Annie Ruth Gillespie

December 25, 1921 - December 14, 2017

Mrs. Annie Ruth (Bradley) Gillespie, 95, departed this life on December 14, 2017, at Mountain States JCMCH in Johnson City, TN. She was born on December 25, 1921, in Jonesborough, TN and raised by her grandparents, the late Arthur and Agnes (Stuart) Dean. Her mother, Kathleen Bradley, husband, Eugene W. Gillespie, Sr. and four brothers, Arthur (Jen) Dean, Dudley (Betty) Dean, Hugh (Grace) Dean, and Bill (Corene) Dean all precede her in death. She attended Booker T. Washington School in Jonesborough, where she played basketball and the Langston High School in Johnson City. She was a den mother for Cub Scouts pack #41. She worked at East Tennessee Teacher’s College as a head cook. Then she worked for Dr. C. T. and Shirley Underwood at the home and office for over 50 years. She was not afraid of hard work, and she stayed busy until her health failed her. She loved gardening, canning, cooking and baking. She was known for her pound cake and her dry sense of humor. Annie Ruth loved the Lord and loved Grace Temple Eternal Life Center, from Roan Hill to Garden Drive. She was a Sunday School teacher, a choir member, on the usher board, the prayer band, a part of the missionary ladies, and Superintendent of Sunday School for over 30 years. She will be missed by those left to cherish her memory: two sons: Eugene (Georgia) and Luther (Kim); two grandchildren who called her Little Granny: Anna Denise (Chris) Neal and Reginald (Kimberly) Gillespie; five great-grandchildren: Jadon, Enoch, Jace, Isabella and Issa; step grandchildren: Emily, Michael, Drew, and Tanner; sister-in-law: Teretha Akins; the daughter she never had: Angela (Fields) Driver. There are many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and special neighbor: Billy ‘Boo’ Williams, who will miss her, also. Funeral services will be held at 1:00pm Thursday December 21, 2017 at Grace Temple Church in Johnson City, TN. The family will receive friends from 12:00pm until 1:00pm at the church prior to the service. The family will receive friends at Luther and Kim’s home, 703 Brookfield Drive., until the day of the service. In lieu of flowers, you may make donations to Grace Temple Eternal Life Center Sunday School.