Phyllis Gregory Heard

Phyllis Gregory Heard, age 99, died quietly at home on February 24, 2026. The daughter of Alvina Bremerman and Rhode Hill Gregory, she was born Dec. 23, 1926, in New York City. She liked to recount stories of the iceman making deliveries before electric refrigerators were common, and life during World War II with blackouts and ration cards.

Phyllis was predeceased by her husband, Edwin Anthony Heard, Jr. (Tony), and her daughter, Elizabeth Heard Gambee. She is survived by her son, E. Anthony Heard (Margaret), son-in-law Bob Gambee, and five grandchildren, Robert Gambee, Claire Gambee, Robert Heard, Emily Heard and Allison Heard.

She met Tony at a high school dance as he cut in and they discovered that both of their deceased fathers had been from Rome, Georgia. After she attended Finch College and graduated from Columbia University, and he from Princeton University, they set a wedding for December 1948. Phyllis required that the wedding be scheduled after she and some other women college graduates could sail on HMS Queen Elizabeth for a six-week tour of Europe. They were the first group of young American women after the war to have an audience with Pope Pius XII at the Vatican. Since Phyllis spoke French, she handled communication with Pope Pius. This adventure started her love of travel, and she and Tony traveled widely during their 59 years together. She also loved music and fine art and supported the Metropolitan Museum of Art for over 50 years.

Phyllis was devoted to community service and served on many boards in New York, especially those focused on uplifting and supporting women like the YWCA and Goodwill Industries. She worked diligently as president of the New York Junior League from 1964 – 1966. Phyllis then combined her commitment to women with her love for international relations serving nine years at the United Nations as the representative of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts which comprised 8 million girls in 118 countries around the world. However, the Soviet Union did not participate and despite her UN credentials, Phyllis had to navigate some dangerous encounters while visiting Leningrad and Moscow in 1968.

Phyllis was a devoted member of the Brick Presbyterian Church in New York for 30 years where she was a deacon and elder and chaired the church’s Chaplaincy Program at Lenox Hill Hospital. When she and Tony moved to Nashville in 1991, they joined First Presbyterian Church.

In Nashville she loved spending time with her friends in the Colonial Dames, Daughters of the American Revolution, the Centennial Club, Brooke Meade Garden Club, and Belle Meade Country Club.

Above all, Phyllis was devoted to her family. Her two children, Elizabeth and Tony, were blessed to have her as a caring mom who also challenged them to achieve more than they thought was possible. Phyllis admired and adored her five grandchildren and was honored that they considered her a role model. She also cherished extended family since she and Tony did not have siblings or first cousins.

Barbara McGrady and her family cared for Phyllis over the past five years and enabled her to stay active, happy, and engaged. Our family will be forever grateful for their kindness and devotion.

Phyllis stayed on the proverbial “party circuit” well into her 90’s and loved responding to compliments on her remarkably young appearance by saying, “Keep the lights low.” One of her favorite salutations, even at age 99, was, “Party on!”. We can all strive to carry on that mission.

A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Nashville, 4815 Franklin Pike on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at 1:00 pm in the Stanford Chapel. Visitation and a celebration of her life will follow at 2:00 at Belle Meade Country Club. She will be buried at Mt. Olivet Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to one of the organizations below or an organization of your choice:

Nashville Public Library Foundation

615 Church Street

Nashville, TN 37219

Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee

4522 Granny White Pike

Nashville, TN 37204