She graduated from Lincoln Memorial University and the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. She was an analytical chemist at Oak Ridge National Laboratories and later became a teacher in Kentucky and Tennessee. Over the years she taught from kindergarten through high school and was certified to teach any subject or grade level. For example, she taught high school chemistry, Spanish, and home economics. She also taught middle school math and English and all elementary subjects. After retirement, she moved to Texas to help care for her grandsons.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Mossie (Estep) and McKenzie (Mac) Southern; sisters, Vonda Rose Estep and Elizabeth (Joy) Sue Barton; nephew, Brian McKenzie Southern; grandparents, Cornelia and Silas Estep and Malinda and Leander Southern.
She is survived by her daughters, Vonda Lynn Kiplinger, Ph.D. and husband, Alan Lee Kiplinger, Ph.D, and Teresa Ann Davis, Ph.D. and husband, Thomas Llewellyn Wallace, Ph.D.; grandchildren, Daniel Llewellyn Wallace, R.A. and Ryan Mackenzie Wallace, J.D. and wife, Martha Elena Wallace; great-granddaughter, Sophia Elena Wallace; brother, Maxwell Lee Southern and wife, Mary Alice Southern; nieces, Kimberly June Damron, Ronda Barton, Melinda Barton, and Kelli Barton; nephew, James Taylor; and great-nephews and -nieces, Alexander Southern, Brandon Damron, Sabrina Damron, Ally Damron, Stacey Duncan, and Kelsey Neyman.
The family will receive friends from 1-2 PM Sunday, August 1, 2021 at Coffey Funeral Home. Funeral service will follow at 2 PM. Burial will be at Oak Grove Cemetery.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.coffey-fh.com for the Davis family.
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