E. Jeanette Wilkins, 88, affectionately known to many as Ma, passed away peacefully on October 15, 2024, in Only, TN. Born on April 17, 1936, in Springfield, TN, she was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother to 17, great-grandmother to 33, great-great-grandmother to 4, and a cherished friend and mother figure to countless others.
Jeanette was admired for her unwavering loyalty to those she held dear, her warm-heartedness toward everyone, and her sharp wit paired with a radiant smile.
She is survived by her children Terry (Debbie) Wilkins, Vickie Tardiff (Mike), Goeffrey (Patty) Wilkins, as well as her sisters, Sue Johnson and Joyce Pitt. Jeanette was preceded in death by her parents, Sammy and Nancy Kiger; husband Ellis Wilkins, Jr., her best friend Raymond Morehart, her siblings Jeannie (Lester) Whitaker and Lizzy (Wilson) Murphy; as well as her children Debbie (Larry) Berman, Danny Wilkins, and Michael Wilkins.
Throughout her life, Jeanette took great pleasure in gardening, relaxing on her front porch swing, traveling to visit loved ones, tending to her beloved hummingbirds, and hunting for treasures at yard sales. Her home was always a welcoming haven for friends and family.
Funeral services will be conducted Sunday, October 20, 2024, at 12pm in the chapel of Austin & Bell Funeral Home in Springfield with Mr. Taylor Griffin officiating. Burial will follow in the Elmwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 11am until time of the service at 12pm Sunday, at the funeral home.
The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to Daniel and Stephanie Wilkins, Crystal Malugin, and Vicky Writesman, for their compassionate care during her final days.
Austin & Bell Funeral Home in Springfield is in charge of these arrangements.
