Phil Ponder

April 6, 1933 – September 30, 2026

Philip Chazal Ponder—beloved son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, artist, public servant, and devoted community leader—passed away peacefully, surrounded by his children, leaving behind a profound legacy that reshaped both the physical skyline and the civic heart of Middle Tennessee.

Born on April 6, 1933, in Ocala, Florida, to Lester and Onie Ponder, Phil grew up in Ocala alongside his younger brother, Carswell. After graduating from Ocala High School in 1951, he earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Florida in 1955, where he was an active member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity. Following graduation, Phil attended the U.S. Navy Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island and proudly served three years of active duty aboard the Navy minesweeper U.S.S. Hummingbird.

On June 7, 1956, Phil married the love of his life, Dot Connell. Together, they built a life centered on family, faith, and service. Leaving the Navy behind in Virginia, the two moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 1959. By 1969, the family relocated to Hermitage, Tennessee, a community Phil would champion for the rest of his life.

Phil enjoyed a successful 30-year corporate career with GENESCO Inc. (1959–1989), rising to serve as President of the Charm Step, Dominion, and Easy Street Divisions. Subsequently, a cherished hobby transformed into his life’s defining second career. In 1979, he founded Phil Ponder Prints… a business that will survive his passing under the direction of his daughter Stephanie Randolph. Renowned for his distinct ink and watercolor style, Phil meticulously documented Middle Tennessee’s historic architecture and evolving skylines, completing over 800 original pieces. He connected with thousands of people through Picture This Gallery, local retailers, and decades as a staple at the annual Christmas Village.

Beyond his drawing board, Phil was a tireless public servant and advocate for Middle Tennessee. He served two terms on the Nashville Metro Council representing District 12 in Hermitage (1995–2003), culminating in his leadership as President Pro Tempore. He also served 12 years as a Metro Planning Commissioner, ten years on the Congressional staff of U.S. Representative Jim Cooper and contributed to numerous local boards. He served as President of the Donelson-Hermitage Chamber of Commerce, the Donelson-Hermitage Exchange Club, Greenways for Nashville, the General Andrew Jackson Chapter of MOAA, and as the first non-physician Board President of TriStar Summit Medical Center. Phil co-founded L’Evate (formerly Leadership Donelson-Hermitage) and Toll

Gate Preserve, always working to strengthen community ties and preserve green spaces.

A man of deep faith, Phil was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church for 17 years before joining St. Stephen Catholic Community in 1976, where he served actively until his passing, including terms as Parish Council Chairman.

Throughout his lifetime, Phil received countless honors, including the Governor’s Tennessee Outstanding Achievement Award (1993), the Greenways for Nashville Lifetime Achievement Award (2002), the Metro Historical Commission Historical Achievement Award (2023), and Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Donelson-Hermitage, Mt. Juliet, and Lebanon/Wilson County Chambers of Commerce.

In his personal life, Phil embraced adventure and simple joys. A world traveler, he visited all 50 states, over 40 countries, and five continents—with San Gimignano, Italy, holding a sacred place as his favorite spot on Earth (including its delicious gelato). He loved playing Bridge, gardening, listening to jazz and pop music (especially Pink Martini, Stardust, and Deep Purple), watching Alfred Hitchcock classics, camping, and photographing the world with his trusty Minolta SRT 101 camera. Above all, he cherished spending time with family, visiting with neighbors, and enjoying lunch and a peach milkshake with friends at the Hermitage Chick-fil-A.

Phil is predeceased by his parents, Lester and Onie Chazal Ponder and his beloved wife of 68 years, Dot Connell Ponder. He is survived by his brother, William Carswell Ponder and four children: Terrie Ponder Watch (Dan), Rob Ponder (Carmen), Deb Ponder, and Stephanie Ponder Randolph (Jay); eight grandchildren Megan Watch, Kalie Watch Shapiro (Max), PJ Ponder, Morgan Randolph Owensby (Caleb), Riley Randolph, Quinn Watch Niemann (Daniel), Isabelle Ponder, and Lucie Watch; two great-grandchildren Noah Shapiro and Sammy Shapiro; and numerous other nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The family extends special gratitude to his long-time friends, dedicated neighbors, the parishioners of St. Stephen Catholic Community, the "Three Musketeers" (Tom White and Jim McLean), Military Officers Association of America (Don Deering and Mickey Ponder), the Hermitage Chick-fil-A crew (Randy and Joy Atkins), and the caring medical staffs of TriStar Summit Medical Center and Alive Hospice who provided him with time and health to continue his life’s work.

Visitation and Funeral Services will be hosted at St. Stephen Catholic Community (14544 Lebanon Rd, Old Hickory, TN 37138).

Visitation: Thursday October 8, 2026 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Visitation: Friday October 9, 2026 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Funeral Mass: Friday October 9, 2026 at 3:00 pm.

Live streamed at:

https://www.youtube.com/@StStephenCatholicCommunityTN

https://www.facebook.com/ststephencatholiccommunitytn/videos/

Memorial Contributions: In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to one of the following organizations close to Phil’s heart:

· Phil Ponder Memorial Foundation – c/o St. Stephen Catholic Community (www.saintstephencommunity.org)

· Alive Hospice (https://alivehospice.org/get-involved/give/)

· Greenways for Nashville (www.greenwaysfornashville.org)

· Exchange Club of Donelson-Hermitage (https://exchangeclubdh.com/donations/)

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be extended to the Ponder family by selecting "Add a Memory" at the bottom of this page.