Elise J Reynolds

Elise Jewell Amonett Reynolds, 97, passed away peacefully on December 2, 2020. She was born January 19, 1923 in Byrdstown, Pickett County, Tennessee. She was the daughter of the late Ernest and Ethel (nee Martin) Amonett.

Elise graduated from Pickett County High School in 1941 and matriculated at Tennessee Polytechnic Institute (now Tennessee Technological University) as a student later that fall. With World War II breaking out, she married her beau, Harlan Reynolds, in December of the year and began a 59-year love-filled journey together that would end with his death in 2000.

After her husband's service in the Navy came to an end, Elise and Harlan settled in Old Hickory, Tennessee, where they lived, worshipped and welcomed their two beloved daughters, Brenda Gail and Janis Elaine, into the world, until, at the age of 32, Harlan answered the call to Christian ministry.

To describe Elise as the epitome of a pastor's wife would seriously understate her inestimable Christian virtues and devotion to her husband and family. She was an enthusiastic partner as Harlan pastored churches across Tennessee for decades--Mitchellville Baptist Church, Concord Baptist Church in Nashville, Stevens Street Baptist Church in Cookeville, First Baptist Church in Sparta, Calvary Baptist Church in Memphis and First Baptist Church in Lafollette. After retirement from the ministry in 1987, they returned to Old Hickory to live their remaining days.

Elise was an active member of the Tulip Grove Baptist Church for more than 30 years and was as involved in its Christian mission as she had been in all of the churched Harlan had pastored. She was a teacher at its Mothers' Day Our program for many years, always engaged with her Sunday School class both on Sunday mornings and during their many outings, remained active in Women on Mission and assisted with Vacation Bible School until she was 93. Elise also enjoyed devoting her energies to volunteer work with the Baptist Hospital Auxiliary comforting the sick and making layettes for premature babies and memory packets, dolls for children and turbans for those suffering with cancer; she was an expert seamstress and continued to make beautiful things, especially doll clothing for her great grandchildren and always stood ready to tailor garments for family and friends with expert precision. Having twice survived cancer, she was also a faithful member of her local cancer support group

Elise cherished her role as loving (even doting) mother and grandmother. She loved to cook (excelled at it) for others, and the entire family (and anyone else who dined at her table) always enjoyed her wonderful meals and desserts. The green beans she canned, the creamed Silver Queen corn she froze, the homemade jams and jellies, the perfectly risen and buttered yeast rolls, and the smell of her Sunday roast in the oven delighted everyone; even her occasionally "too wet/too dry" (in her words) dressing was always delicious. She was especially known for her peanut butter fudge, which she shared liberally with friends, neighbors and family and which became a holiday tradition the lucky recipients awaited all year. When her children were growing up, they always looked forward to another batch of Elise's delicious blonde brownies. Many still use her recipe. Beyond cooking, she also loved nothing more than to indulge her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren; she was never happy until their every need was attended to.

Elise was preceded in death by her husband, Harlan, her parents and her brother, Oren.

She is survived by her children Brenda (Don) Gay and Janis (Charlie) Mitchell. She is also survived by her grandchildren -- Todd Metcalf, Austin (Leslie) Mitchell and Aaron (Angela) Mitchell -- and six great-grandchildren --Cal, Liv and Zeke Mitchell and Annalise, Audrey and Abby Mitchell.

As a consequence of COVID-19, there will be a private family service at Hermitage Memorial Gardens, where she will be laid to rest alongside her beloved husband, on December 12.

In lieu of flowers, it was Elise's wish that memorial gifts be made in her honor to the Belmont University Reynolds/Mitchell Endowed Scholarship Fund, 1900 Belmont Blvd., Nashville, TN 37212