Frances Lee Gwaltney Hunter

Frances Lee Gwaltney Hunter was born on February 18, 1923, in Gordonsville, TN to Oliver Wendell Gwaltney and Gladys Ines Williams Gwaltney, the eldest of five siblings. She attended Gordonsville High School where she played basketball and graduated from Peabody College with a degree in accounting. She married the boy next door, William Mose “Bill” Hunter, and the two had an enviable marriage that spanned 64 years until his death in 2007. Stationed in Washington, D.C. during World War II, they returned afterwards to Murfreesboro, TN where they raised their daughter Marcia Hunter Anderson. There, Frances combined her people skills and love of books into a career as a librarian at Middle Tennessee State University and was active in many community organizations, including the United Methodist Church, Delta Kappa Gamma, and the MTSU Dames Club. A seasoned traveler to over 100 countries, Frances was among the first Americans to travel to China in 1973 following Nixon’s reestablishment of American ties to that country. As the family historian and bookworm, Frances instilled a love of learning and reading in particular to her daughter and grandchildren, who fondly remember happy hours wandering the stacks at MTSU and trips to the local bookstore wherever they went. Frances is survived by her daughter Marcia Anderson (Mike), and three grandchildren: Mike Anderson (Kelly), Brent Anderson (Maureen) and Jennifer Aja (Dan). She is also survived by four great grandchildren: Oliver, Griffin, Elliott, and Jane. She was preceded in death by her parents and by her siblings: J.W. Gwaltney, Howard Donald “Doodle” Gwaltney, William Ivy “Bill” Gwaltney, and Betty Jean Gwaltney. She passed away at the age of 103 in Charlotte, NC, having lived a life full of love, adventure, and kindness. Frances’s love for her family, in particular, was fierce and she will be sorely missed. A Celebration of Life Service will be held for Frances on Saturday August 15, 2026, at 10 AM in the sanctuary of the First United Methodist Church, 265 West Thompson Lane, Murfreesboro, TN 37219. There will be a gathering of friends and family for visitation at the Gordonsville Chapel of Bass Funeral Homes on Saturday August 15, 2026, from 1 PM until we leave to go to the Gordonsville Cemetery, 34 Hickman Highway, Gordonsville, TN 38563 for graveside services and interment at 2 PM.

Frances Lee Gwaltney Hunter

February 18, 1923 - July 31, 2026