Minnie Lee "Mimi" Hennessee

Female 1921 - 2009  (87 years)


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  • Name Minnie Lee "Mimi" Hennessee 
    Birth 26 Oct 1921  Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3
    Gender Female 
    Death 9 Jun 2009  Hamilton County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 3
    Burial 12 Jun 2009  Chattanooga National Cemetery, Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 3, 4
    • The 120 acre cemetery was established in December 1863 as a military cemetery. Chattanooga is the largest national cemetery in the state of Tennessee. Chattanooga is considered to be one of the few national cemeteries, if not the only one, where three civil war battle sites can be viewed. They are Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain and Chattanooga.
    Person ID I2915  The Hennessee Family
    Last Modified 23 Jan 2013 

    Father William Clarence "Clarence" Hennessee,   b. 29 Feb 1884, Warren County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1 Nov 1969, Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 85 years) 
    Mother Minnie Lee Morgan,   b. 28 Aug 1892, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 0___ 1973 (Age 80 years) 
    Marriage 2 Sep 1908  Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    Residence (Family) 0___ 1930  Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location  [6
    Family ID F1134  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Frank Cash Bowman,   b. 15 Jan 1918, Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 7 Jun 1974, (Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee) Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 56 years) 
    Marriage (Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee) Find all individuals with events at this location  [4, 7
    Children 
     1. Frank Lee "Skip" Bowman
     2. William Lewis "Bill" Bowman
     3. Mary Elizabeth Bowman,   b. (Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee) Find all individuals with events at this location
    Family ID F1141  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 30 Apr 2023 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 26 Oct 1921 - Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 9 Jun 2009 - Hamilton County, Tennessee Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - 12 Jun 2009 - Chattanooga National Cemetery, Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - - (Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee) Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Notes 
    • 20 Mar 2011

      findagrave.com

      Birth: unknown
      Death: Jun. 9, 2009

      Minnie Lee Hennessee Bowman Billingsley, 87, died on Tuesday, June 9, 2009, after a long and brave struggle with Parkinson's disease.

      She lived her entire life in Chattanooga except for a brief period when she and her husband Frank C. Bowman were stationed in Kingman, Az., with the U.S. Army Air Corps.

      She was a graduate of Central High School and Wiley School of Business. Before becoming a homemaker of excellence, she worked at Provident, Chattanooga Free Press and City Hall.

      "Mimi" was known for her tender heart and listening ear, gracious hospitality, energetic willingness to help others, her quick wit and her great cooking. She was a second mother to her children's friends, always ready to add a little more milk to her creamed chipped beef, pull out one more quart of her famous applesauce, or squeeze one more person into the car for a day at the lake or a week at the beach.

      Minnie Lee and Frank were faithful members of Brainerd United Methodist Church and the Friendship Class. Minnie Lee found great joy in teaching kindergarten Sunday School. In fact, spending time with young children and infants always brought a smile to her face, even during the last few years when her ability to move and communicate were greatly diminished.

      Minnie Lee and Frank enjoyed working in their community, particularly for their children's public schools.

      After Frank's death, Minnie Lee became a volunteer for Memorial Hospital and also helped form CITE (Cancer Isn't the End) through her volunteer work with The American Cancer Society. Through these activities, she met her second husband, Don Billingsley, and the two of them continued to serve as volunteers for both organizations.

      She was preceded in death by her parents, William Clarence and Minnie Lee Morgan Hennessee; husbands, Frank Cass Bowman and Don Eugene Billingsley; sisters, Ruth Pyle and Edith Graham and brother, Raymond Hennessee.

      Survivors are her sister, Frances Bryant; children, Admiral Frank Lee "Skip" (Linda) Bowman, William Lewis "Bill" (Kristy) Bowman and Mary Elizabeth Bowman; grandchildren, Frank Gregory (Kerry) Bowman, Christy Michelle (Dr. Matthew) Mayr, Bethany Kate (Robert) Rittenberry, William Brent (Amanda) Bowman, Kristopher Alexander Bowman and Kacey James Bowman; great-grandchildren, Benjamin, Nathan and Katie Bowman, Christian, Abby and Charlie Mayr; and Layla Bowman; as well as several sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and her loyal best friend, Nancy Guedron.

      The family wishes to thank Hospice of Chattanooga for their excellent and compassionate care of our "Mimi" for the past several years. Also a huge thanks to the many devoted caregivers who have loved our mom for more than a decade. Much gratitude is offered to the friends who continued to bless her with their visits, causing her to laugh out loud many times. Laughter is indeed, the best medicine, and she never lost her ability to laugh and enjoy company.

      Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 12, at 11 a.m. in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. J.N. Howard and the Rev. Genevieve DeHoog officiating. Burial will follow in Chattanooga National Cemetery.

      Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Chattanooga, Brainerd United Methodist Church or an organization of your choice.

      [3]

  • Sources