Business friends, Rotary friends, political friends and longtime personal friends joined the family of Anne Hart on Sunday for celebration of life services at Berry Funeral Home – Highland Memorial Chapel.
Anne was remembered for her generosity, her patriotism, her writing skills and her wide circle of friends. “She surely had a life well lived,” said the Rev. J. Glenn Moseley.
And don’t forget Elvis. Anne had Elvis Presley memorabilia and music galore. She once interviewed him and came away liking him even more. His rendition of “How Great Thou Art” was played at Sunday’s service. Anne Fields Hart will be buried today (Nov. 13) at Greenwood Cemetery in Chattanooga, her hometown.
Anne’s brothers spoke at the service. “She never forgot our birth order; she was always our big sister,” said Harry Lee Fields III. She is survived by Harry and his wife, Sara; Mark and his wife, Kit; and sister Katie Fields Bell and her husband, retired Gen. B.B. Bell.
Anne didn’t have children of her own, said Mark Fields, but she enjoyed ours. The nephews, nieces and their kids were at Sunday’s service.
Longtime neighbor Martha Jean Bratton remembers Anne as a friend and neighbor. “She was a talented writer with a wonderful quick wit. She was insightful about people, always paying close attention to neighbors and friends. … She was intelligent, funny and fun. I will miss her.”
Attorney Jason Baril has known Anne since 2005. “She was an exceptional person who made an important impact on my life,” he wrote. “I will always have very fond memories of Anne.
Gary Ricciardi of the Rotary Club of Bearden said Anne was a cherished member of the group. “She started coming as a reporter, but then we made her an honorary member. She wrote our weekly newsletter until her health started to decline.” Ricciardi stayed in touch by mailing Anne his weekly notes. “I miss her so much.”
In 1982, the World’s Fair came to Knoxville. Anne Hart was there with former Sheriff Joe Jenkins. Her brother Harry said when Anne traveled with Joe, her calls home usually started with, “You won’t believe what happened!” We usually didn’t, he said. (File photo)
Anne graduated from Girls Preparatory School in Chattanooga in 1963 and attended the University of Georgia. She was presented at the Chattanooga Cotton Ball in 1964. She worked as a reporter for the Chattanooga Times and the Knoxville News Sentinel. Anne later served as chief of staff for Knoxville Mayor Kyle Testerman and managed political campaigns for Testerman and other Republican candidates throughout the southeast. Anne’s later career included contract publishing, real estate sales and reporting for the Shopper-News.
Her extensive contacts were great assets in her reporting. She snagged an interview with former Mayor Kyle Testerman in 2013. He died in 2015.
Anne’s Dalmatian was named Pepper. She also had two cats (five at one time) and sometimes called herself “the crazy cat lady.”
Friends may share their condolences online at www.highlandmemorialknoxville.com. Memorial donations may be made to the Rotary Club of Bearden Foundation, P.O. Box 10457, Knoxville, TN 37939.