Ellen Cardwell Gibbs Fletcher

Former Smith County resident, Ellen Cardwell Gibbs Fletcher, passed away early morning on October 21, 2025, at River Grove Health and Rehabilitation in Loudon, Tennessee. She is preceded in death by her parents, Henry Freemon Cardwell and Norma Young Cardwell; first husband, Buford Isaac Gibbs in 1974 and second husband, Harry Leon Fletcher in 2011. She is also preceded by her sister, Grace Cardwell Fessenden and brother-in-law, David Fessenden and son-in-law, Richard Sheridan. She was born on October 8, 1927, in the Enigma Community of Smith County. She spent many years in the Enigma, Pea Ridge, and Chestnut Mound areas of Smith County. She married Buford in 1947 and continued to live in the area raising their children and working at the shirt factory in Carthage. Buford passed away in 1974, and in 1976 she married Harry Fletcher, and they moved to Louisville, Kentucky where he was employed. After he retired, they returned to Chestnut Mound and built a home. Harry and Ellen loved to square dance with their club in Smith County and would travel to different square dance events in TN. They were very active in the Chestnut Mound United Methodist Church, especially in the construction of the fellowship hall. She was active in the United Methodist Women organization. In 2002, they moved to Jacksonville, Florida, where they were members of St. Paul United Methodist Church. In 2011, Harry passed away. Ellen returned to Tennessee in 2024 to be closer to family, residing at River Oaks Assisted Living in Loudon, Tennessee She is survived by her daughter, Vivien Gibbs Sheridan, formerly of Jacksonville, Florida and now of Philadelphia, Tennessee; son, Steve and Paula Gibbs of Philadelphia, Tennessee; grandchildren Kristina and Allen Ramsey of Madisonville, Tennessee, Lauren Gibbs and fiancé Alvin Cortner of Herculaneum, Missouri, Wayne and Amanda Gibbs of Nashville, Tennessee, great-granddaughters, Emily Ramsey, Ava Gibbs, and Abigail Gibbs of Nashville, Tennessee and several nieces, nephews, and extended family members. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her name to the New Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery Fund or the Huff Cemetery Mowing fund at Chestnut Mound Missionary Baptist Church. A Celebration of Life service for Mrs. Fletcher will be held at the Gordonsville Chapel of Bass Funeral Home, the date and time will be announced when it becomes available.

Ellen Cardwell Gibbs Fletcher

October 8, 1927 - October 21, 2025