Dr. Chambers

Born in Fort Myer, Virginia on June 14, 1948

Departed on January 17, 2019 and resided in Franklin, Tennessee

Dr. Jill Fishback Chambers, age 70, passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends on January 17, 2019 at her home in Nashville, Tennessee.

Born in 1948, Jill grew up moving around the world in the family of U.S. Army Colonel Jesse LeRoy Fishback and mother Jane Storer Fishback.

Jill attended four different schools for High School; she graduated valedictorian from Hillwood High School in Nashville where she also was voted Most Congenial.

While attending college at Memphis State University, Jill met her future husband David Price Chambers Jr. and later transferred to Vanderbilt University where she earned a nursing degree. Unsatisfied and knowing she could do far more, she enrolled in medical school at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In a field dominated by men at the time, she graduated with honors as one of only two women in her class.

She returned to Nashville to begin her residency at Vanderbilt University. Her empathy for other women led her to specialize in obstetrics and gynecology and during her long medical career she delivered hundreds of babies and cared for their mothers. Jill was a Fellow of The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and a pioneer in the field of laparoscopic laser surgery and pelvic reconstruction, though her brilliant mind never obscured her gentle touch and compassion for her patients.

Jill loved many forms of art including painting, jewelry making, sewing, and floral design. She had a keen eye for photography and an ear for good music. Jill loved to walk along scenic beaches collecting sea shells, hiking trails and enjoying the natural world. She encouraged her children to spend more time outdoors by taking trips to the Great Smoky Mountains, Hawaii, and the Caribbean to introduce them to the undersea world of SCUBA diving. She said one of her favorite experiences was diving a coral wall off the east coast of Mexico with her two sons.

Jill is preceded in death by her father Jesse, mother Jane, and sister Joanne. She is survived by her two sons Price and Matt, and their wives Ragan and Yaofang. She has four grandchildren, Jesse, Logan, Alexander and Aiden. She is also survived by four brothers, John, Jim, Jerry and Jeff Fishback and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Vanderbilt School of Gynecology or National Public Radio.

Please join us for a special memorial service and celebration of life at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 22, 2019 at Harpeth Hills Funeral Home. Light refreshments and drinks will be on hand, just bring your memories and some stories to share.