Anne Lee Carden Wilbanks

Anne Lee Carden Wilbanks, age 98, passed away on March 31, 2018 in Atlanta where she had resided for nine years. Her lovely smile and happy disposition will be missed by everyone who knew her. Anne was born in 1919 at the Carden's Riverside Farm in Clinton, Tennessee, the youngest child of the late William Elvis "Al" and Annie Elizabeth Wade Carden. There she lived an idyllic childhood, walking to school and learning to sew. She was graduated valedictorian at Clinton High School and loved playing basketball. Anne was a textile and clothing major at the University of Tennessee with ambition to be a fashion designer until she met her husband of 65 years, the late James Lafayette Wilbanks Jr. While at UT she was President of Phi Mu Sorority, a member of Mortar Board, selected to Phi Kappa Phi honorary and president of the Tennessee Home Economics Club. Anne and Jim were married at First Baptist Church in Clinton in 1941. While Jim served in the Army combat engineers in the Pacific in World War H, she taught Home Economics and Chemistry at Clinton High. After the war, Anne and Jim moved to his hometown Memphis where he was an engineer with Kimberly-Clark Corporation. There she was President of both the Phi Mu alumnae and Greenlawn Garden Club, the beginning of her lifelong love of gardening. They moved back to Knoxville in 1961 when Jim accepted a position as an electrical engineer with Tennessee Valley Authority. He retired in 1978. Anne was very active in Second Presbyterian Church where she served as a Deacon, Presbyterian Women Moderator, Circle Chairman and Chairman of Mariners. She taught flower arranging for 11 years in the adult education department of Knoxville City Schools. Active in gardening and flower arranging for many years, she continued to give programs to garden clubs, teaching hundreds of women flower arranging. She was the designer of beautiful flower arrangements. Anne served as President of Deane Hill, Gateway, and Garden Guild clubs, was past President of Knox County Council of garden clubs, was a Life Member and State President of Tennessee Federation of Garden Clubs 1971-1973 and National Juniors Chairman. A director of District IV Flower Show Judges, she was am accredited Master Flower Show Judge and was named emeritus Judge for contributions to National Garden Clubs flower show schools programs. She was active in Ossoli Circle and served as President of Ossoli in 1970 when the club had over 5,000 members. An emeritus member of the Board of Governors of Racheff House and Gardens, she was also active in the Ramsey House Association. She and Jim were long time members of the Tennessee Conservation League. Devoted to her three daughters, she was also President of the Tri-Psi mothers club. Anne loved crafts and was a talented oil and water color artist. In 2009 Anne moved to the retirement community Chambrel in Roswell, Georgia to be near her three daughters who lived in the Atlanta area. Anne and Jim were lifelong Vol fans who for many years had tickets to football and both men's and women's basketball until she moved to Atlanta. She was proud that they bought Lady Vols tickets the first year Pat Summit became coach. When she could no longer attend games, she was still an ardent follower of the Vols on television and enjoyed singing the UT songs such as"Down the Field," "Rocky Top" and the UT Alma Mater. Anne was the best mother and grandmother "in the world" we always told her. She is survived by her three daughters and their husbands: Linda Wilbanks Morgan and husband John of Eatonton, Georgia, Patricia Wilbanks Watters and husband Mike and Caye Wilbanks Teegarden and husband Bill of Atlanta. She was "Nana" to and adored by her seven grandchildren: Rev. John B Morgan 111 (Andrea), Catherine Morgan Willis(Brent), Anne Watters Westpheling (Eric), Elizabeth Watters Roberts (Brad), Margaret Watters Smith (Philip), Andrew Teegarden (Kimbrell), Stewart Teegarden (Susanne), and twelve great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her nieces Doris Carden Wood of Charlotte, and Carol Carden Qurnsieh (Eli) of Houston and two nephews, Dr. Wade Douglas Carden (Lynn) of Chillicothe, Ohio, and Allen Carden of Los Angeles. She was preceded in death by her sisters, the late Bernese (Ora) Carden, Hazel and Marie Carden, all of Clinton and brother Wade H. Carden of Houston. The family offers special thanks to her caregiver, Aretha Machipisha, for her many years of skilled assistance, compassion, and friendship. The family will receive friends from 4-5 pm on Sunday, April 8 at Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel, 6200 Kingston Pike. The family and friends will gather on Monday, April 9 at 9:30 am at Berry Highland Memorial Cemetery for an interment service followed by a Memorial Service at 11 am at Second Presbyterian Church. A reception for family and friends will follow at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given to the James L. and Anne C. Wilbanks Scholarship Endowment, 1525 University Avenue, Knoxville, 37921, or to Second Presbyterian Church, 2829 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, 37919.

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Anne Lee Carden Wilbanks

June 2, 1919 - March 31, 2018