Juanita Lee Ruth Boling

Juanita “Nita” Lee Ruth Hannah Boling, 94, of Franklin, Tennessee, went to be with Jesus on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. She prayed for the day when she could finally be in Jesus’ arms, She will be missed forever, but her family is so happy that she is with the Lord, running in the grass and hugging her mama—everything she said she would do when she finally reached heaven.

She was preceded in death by her parents, James Ellis Hannah and Lyda Mae Fraker Hannah, both of Rossville, Georgia; her husband of 52 years William “Bill” Wallace Boling, Sr.; her son William “Bill” Wallace Boling, Jr.; sisters Margaret Hannah Banas and Jimmie Lou Hannah Wooden; daughter-in-law Beth Boling; sons-in-law William “Bill” Frank Greenwood, Jr. and Richard “Rich” John Satchell; and great-grandchildren Gabriela and Asher Hunkin.

She is survived by her sister Catherine Hannah Suggs and her daughters Sandra Boling Greenwood (Bill), Cathy Boling Conner (Gil) and Lisa Boling Satchell (Rich). She is also survived by her 10 grandchildren: Paige Greenwood Cotton (Derric), Leigh Greenwood, Will Boling, Lisa Conner Hunkin (Jonathan), Sandra Conner Niazi (Ali), Mark Conner (Sarah), Laura Conner Dates (Eric), Hannah Conner, Andrew Satchell and U.S. Marine Corps Captain Stephen Satchell (Baylee), and 13 great-grandchildren.

Nita was a loving mother and exceptional homemaker. She was a remarkably good cook—her rolls, sweet tea and meatloaf will be missed for generations. She was so very proud of her family. As proud as she was of their accomplishments, she was even more proud of their kind hearts and close family bonds.

She spent many years in the fine clothing industry, working for local specialty shops and fine department stores. Her very first job was at a ladies’ hat shop in downtown Chattanooga, where she was determined to earn spending money as a young teenager. This first job inspired a career, finally retiring after many years working in ladies’ dresses. Nita was employed by many fine companies, including Castner-Knott and the local fine clothing shop McClure’s. Many will remember the petite, dark haired Nita who could select the perfect outfit, shoes and handbag for any occasion.

Nita’s faith was the bedrock of her life. She took such comfort in the knowledge that all of her family had made expressions of faith—and she wasted no time in telling everyone that proud fact. She was proud to be a descendant of a Methodist Circuit Rider preacher on her mother’s side and the famous Nancy “Nanyehi” Ward, the “Beloved Woman” of the Cherokee Nation on her father’s side. The strong faith she instilled in her family has served as a source of support through many personal challenges and losses.

Nita was a devoted friend, maintaining connections as far back as grammar school. She attended many school reunions in her later years and rekindled many close friendships from her student years at Lookout Junior High School and Chattanooga High School. She also developed many close friendships with neighbors and church members. Her husband Bill was a successful home builder in the Franklin area in the 1970s and ‘80s, and this family business allowed Nita the opportunity to help design many homes and make lasting friendships with neighbors and the families who purchased homes in their communities. So many people recall Nita fondly, hosting women’s Bible studies in her home and serving as an example for so many young wives and mothers.

Nita was a member of several local churches and spent many years at The Lord’s Chapel in Brentwood, Tennessee. Her family remembers many Sunday mornings spent worshipping with Brother Moore and “Miss Pixie” Moore at the organ, beginning every service with the rousing hymn “Victory in Jesus.” The hymns that will forever remind her family of their treasured Nana include “The Old Rugged Cross,” “In the Garden,” “Soon and Very Soon,” “The Eastern Gate” and “I’ll Fly Away.”

Nita was gracious yet determined, kind yet strong-willed, loyal yet exacting. She had a remarkable memory and could recall events and people from decades ago as if it were yesterday. She was the source of all family history and remembered so many details that are true treasures to her family. They will forever remember the stories of her childhood and her memories of her own grandparents and extended family—the peppermints in Grandpa Fraker’s pockets, his smile hidden beneath his large mustache and his stories of his own childhood during the Civil War.

Her family will always remember the stories of her father and his acts of heroism during World War II, where he served in the U.S. Navy “Seabees” and patriotically volunteered to serve in the Pacific Theatre, even though he had a wife and four young daughters at home. They will remember the kind, quiet nature of her mother and how she so loved her husband and packed his working-man lunch in his steel lunchbox every morning. Every day after returning from work, Pappaw would pick petite Mammaw up in his arms and swing her around in a hug.

We rejoice through tears that she has been reunited with all the family members who have been waiting for her in heaven. May God bless you and keep you, Nita Ruth. We love you.