Audrey Mae Nunley White Scates
August 1, 1924 – May 20, 2023
Audrey was born in Maury County, TN to Arthur William Nunley and Inez Gordon Nunley. Her siblings were Gertrude, Bernice Lucille, Betty Odell (who died a few months after birth), Arthur Thomas, Marie Paige and Paul Odessa. She received her high school diploma form the Nashville Christian Institute. Later she obeyed the gospel and became a member of Green Street Church of Christ in Nashville, TN. She was married to Willie D. White in 1945, to this union 2 daughters and 1 son was born. (Arthur was still born). The family moved to Louisville, KY where they placed their membership with the Beech Street Church of Christ (now West Broadway Church of Christ). She became a widow in 1958 and later married Mitchell C. Scates, to this union an adopted daughter was added.
Audrey lived an extraordinary life. Traveling and living in Germany and visiting many countries as well as the Caribbean. Employed as a housekeeper and cook in California, she cooked for many stars: Pat Boone, Elizabeth Taylor, Barbara Streisand, President Ronald and Nancy Reagan and Marjorie Everett who was the owner of Hollywood Park, as well as many others. She also catered the food for the movie “The Color Purple”.
She was a star in her own right, appearing in TV commercials, print ads and in country music videos such as “What I Like About Sunday” by Craig Morgan and many more. She was a volunteer with the American Cancer Society and the Red Cross in Germany and America, receiving certificates from the American Red Cross in Germany and from the City of Los Angeles.
She enjoyed learning and using American Sign Language and has a collection of autographs from movie stars that include the late Sidney Portier and “Mr. T.” Audrey was cherished by everyone that met her and was everybody’s “grandma”!
She was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings, her husbands, 1 daughter: Sherry Lee Scates and 1 granddaughter: Jamelia K. White.
She leaves to carry on her legacy of love and family: 2 daughters: Janice (Gary) Leavell of Jeffersonville, IN, Carol (Terry) Greer of Hermitage, TN; Grandchildren: Ashlyn Scates, Garrick and Jeremy (Jennifer) Leavell, Freddie, A.J. (Dorian) and Darren Wallace; Great-grandchildren: Kiera Enteman, Jamelia, Jalyssa and Jamar Wallace and Anthony Williams. Many generations of Nunley, Scates and White, nieces and nephews, cousins, and her church families: Lebanon Road Church of Christ and West Broadway Church of Christ in Louisville, KY.
“I made you. I will hold you and carry you all through your life even when you grow old.” Isaiah 46:4
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.HermitageFH.com for the Scates family.
