On Tuesday, October 18,2022, God’s angels welcomed Vicky Foote into her eternal home in Heaven. Her faith and future were sealed when just a few days before her 10th birthday she recorded in her childhood diary, “This morning at church (First Baptist Bemis), I gave my heart to Jesus.”
Vicky was born June 14, 1944, the youngest of six children of the late Carl and Olean Mayo. She always said that her siblings set the bar high for her as they excelled in sports and academics. She discovered her talent for writing in the 4th grade when she penned her first poem. Her joy of writing continued throughout her life as she was a commissioned writer for the Baptist Sunday School Board, a frequent freelance contributor to dozens of magazines, wrote many poems for friends to commemorate their special occasions, and contributor for decades, gifted her family with an annual Christmas poem. Her reading of it on Christmas Eve became a cherished family tradition.
Her senior year of high school, she met a soldier just returning from the military. Hix Foote Jr. (Sonny) quickly won her heart. They married a year after her graduation and spent 55 years together, until his passing in 2018.
Vicky was a lifelong learner. Her career in education and government service spanned over 40 years. Aside from her career, Vicky found time for church service, teaching every age level in Sunday School, writing a history of First Baptist Bemis, and directing the Girls in Action Missionary program at Bemis and Mercer Baptist Church for 29 years. She also served her community as a charter member of the Bemis Historical Society, the Civitan Club, organized block parties and Bible study groups in her neighborhood. In later years, she enjoyed taking her grandchildren to ballgames, ballet and play performances, trips with her family to the Tennessee River and Hilton Head, SC, cooking and making quilts for sick neighbors, attending Bemis Days and SSHS Class Reunions and cheering on her team—the Atlanta Braves. In 2021 she realized a lifelong dream by attending the World Series to see her team of 70 years capture the championship.
Vicky is survived be her daughters: Paige Ferguson (Buddy), Kippi Jordan; Grandchildren: Jessica Simpson (Logan), Allie Merritt (Cody), Hunter Jordan and Austin Jordan; Great grandchildren: Marlee Simpson, Kenlie and Luke Merritt.
Visitation will be Wednesday, October 19th from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. at George A. Smith and Sons Funeral Home South Chapel and at Mercer Baptist Church on Thursday, October 20th from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Funeral services will follow at 2:00 p.m. at Mercer Baptist Church with David Lucius officiating.
Pallbearers are Greg Mayo, Mark Jones, Milton Weaver Jr., Avery Smith, Ben Wayne Foote II, and Jeff Brown. Honorary pallbearer is Bert Barham Jr. Burial will follow at Hayes Cemetery, Hwy. 138, Mercer, TN.
If friends so choose, memorials may be sent to the Bemis Historical Society, Joel Jackson, 84 Pecan Circle, Jackson, TN 38301 or Mercer Baptist Church Hands for Hospice, P.O. Box 37, Mercer, TN 38392.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.GASmithandSonsFuneralHome.com for the Foote family.
into her eternal home in Heaven. Her faith and future were sealed when just a few days before her 10th birthday she recorded in her childhood diary, “This morning at church (First Baptist Bemis), I gave my heart to Jesus.”
Vicky was born June 14, 1944, the youngest of six children of the late Carl and Olean Mayo. She always said that her siblings set the bar high for her as they excelled in sports and academics. She discovered her talent for writing in the 4th grade when she penned her first poem. Her joy of writing continued throughout her life as she was a commissioned writer for the Baptist Sunday School Board, a frequent freelance contributor to dozens of magazines, wrote many poems for friends to commemorate their special occasions, and contributor for decades, gifted her family with an annual Christmas poem. Her reading of it on Christmas Eve became a cherished family tradition.
Her senior year of high school, she met a soldier just returning from the military. Hix Foote Jr. (Sonny) quickly won her heart. They married a year after her graduation and spent 55 years together, until his passing in 2018.
Vicky was a lifelong learner. Her career in education and government service spanned over 40 years. Aside from her career, Vicky found time for church service, teaching every age level in Sunday School, writing a history of First Baptist Bemis, and directing the Girls in Action Missionary program at Bemis and Mercer Baptist Church for 29 years. She also served her community as a charter member of the Bemis Historical Society, the Civitan Club, organized block parties and Bible study groups in her neighborhood. In later years, she enjoyed taking her grandchildren to ballgames, ballet and play performances, trips with her family to the Tennessee River and Hilton Head, SC, cooking and making quilts for sick neighbors, attending Bemis Days and SSHS Class Reunions and cheering on her team—the Atlanta Braves. In 2021 she realized a lifelong dream by attending the World Series to see her team of 70 years capture the championship.
Vicky is survived be her daughters: Paige Ferguson (Buddy), Kippi Jordan; Grandchildren: Jessica Simpson (Logan), Allie Merritt (Cody), Hunter Jordan and Austin Jordan; Great grandchildren: Marlee Simpson, Kenlie and Luke Merritt.
Visitation will be Wednesday, October 19th from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. at George A. Smith and Sons Funeral Home South Chapel and at Mercer Baptist Church on Thursday, October 20th from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Funeral services will follow at 2:00 p.m. at Mercer Baptist Church with David Lucius officiating.
Pallbearers are Greg Mayo, Mark Jones, Milton Weaver Jr., Avery Smith, Ben Wayne Foote II, and Jeff Brown. Honorary pallbearer is Bert Barham Jr. Burial will follow at Hayes Cemetery, Hwy. 138, Mercer, TN.
If friends so choose, memorials may be sent to the Bemis Historical Society, Joel Jackson, 84 Pecan Circle, Jackson, TN 38301 or Mercer Baptist Church Hands for Hospice, P.O. Box 37, Mercer, TN 38392.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.GASmithandSonsFuneralHome.com for the Foote family.
