Marcia Boulware Tenison

Marcia Boulware Tenison passed away peacefully at home on July 5, 2026. She was born January 5, 1936, in Lansing, Michigan, the youngest of three daughters of Lt. Col. Marcus Boulware and Virginia Wright Boulware. With her father serving a distinguished military career, Marcia spent her early childhood in Texas and Arizona. During World War II, after her father was taken prisoner of war, her mother moved Marcia and her sisters to Rock Hill, South Carolina. Marcia often reminisced about collecting foil for the war effort, lively house parties at Myrtle Beach, and evenings spent on the dunes watching for enemy submarines—memories that shaped her lifelong resilience and sense of adventure.

The family later settled in Atlanta, Georgia, where Marcia attended Grady High School. A trailblazer from a young age, she enrolled at Georgia Tech within the first six years of the school admitting women. It was there she met the love of her life, William Jerome “Joe” Tenison, Jr. They married in 1958 and moved to Nashville, Tennessee, following Joe’s graduation from Tech. While in Nashville, Marcia taught Sunday School at St. George’s Episcopal Church, beginning a lifelong devotion to faith and service.

After five years in Nashville, Marcia and Joe moved to Jackson, Tennessee, where they raised their four children. The family became active members of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, where Marcia taught Sunday School, participated in Episcopal Churchwomen, and became fondly known for the handmade church mice she crafted for the annual bazaars. She also contributed her time and talents to the Jackson Service League. Marcia supported her children in every endeavor—ballet and piano lessons, Girl and Boy Scouts, Jackson Central-Merry Band, chorus, and the Junior Jackson Theater Guild—always their most enthusiastic champion.

Marcia’s happiest days were spent with Joe at their lake house or by the ocean, places where she found peace, joy, and the simple beauty of being together. Her life was marked by devotion to family, faith, and community, and by a warm, creative spirit that touched everyone who knew her.

In addition to her parents, Marcia was predeceased by her beloved husband, Joe, and her sisters, Virginia Owen and Elizabeth Jacobs. She is survived by her children Kathy (Mike) Trawick, Joe Tenison III, Carol (Cary) Chapman, and Melissa (Michael) Steele; grandchildren Kati (Ray) Rohdy, Beth Herriman, McKenzie (Kevin) Fox, Graham Tenison, Rebecca Chapman, Amy Chapman, Sadie Chapman, Paige Chapman, Will Albert, and Logan Albert; and great grandchildren John Howard Rohdy, Charles Anthony Rohdy, and Reed Fox.

A celebration of life will be held on August 1, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, 4800 Belmont Park Terrace, Nashville, TN 37215. Following the service, the family will welcome guests for a reception at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the American Diabetes Association, St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, or a charity of your choice.