Cover photo for Gwendolyn Stone Avery's Obituary
Gwendolyn Stone Avery Profile Photo
1949 Gwendolyn 2021

Gwendolyn Stone Avery

September 1, 1949 — February 11, 2021

Gwendolyn (Stone) Avery, 71, passed away on Thursday, February 11, 2021 in the home she shared with her daughter and son-in-law in Nashville, Tennessee. Mrs. Avery died peacefully surrounded by her family.


Gwendolyn (Stone) Avery was born on September 1, 1949 in Somerville, TN. She was the oldest of six children born to James Madison Stone, Sr. and Pearlie Mae (Puryear) Stone. Her father was a construction worker and her mother worked as a housekeeper, a private home healthcare nurse, and owned a laundromat in Hendersonville, TN. In 1950 the family moved to Nashville TN. Gwen spent summers with her grandparents and siblings in Somerville.


Gwen, an exceptionally smart and talented person,  attended Pearl High School and graduated a year early with the class of 1966 at the age of 16. Her superior skills as an artist awarded her the title of Most Artistic in her class. After graduating high school, Gwen attended Tennessee State University briefly and went to work for Central Bell “Ma Bell” Telephone Company when the establishment first started hiring African American operators.


Gwen met the love of her life, Frederick Avery, Sr. (deceased), at a young age. The two were married in 1967 and had eight children together, four boys and four girls. Mrs. Avery was a devoted wife and mother who loved with her whole heart.
Mr. and Mrs. Avery were inseparable. Wherever there was one, the other would be very close by. They were both faithful servants of Jehovah and enjoyed attending meetings at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses with their young children, going out in field service, and preaching the good news to whomever they encountered. They touched the lives of many young people who were neighbors and friends of their children.


Gwendolyn Avery worked for the Tennessee Department of Transportation as a drafting technician and retired after 30 years of service. She was a true artist and had the most beautiful penmanship and calligraphic handwriting. She would often be asked to write notes, cards, and letters for others which she obliged lovingly and with care. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends from her congregation, eating out at her favorite restaurants, getting manicures and pedicures with her daughters, watching football games, listening and singing along to oldies on the radio, and doting  on her 18 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. She also loved watching her favorite tv shows Big Bang Theory, Blue Bloods, Inside Edition, Young Sheldon and Mom. Her most-loved song was At Last by Etta James. Gwen’s color was purple, and her favorite pastime was to do crossword puzzles, play Free Cell & Solitaire on her smart phone, and read scriptures from the Bible. Her favorite scriptures were Philippians 4:13 and Habakkuk 3:19.


Mrs. Avery was preceded in death by her dear husband ,Frederick Avery; her parents, James & Pearlie Mae (Puryear) Stone; her brothers Joseph Anthony Stone, Dennis James “Lee” Stone, James Madison Stone, Jr.; grandson Brandon Adam Avery and great-grandson Aaron Z’aire Lewis.


She is survived by her children Iris Nicholle Avery, Frederick Avery, Jr., David Anthony Avery, Monica Michelle (Taurus) McCain, Heather LeAnne Avery, Veronica Lynne Avery, Jason Adam (April) Avery, and Brandon Alan Avery; 16 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren; her sisters, Geraldine (Nathaniel) Mitchell and Donna Gayle Stone; an uncle, Jerome Puryear, Sr., and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and dear friends.


Gwendolyn Avery’s kind and gentle spirit, her generosity and sweet smile will be dearly missed.


The Pearl High School Class of 1966 remembers Gwendolyn Stone Avery as being quite artistic and a kind positive person.
Her Murphy Street Community recalls the longevity of our close friendship with Gwen and the Stone Family. Many years of sharing life
together in a family/friendship manner. Gwen’s gentle smile and thoughtful ways will be greatly missed by all her extended family of friends.

DUE TO COVID-19, A FACE MASK IS REQUIRED, UPON ENTRY OF THE FUNERAL HOME, TEMPERATURES WILL BE CHECKED AND PLEASE KEEP SOCIAL DISTANCE IN MIND AT ALL TIMES.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Gwendolyn Stone Avery, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Saturday, February 27, 2021

3:00 - 3:45 pm (Central time)

Highland Hills Funeral Home & Crematory

2422 Brick Church Pike, Nashville, TN 37207

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