Elsie Clemmons Butler, 88, departed this life of Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2013. She was a godly woman who lived a joyous life exemplifying kindness, service, and generosity. She will be remembered as a favorite Sunday school teacher, wonderful cook, excellent seamstress and gracious hostess. She enjoyed gardening, but enjoyed even more sharing her bounty with those around her. By her example, she taught the beauty of a loving marriage and a strong commitment to family. She raised two daughters who wanted to be exactly like her. A member of Mt. Zion Church of Christ, she was a supporter of Christian education, working for auxiliary groups both at Mars Hill Bible School and Heritage Christian University. She spent her life in Lauderdale County, but saw the world through her children and grandchildren who’ve traveled to 33 countries seeing God’s beauty, ministering to others and spreading the gospel.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Louie and Algie Clemmons; her beloved husband, Vernon Butler; a cherished daughter, Cathy Spivey; sister, Louise Warren; brothers, James Clemmons, Delmar Clemmons, and Kelsie Clemmons (twin).
Surviving to cherish her memory are daughter, Teddy Copeland (Roger); son-in-law, Dewayne Spivey (Jane); grandchildren, Tim Spivey (Jackie), York, Neb., Adam Copeland (Cathy), Harrisonburg, Va., Randy Spivey (Robbie), Paul Spivey (Aimee), David Spivey (Beth), Luke Copeland (Laura), Anna Wright (Craig), all of Nashville, and Bethany Copeland, Dominican Republic; great-grandchildren, Elsie Spivey (her namesake), Lucy and Sophie Spivey, Naomi and TJ Spivey, Lola and Corrine Spivey, Latham Copeland, and Eliana Copeland; brothers, Thomas Clemmons (Doyce) and Lloyd “Bill” Clemmons (Mary); sister, Charlotte Bretherick (Ben); sister-in-law, Estella Clemmons; and a host of other family and friends.
The family will receive friends today from 6-9 p.m. at Greenview Funeral Home. A celebration of her life will be held Saturday, Nov. 16, at 11 a.m. at Mt. Zion Church of Christ, with burial following in the Greenview Cemetery. Officiating will be Dewayne Spivey, Roger Copeland and grandchildren. Pallbearers will be her grandsons and grandson-in-law. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her memory to Mars Hill Bible School.
“When you part from your friend, you grieve not; For that which you love most in him may be clearer in his absence, as the mountain to the climber is clearer from the plain.”
-Kahlil Gibran
Arrangements by Greenview Funeral Home
