Wilda Grace McMahan

January 1, 1938 - August 12, 2013

Wilda Grace McMahan, a native of Sevier County, Tennessee passed away peacefully and into the hands of God and the loving embrace of her mother and father on Monday, August 12, 2013 at the Claiborne and Hughes Health Center in Franklin, TN after several months of declining health. To most of her family and Sevier County friends she was known either as Toots , Wilda Grace, or simply as Miss Wilda. To her 4 grandchildren, she was known as Granny Wilda Grace was born on Jan. 1, 1938 to the late Benjamin (Ben) H. and Mayme Melita Williams McMahan of Sevier County. She was class valedictorian for the Pittman Center High School class of 1956. She graduated from East Tennessee State College (ETSC) in Johnson City, TN with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education in June, 1960. While a student at ETSC, Wilda was an active member of the Baptist Student Union. After graduating from college, Wilda worked for the Knox County School System for four years, most of those years as a teacher at Sterchi Elementary School. She left her teaching position in May, 1964 to prepare for the birth of her first child. In 1981 she returned to full-work with the Sevier County School System as a teacher at Seymour Primary School. She taught school there for 5 years followed by 4 years as a teachers assistant. In 1989 she transferred to New Center Elementary School, where she continued to work as a teachers assistant until her retirement in June, 2008. She also worked at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge for several summers. Wilda married James M. Wright of Catawba, VA on April 14, 1962 at the Inskip United Methodist Church in Knoxville and lived on West Parkway Avenue in Knoxville for several years. In February, 1965 her first child James Montgomery Wright, Jr., nickname Monty was born followed by another son Jason Benjamin Wright in January, 1968. In the summer of 1968 Wilda moved with her husband and two sons to the Madison, WI area. In 1970 the family moved to Minnesota and lived on Hearthside Road in Cottage Grove (a suburb of the Twin Cities) until 1978. The family then moved back to East Tennessee and lived on Eldorado Circle in Seymour for several years. During these years she was a wonderful stay-at-home mother to her sons, doing countless things for them such as helping with school work, scouts, and other activities. Following her divorce in 1983 Wilda remained at the Seymour address until her two sons graduated from college. She then lived for several years on Rivers Edge Lane in Sevierville until her retirement, at which time she moved near her son Jason and his family, first in Calera, AL and then in Franklin, TN. Wilda Grace is a Christian - a woman of deep spiritual faith. She was a member of the Richardsons Cove Baptist Church from childhood until 1994 when she moved her membership to First Baptist Church of Sevierville. She was also a member of the Woodbury United Methodist Church in Woodbury, MN from 1972-1978. Wilda maintained very fond, loving memories of her father Ben McMahan, always cherishing the 10 years she had with him until his passing in February, 1948. Her mother Mayme had previously died 9 days after delivering Wilda, her only child, on January 10, 1938. Wilda Grace was also very close to her cousins Ben, Ernest, Grace, Pearl, and especially Blaine and Willa Mae. She was preceded in death by her father and mother, Ben and Mayme McMahan, her adoptive parents Bruce and Mae Justus of 3176 Pittman Center Road (old Route 9) Sevierville, her half brother Homer McMahan who lived in Sevier County, Cleveland OH, and Knoxville, TN and her aunt Viola Williams Elder of Sevierville. She is survived by the greatest joys of her life - her sons Monty Wright (wife Helen) of Mechanicsville, MD, Jason Wright (wife Jamie Fritts) of Franklin, TN, and her 4 grandchildren; Katherine Grace, Benjamin James, Logan James, and Samuel Barrett. She is also survived by her brother John Edward Justus (wife Mildred) and her cousin Grace, both of Sevierville. In addition she has countless surviving nephews, nieces, relatives, and friends in parts of Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and scattered throughout the country. Wilda always took great pride in being a native of Sevier County and never forgot her southern roots, no matter where she lived. She loved her boys, her daughter-in-laws, and especially her 4 grandchildren immensely. Being around them brought great joy to her life. Wilda was an avid reader. She never passed up a chance to talk to someone. She enjoyed making scrapbooks, working with young children, time spent with family and friends, traveling, and sight-seeing. She had an outgoing personality and displayed that Sevier County charm to all she met. The family thanks the following in Franklin, TN. The staffs at Grace Healthcare and at Claiborne and Hughes for making Wildas last few months as comfortable as possible; Dr. Kenneth B. Dodge, M.D. for the care he provided her. Family visitation will be held at Richardsons Cove Baptist Church, 3107 Pittman Center Road, Sevierville, on Saturday, August 24 starting at 11 AM. A Celebration of Life memorial service will then follow at noon. Pastor Dr. David Ayers will be presiding. A graveside service for internment of cremation remains will follow at nearby McMahan Richardson Cove Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Wildas name to either Richardsons Cove Baptist Church (3107 Pittman Center Road, Sevierville, TN 37876) or Willowbrook Hospice, Inc. (381 Riverside Drive, Suite 440, Franklin, TN 37064). You may share condolences with the family at the top of this page.