"Tooter" Mary Lou White

“Tooter” Mary Lou White, 92, long time resident of the Rock Springs Road Community, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family Monday, June 9, 2025 at her residence.

Funeral services will be conducted Friday at 2:00 PM at Heritage Funeral Home with Mike Bryan, Randy Fox and Kenny McFarlen officiating. Burial will follow in Hardison Cemetery on Rock Springs Road. The family will visit with friends Thursday from 4:00-7:00 PM at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hardison Cemetery on Rock Springs Road, c/o Greg and Annie Grissom, 1524 Rock Springs Road Columbia, TN 38401.

Tooter was born August 5, 1932 to the late Joe Chestnut and Annie Hardison Chestnut. On July 1, 1947 she married Edward Eugene White, who preceded her in death, February 10, 2009. Tooter had a God given gift of music, she loved to sing, play the piano, and play the harmonica. She was a loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, and friend. Tooter lived a life of serving others, whether it be teaching Sunday school class, sending cards for all occasions, and visiting others just to name a few. Several years ago Tooter lost her eyesight, but that did not stop her. Tooter then changed her focus to look for every other avenue to serve others even while her life was drastically changing. In recent years she has enjoyed making regular phone calls to family and friends and by playing the harmonica for people on their birthdays. Tooter saw more beauty in life even with her blindness than many people will ever see. Most of all Tooter was a faithful servant of God, and she did all she could to make sure that those around her knew the love of Jesus.

Tooter is survived by her daughter, Annie Lee (Greg) Grissom both of Columbia; three grandchildren, Debbie Parks (Kevin) Brink of Columbia, Adam Grissom of Columbia, Gina Grissom (Mike) Bryan of Columbia; four great-grandchildren, Sydney Bryan, Melody Brink, Tanner Bryan, and Alex Brink all of Columbia; sister, Jo Ann Anderson of Columbia; several nieces and nephews; special friends, Nita Neelley of Columbia and Dot Brown of Columbia; and many other friends whom she loved dearly.

In addition to her husband and parents, Tooter was preceded in death by her daughter, Mary Jeans Parks Ivens; son-in-laws, Larry Parks and John Ivens; siblings, Jean Horne, Ervie Carpenter, Doug Chestnut, Glenn Chestnut Derryberry, and Billy Dean Chestnut; and special brother-in-law, Larry Anderson.

Pallbearers will be Jerry Williams, Don Norman, Pat Dean, Drew Bass, Jason Withrow, Tyler Brown, Tracy Chappell, and Kenny Lancaster.

Honorary pallbearers will be her nieces and nephews and past and present members of the New Lasea Church of Christ

The family would like to express a special thank you to the staff of Caris Hospice of Columbia for the amazing care that they have given over the past several weeks.

Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at the Heritage Funeral Home website: www.TnFunerals.com.