Dr. Jean Gray Litterer

Died peacefully on January 22, 2020. She was born in Lone Mountain, Tennessee, on December 14, 1928, and was preceded in death by her parents, Stella and Frank Gray; her husband, William Litterer III; and her mother-in-law, Mary Britt Onstott Litterer Reynolds. She is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth Gray Litterer Nichols (Donnie); her granddaughter, Mary Britt Nichols Murphy (Carl); her great-granddaughter, Elizabeth Gray Murphy; her brother, Floyd Harris Gray (Anna); step-grandchildren Holly Nichols Kelly (Frank), Heather Nichols Starnes (Charlie) and Joel Robinson Nichols (Kimberly) and their children, Christopher Kelly, Katherine and Henry Starnes, and Todd and Kenring Nichols; nieces, Deborah Anne Gray and Nancy Katherine Gray-Barrnett (Hank); and devoted friends, Billie Patton, Leigh Roberts and Mary Catherine Bradshaw.

Jean attended Ball Creek (one room) and Lone Mountain Elementary Schools, and Claiborne Country High School; she was very proud of her East Tennessee roots, her idyllic childhood, and her devoted parents and brother. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Tennessee, where she was inducted into the Mortar Board Honorary Society. She earned Master of Arts and Education Specialist Degrees from George Peabody College, and a Doctor of Philosophy from Vanderbilt University.

Jean Litterer’s distinguished career in education spans 58 years. Many of the thousands of students she has mentored have gone on to become leaders in the fields of business, science, politics and the arts. All have benefited from her wisdom, guidance and expertise.

In 1979, “Dr. Litterer” became principal of Hillsboro High School; she is best known for the growth and many accomplishments the school achieved in multiple fields during her tenure. Under her leadership, Hillsboro was named a United States Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education. In 1999, the library at Hillsboro High School was named in her honor.

During her twenty years at Hillsboro, she served as Chairman of the Insurance Trust for Metro Schools, President of the Metro Nashville Principals Association, President of the Tennessee Principals Association, the Career Ladder Administrator, appointed by Lamar Alexander, and was named an Honorary Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives by Governor Ned Ray McWherter.

Dr. Litterer seldom missed a chance to cheer on the “Burros” and was an advocate for each and every student, coach and teacher. Learning was her pleasure and teaching was her passion. She was dedicated to the “No Child Left Behind” program and believed strongly in building bridges.

After retiring from Metro Schools, she served as interim director for The University School of Nashville, and assistant director for Davidson Academy, followed by an engagement with the Tennessee Department of Education. She was the first female to serve on the board of the Tennessee Secondary Schools Athletic Association (TSSAA). She was awarded the Nelson C. Andrews Distinguished Service Award, given to a dynamic and impactful civic, business or political leader in the Nashville community, who demonstrates the pinnacle of commitment and service to improving the quality of life for our residents through his or her support and advocacy of public education.

Jean loved bridge, visiting East Tennessee, Vandy and UT sports, her only daughter (her pride) and her only granddaughter (her joy). She loved her many friends, attending the Final Four with Billie Patton, and delighted in the details of any event and life itself. And she was most happy in her community where she would undoubtedly, each time, see a former student, remembering not only their name, but exactly where they had sat in her classroom. She was a woman of unwavering faith and eternal optimism.

Some of her many memberships included Christ Cathedral Episcopal Church, Leadership Nashville, Centennial Club of Nashville, Colonial Dames, Daughters of the American Revolution, The University Club, Vanderbilt Women’s Club, Tennessee Teachers Hall of Fame, Alpha Delta Kappa Educational Sorority, The Vanderbilt Women’s Bridge Club, Board of Directors for Grace M. Eaton Day Home, and the Board of Directors for Tennessee Arts Academy.

An order for Burial, Rite 1, will be said at 3:30, Christ Church Cathedral, 900 Broadway, Nashville, Tennessee on January 26, 2020. It will be preceded by a visitation at 2:30 at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to

Christ Church Cathedral Episcopal Church or the Hillsboro High School Parent Teacher Student Organization for the Dr. Jean Gray Litterer Library.