Mary Belle Anderson Bratton

Mrs. Mary Belle Anderson Bratton, 94, retired school teacher and resident of Woods Circle, died Tuesday, September 4, 2007 at Life Care Center. Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with John Vaughan and Wendell Robinson officiating. Burial will be in Polk Memorial Gardens. Notes of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.oakesandnichols.com. The Hickman County native was the daughter of the late Henry H. Anderson and Ellen McCaleb Anderson. On November 23, 1955 she married William Harold Bratton who preceded her in death in 1988. She was a graduate of Hickman County High School, earned her degree in education from Austin Peay State University, and began teaching in a one-room school in Hickman County. During her 41 year teaching career she taught at Totty's Bend, Anderson Bend, Shady Grove, Little Lot and Whitthorne. She enjoyed decorating her school rooms with her art work. After retiring she continued her art by painting pictures in oils and water colors. She was a member of the Maury County Arts Guild and the Book Lovers Club. Mrs. Bratton was a member of Graymere Church of Christ. She is survived by three sisters, Frances Calvin, Mildred Ballou both of Nashville and Sarah (Henry) Shelby of Cookeville; a nephew, Dr. Michael E. (Jill) Shelby of Nashville; and two cousins, Mrs. Mary Vick of Sawdust Community; Mrs. Louise (Pete) Banks of Williamsport; and a special cousin, Georgia McCaleb of Columbia. She was preceded in death by a brother, Richard M. Anderson. Pallbearers will be family and friends.