Longtime Williamson County Commissioner, civic leader, and businessman Brigadier General (TN) Bertram (Bert) Humble Chalfant, Jr., passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 24, 2022, surrounded by members of his family. He was 86.
BG Chalfant was born June 13, 1936, in Nashville, Tennessee, to the late, Bertram Humble Chalfant and Argie Sherrod Neil Chalfant. He was also preceded in death by two stepmothers, Attie Vernon Jarman Chalfant and Julia Lafayette Norwood Chalfant.
He is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Betty Jane Brindley Cook Chalfant; two daughters, Lea Neil Chalfant Sullins (Dan) and Anna Eugenia Chalfant O’Neal (Scott); two stepsons, James Bradford Cook and Jonathan Creighton Cook (Lynn Archer); sister, Argie Chalfant Oman; Nephew, John Allen Oman (Martha Arnold) and Niece, Argie Vernon Oman McDonald (William) and grandchildren Dan Crawford Sullins, Jr., Ayla Gabriella O’Neal, Erich Neil Sullins, Cleveland Bates O’Neal, Grayson Payne Cook, Jackson Henley Cook, LCpl Griffin Bradford Cook (US Marine Corp), Carson Lenore Cook, Margaret Emerson Cook, and Sarah Scott Elizabeth Cook.
BG Chalfant attended Parmer School and Montgomery Bell Academy. He graduated from Vanderbilt University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He was the Commander of the Pershing Rifles Drill Team at Vanderbilt and a member of the SAE Fraternity.
On May 31, 1958, he was commissioned from ROTC as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army. On July 28, 1958, he reported to US Army Armor School, Ft. Knox, Kentucky, and was assigned to a Unit tasked with supporting M41 Tanks Armor School until August 1959. After a short leave, he was assigned to Company B, 2nd Heavy Tank Battalion, 33rd Armor at Base Ayers Kaserne Kirchgoens in Hessen Germany, attached to the 1st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armor Division. He was deployed to Field Training in Operation Winter Shield at Grafenwoehr in Northern Bavaria until February 1961. Then, BG Chalfant went to Ft. Knox for the Armor Motor Officer Course and was assigned to a Light Tank Company at Fort Campbell, where he served for six months before being reassigned to the US Army Reserve.
He taught Basic Enlisted, and Advanced Officers courses for the United States Army Reserve Forces School in Nashville. During his tenure with the USARF School, he also completed the Chemical Officer Advance Course, the Military Police Course, and the Medical Service Advance Course. He also served one year as Assistant Commandant before being promoted to Colonel 06 and Commandant of the United States Army Reserve Forces School, Nashville.
Prior to being released from the Active Reserve, BG Chalfant signed a waiver stating that if the Reserves needed him, he would return to service. In January 1991, he was called back to Operation Desert Storm to establish a Casualty Notification Division during which he notified next of kin if a service member was killed in action. As a result, he was responsible for giving Final Honors presented to 10 service member families.
During BG Chalfant’s 33 years of Military Service, he earned two Distinguished Service Medals, one Meritorious Service Medal, a Bronze Star among other medals.
He was appointed Brigadier General of the Tennessee State Guard. His unit was activated on September 11, 2001, at the time of the bombing of the World Trade Center, to support the security of the Naval Activity Mid-South at Millington, Tennessee.
Following his active military service, BG Chalfant returned to Nashville and worked with his father at Howe Water Company and Canada Dry Bottling Company. After many years with family owned Genesco in New York City, he returned to Middle Tennessee and began a 25-year professional banking career, serving as Manager at Third National Bank in Belle Meade, Downtown Nashville, and then the Nolensville Road Bank before moving into management at Liberty Bank. He then led the Williamson County Bank, Brentwood, before becoming Vice-President for First Tennessee Bank in Brentwood. BG Chalfant ultimately retired as President of First Tennessee Bank of Rutherford County, Tennessee.
In 1987, he established Chalfant Travel Services with his wife, where they worked together in their Brentwood office and traveled extensively until 2003. After closing their Brentwood office, they continued to offer travel services from their home office.
BG Chalfant gave back to his community in many ways. In addition to serving as Williamson County Commissioner for District 7 from 1986 until the time of his passing (32 years - he was recently sworn in for his ninth term), he was a Williamson Medical Center Board of Trustees member; was a member of the St. Andrew Priory of the SMOTJ Christian charitable organization; he was the past president of Williamson County Chamber of Commerce; on the Board of Deacons and served as treasurer for First Presbyterian Church in Nashville; he was a seven-term Commander at Brentwood American Legion Post 156; he served as charter president of Kiwanis Club of Franklin; he was charter President of Crime Stoppers of Williamson County; he served as President of Sons of the Revolution John Donelson Chapter, President of Andrew Crocket Sons of the American Revolution and a Member of Sons of Confederate Veterans; a Descendants of Washington’s Army at Valley Forge; and was a member of First Families of Tennessee and First Families of Williamson County, among many other activities.
An accomplished, dignified, strong Christian, BG Chalfant gave selflessly to his family, his church, and his community. He was honored to have served his country, proud of his ancestors, and was a faithful Vanderbilt football fan. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.
Celebration of Life Services will be conducted Tuesday, August 30th at First Presbyterian Church, Nashville at 1:00pm with Visitation in the Cheek House from 11:00am to 1:00pm. Graveside to follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery, 1101 Lebanon Road, Nashville, TN 37210
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Presbyterian Church Nashville (4815 Franklin Road, Nashville, TN 37220) or Alive Hospice (1718 Patterson Street, Nashville, TN 37203).
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Woodlawn-Roesch-PattonFH.com for the Chalfant family.
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