Frances Stubblefield

Mary Frances Stubblefield, age 88, a native of Viola, TN, was born August 12, 1925, passed away February 28, 2014 after an extended illness. When she moved to Murfreesboro in 1959, she transferred her membership from Viola Church of Christ to North Boulevard Church of Christ. There she was instrumental in the establishment of a memorial garden adjacent to the Church and made contributions for its completion. She also established the Children's Library. She attended Tennessee Tech University of Cookeville and Peabody College of Vanderbilt. She taught mathematics for 53 years. She started her career at secondary schools; Livingston Academy, Warren County Central High and Tullahoma High School. She worked as an engineering aide at the Arnold Engineering Center in Tullahoma where she wrote programs for their computers in the summers. In 1959 she was hired as an Assistant Professor of Mathematics at MTSU. When hired, she was the only female professor out of nine in the math department. When she retired as a full professor in 1998, she was one of ten female professors that totaled 34. She was named Professor Emeritus after retirement. Nominated several times, she received the Outstanding Teacher Award in 1967 -1968. She established a scholarship award for Outstanding Math Student at MTSU and also established an Outstanding Math Student Award at Warren County Senior High School. She was a member of Murfreesboro Symphony Guild, Woman's Club, Rutherford County Historical Society, MTSU Dames Club, a life member of Colonel Hardy Chapter of the DAR of Murfreesboro and a member of several bridge clubs that she enjoyed. She traveled the United States and Canada and the world extensively during summers and holidays for over 35 years. She was the daughter of the late William Locke and Anna Clara Gessler Stubblefield and is survived by brother and his wife, Billy Maddux and Nancy Dillon Stubblefield; niece, Mary Dillon Stubblefield-Koelbl of McMinnville, TN and her children, Jay and Jennifer; nephew, William David Stubblefield of Viola and his children, Mary Ann Tarrant and Nancy Elizabeth Stubblefield of Augusta, GA. The family wants to thank the caretakers she had for several years at Murfreesboro, Viola and Manchester Bailey manor. Visitation will be 2:00 p.m. Sunday, March 2, 2014 at the Viola Church of Christ. Funeral services will be 3:00 p.m. Sunday with Kevin Deason officiating. Burial will follow in the Viola Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Viola Church of Christ, First United Methodist Church or her Math Scholarship Award at Warren County Senior High School.