Mary Mccallen

Born in Millport, Alabama on July 29, 1925

Departed on June 30, 2020 and resided in Nashville, Tennessee

Mary Charles Anderson McCallen, 94 of Nashville, TN passed away peacefully on June 30, 2020 after a brief (non-COVID) illness.

Mary Charles was a beloved wife of 62 years, showing patience and unconditional love to her special needs son and two daughters. She was a sweet and gentle soul demonstrating her strong Christian faith through her quiet actions and words.

Born in Millport, AL she spent her childhood years in Vernon, AL. As a teenager, she signed up for a comic book pen pal program and received letters and postcards from all over the world. She kept up with a number of them in her youth and one in particular in Australia for a lifetime. She remained an avid letter writer all her life and enjoyed corresponding with family and friends.

She moved to Paris, TN the summer before her senior year of high school where she graduated from Grove High School in 1942, as Salutatorian.

Mary Charles attended the Mississippi State College for Women, "the W", (now known as Mississippi University for Women) in Columbus, MS earning her degree in 1946. She taught high school in Benoit, MS for 3 years and then in Jackson, TN teaching Business English and Typing for 7 years at Jackson High School.

She met her future husband Charles McCallen one night at the First Methodist Church in Jackson. They married on August 25,1956 in Jackson and moved to St. Louis, MO., then a year later to the Huntsville, Alabama area, where they both worked for the Space program.

In 1963, they moved to Nashville, TN where Mary Charles stayed home to raise her three children. She was an active volunteer for many years with the Nashville Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), a Board member for the Mental Health Cooperative and a member of Belle Meade United Methodist Church.

Survived by her children, Michael Anderson McCallen, Mary Leigh (Scott) Rayhab, Leslie (David) Gilbert; grandchildren Lauren Rayhab, Hannah Rayhab and many cherished cousins, family and friends.

Preceded in death by her beloved husband Charles Gordon McCallen, parents Milford Grady Anderson and Thelma Clark Anderson.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Park Center Nashville,186 North 1st Street, Nashville, TN 37213 or to Belle Meade United Methodist Church, 121 Davidson Rd, Nashville, TN 37205

A private graveside service for family and close friends will be held at Harpeth Hills Memory Gardens. The family invites you to leave your memories and stories of Mary Charles on the online obituary or by mail to The McCallen Family �... Belle Meade United Methodist Church, 121 Davidson Rd, Nashville, TN 37205.

GRAVESITE IS LOCATED IN THE GARDEN OF GRACE ... the very back of the cemetery behind the white cross ... as far back as you can drive ..