Ella Grooms Fitzgerald

View Funeral WebcastElla Grooms Fitzgerald, 83, long-time resident of Wedgewood Drive, went to be with her Christ and Savior and loving husband Thursday, February 12, 2009 at Life Care of Columbia. Funeral services will be conducted Sunday at 3:00 p.m. at Oakes & Nichols with Rev. Tony Long, Rev. Pete Tackett, and Rev. Billy Kimbrough officiating. Burial will be in Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends Saturday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 2790 Pulaski Highway, Columbia 38401 or Maury Regional Medical Center Auxiliary, 1224 Trotwood Avenue, Columbia 38401. Notes of sympathy may be sent to www.oakesandnichols.com. The Maury County native was the daughter of the late Allen Garfield Grooms and Lydia Ann Whitehead Grooms and a 1943 graduate of Columbia Central High School. As a young lady, she worked at the Bethel Hotel Coffee Shop, for Mr. Evan Allen at Allen's Eat Shop, and Tennessee Knitting Mills. She later was a reading assistant at Brown Elementary School until her retirement after 23 years in the position. She married fellow Central High School classmate, Archie Allen Fitzgerald on September 8, 1946. Their marriage spanned 59 years until his death October 26, 2005. She was a supporter of his numerous Masonic and Scottish Rite activities and was a long-time member of the Order of the Eastern Star Chapter #287. Mrs. Fitzgerald began membership at First Baptist Church in 1941. Her numerous activities in the church included Baptismal Committee, Nursery Co-ordinator, Sunday School teacher, Girl's Auxiliary, and member of the handbell choir for 20 years. She also was a member of Maury Regional Medical Center Auxiliary since 1990, Maury County Business & Professional Women, and was an avid University of Tennessee football and Lady Vols fan. Throughout her life, she was given a different name by each of her grandchildren, but was especially proud of the nickname "Gee Gee" given by her great-grandchildren. Survivors include her daughters, Carol Armstrong and Dianne Steele of Columbia; granddaughters, Tracey Tyler House of Columbia, Kristen Tyler of Murfreesboro; grandson, Brent Allen (Shelby) Steele of Spring Hill; great-grandchildren, Savannah House, Ryan Shaw, Zachary Shaw of Columbia and Blake Allen Steele of Spring Hill; loving and devoted niece, Faye Hartsfield; special friends, Sara Jane Alderson and Mary Alyce Ring; several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by sisters, Louise Harstfield Clara Knowis; and brother, Robert Allen Grooms. Active pallbearers are Lionel Ward, Sam Beddingfield, Dennis Steele, Tommy Knowis, Leon Fitzgerald, and Bill Fitzgerald. Honorary pallbearers include Joe Allen Grooms, Ronnie Grooms, Phillip Grooms, Rex Hartsfield, Jerry Hartsfield, David Hartsfield, and Ray Fitzgerald. The family wishes to express their appreciation to the staff of Life Care of Columbia for their kindness and care during her illness.