersfield, VT; brother, Jimmy (Carol) Fann of Columbia, TN; nieces, Jennifer Fleming of Columbia, TN and Denise (Ron) Ray of Georgetown, KY; nephews, Harold Ray (Debbie) Bradshaw of Columbia, KY, Tom Barry of Bakersfield, VT, Brian (Mitzi) Fann of Columbia, TN, and Paul (Summer) Fann of Columbia, TN; and cousin Amy (Chad) Fitzgerald of Columbia, TN.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by an infant brother, Lewis Fann; and sister, Patricia Ann Mayberry.

The family wishes to express a special thanks to the doctors, nurses, and staff of The Lantern at Morning Pointe Senior Living of Columbia and Gentiva Hospice.