Mollie Payton Gifford

Mrs. Mollie Payton Gifford, 96, widow of George S. Gifford and resident of Wedgewood Drive, died Sunday, March 11, 2007 at Columbia Care & Rehab Center. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Pastor Ron Paul officiating. Burial will be in Pleasant Mount Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Thursday from 10 - 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Notes of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.oakesandnichols.com. The Maury County native was the daughter of the late Charlie W. Payton and Rushie Lovell Payton Wayman. She was educated in Maury County schools and throughout her life attended the Baptist church. From 1951 - 1953 she lived in Fairbanks, Alaska. Mrs. Gifford worked in various manufacturing companies and at Tennessee Knitting Mills. After retirement she worked as a babysitter including several years in the nursery at First Presbyterian Church. She enjoyed traveling and growing beautiful flowers. Survivors include her nephew and caretaker, Robert L. (Ingrid) Martin of Tullahoma; three nieces, Lorraine Paul, Audrey Neilson both of Columbia and Norma Jean Urban of Germany; numerous great nephews and nieces; and great-great nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by two brothers, James Payton and Billy Payton. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. and Mrs. Ralph Barr, Dr. James Kelley, Jesse and Wilmoth Foreman, Richard Drewry, Marion Paul, Walt Foreman, Tom Staggs, Evan Barr and Ralph Martin.