Louise (Hall) Browning

Louise (Hall) Browning, 89, was a native of Science Hill, KY, the baby of nine children of Charles Zack and Ethel Marie (Casada) Hall, a loving mother of three, The Best person to have in your corner, and a retired trailblazer. Louise departed this life on the afternoon of Sunday, March 10, 2024, at Centennial Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Her children were so shocked by Louise’s sudden death that they wanted to raise awareness about UTIs sometimes causing sepsis in the elderly. Her departure is heartbreaking for many.

Louise attended Beavercreek High School in Dayton, Ohio, and graduated in 1952 from Trevecca High School in Nashville, TN. She completed all coursework for her professional master’s in public health administration at West Virginia State University in 1978.

She is survived by all three children Tamara Jean Browning (Bob) Coleman, Lisa Kay “LK” Browning (Richard) Fowler, and John R (Lisa A) Browning III. Nana Louise leaves behind a legacy to be carried forward by five grandchildren Brent Coleman (Lee Ann), Jacob Coleman (Bailey), Reece Browning, Caleb Fowler, Travis Fowler; three bonus grands Angel Fowler, Ben Fowler, and Allison Mellott; four great grandchildren Nash, Eli, Sadie, and Sutton Lee; four bonus great grands Bodhi, Gunner, Jaxon, and Sophia; her first-husband, John R Browning, Jr., extended family, and beloved friends.

Louise was preceded in death by her parents; all siblings Zada Stone, Raymond Hall, Christine Leonard, Charles Hall, Betty Daws, Clarine Swayne, Wilma Robinson Back, and Edward Hall; and her second-husband Frank X. Schirtzinger.

Louise discovered her passion for nursing during graduate school, served as Executive Director for the West Virginia Nurses Association (1980-1983) and for the Tennessee Nurses Association (1983-2004), during which time, she devoted herself to advancing the nursing profession. She was the first non-nurse to secure the executive role in Tennessee and in 2002, the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing awarded her the title of honorary registered nurse (RN). Louise was a master at identifying new leadership. She found joy in mentoring and cajoling nurses into impacting public policy. One of her maxims was, “The world is run by those who show up.”

Teaching nurses how the legislature worked came naturally for Louise. She was instrumental in transitioning the composition of the Tennessee Board of Nursing from doctors and hospital administrators to include RNs, LPNs, and consumers; passing the Prescriptive Authority for Nurse Practitioners; in passing a law to require the presence of an RN in all skilled nursing facilities 24/7; and the list goes on.