LYNNWOOD CEMETERY, Lynnville, GILES COUNTY, TENNESSEE

Tombstone photo dated 28 Apr 2009 by Wayne Austin

Mary Austin Hubbell photo about 1935. From the family history collection of Wayne Austin. 17 Sep 2010.

HUBBELL, Gardner, 24 May 1914 - 28 Dec 1997. (Giles Co. native; Dairy Farmer in Yokley Community, Justice of the Peace of Giles Co. for many years, never lost a political race. Ref. Wayne Austin.)
HUBBELL, Mary Elizabeth Austin, 19 Jan 1916 - 16 Sep 2010. (d/o late Charles H. and Otie Eva Kerr Austin; grad. of Culleoka High School and Draughns Business College in Nashville; wife of Gardner Hubbell)
 

Date: Wed, 31 Dec 1997 20:32:30 From: C. Wayne Austin

To: Ernie & Cindy Austin; Warren & Linda Sue Austin; Bob & Mary E. Austin Gregory;
David & Joyce A. Austin Hatton Grigsby; Renice Hatton Marks Beavers; Bill & E. Ameree Austin Stancil Young. and John & Rene Hatton Smith.

Subject: Uncle Gardner Hubbell's life

This letter is for the benefit of those of you who were not able to attend the paying of last respects to Uncle Gardner Hubbell.

Uncle Gardner passed away in his sleep the night of 12-27-1997 or the morning of 12-28. It is uncertain when he passed. He went to meet his maker so peacefully that he did not awaken anyone during the night. He went to bed at 11:00 PM and was having trouble sleeping. That was the last thing he related to Aunt Mary.

I wish to repeat some of the things mentioned about Uncle Gardner in the last few days and hours by myself, his friends & relatives.

1. He was a very unique person who cared much for all his family and community.

2. He & Aunt Mary owned and operated a 400 acre Dairy farm very successfully for the duration of his work life known as a Grade A. Dairy Operation.

3. He stole a bright young local Monsanto Chemical Company Secretary (Mary Austin) from her job and made her his wife. Part of the marriage agreement was for her to leave the company and join her husband on the dairy farm which she did.

4. As a young man he was a football star at Campbellsville High having been offered at one time a try out at Auburn University.

5. He was a county politician who has served many years in Giles County government who had actually never lost a political race. Served as Justice of the Peace much of his adult years.

6. As Justice of the Peace he had performed the marriages of many couples. Pete Austin said that his Dad, Homer Austin, informed him once, that as soon as Uncle Gardner realized he would be performing marriage ceremonies, he placed a telephone call to Uncle Homer Austin (A trained minister) to get his advice on how to handle that. But, "didn't matter anyway cause he was not going to make a ritual out of it". Couples came to his home all times and even during the night to tie the bond. He always performed the ceremony with every bit the informality and mannerism that was so characteristic of his humorous nature and influence. 

7. He sprinkled life with a unique & simple humor that today lives on several generations later. The enduring twinkle in his eyes and his ability to laugh at the simpler things of life made for a charm that caused all people to laugh with him. Thus he was very popular in the community.

The passing of Uncle Gardner leaves only Aunt Mary from that generation on Dad's side of the family. He will be missed as we also miss others of that generation who had such a looming influence on our lives. That was 11 Uncles and Aunts and I for one am missing all of these wonderful people. Such is the traditionally stable & influential life they all lived.

Your Brother and Uncle.

C. Wayne & Linda Black Austin

HUBBELL, Mary Austin, 19 Jan 1916 - 16 Sep 2010. (d/o late Charles H. and Otie Eva Kerr Austin; grad. of Culleoka High School and Draughns Business College in Nashville; wife of Gardner Hubbell) section G 3511

Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Austin Hubbell, age 94, resident of Campbellsville Pike, passed away on Thursday, September 16th at NHC/Hillview.

Graveside service for Mrs. Hubbell will be conducted at 2:00 PM Sunday, September 19th at Lynnwood Cemetery with Jeremy Butt officiating.

The family will visit with friends Saturday from 4:00 - 7:00 PM at Williams Funeral Home of Columbia.

Born in Culleoka, she was the daughter of the late Charles H. and Otie Eva Kerr Austin. She was a graduate of Culleoka High School and Draughns Business College in Nashville. She and her late husband, Gardner Hubbell ran a grade-A-dairy farm for many years. Mrs. Hubbell was well known in her community of Yokley for her good cooking, gardening and sewing. She was a member of the Bethel Church of Christ.

Survivors include a daughter, Rosemary (Tad) Porter and a son Charles (Joyce) Hubbell; grandchildren, Cynthia (Paul) Gibson, Jeff (Susan) Hubbell, Jamie (Penny) Hubbell, Beth (Greg) Lawrence and Lacey Porter. She also had one grandson, Greg Hardcastle, who preceded her in death in Sept. 2008. There are also the following great-grandchildren, Charles (Mary Elizabeth) Gibson, Brandon and Lane Gibson, Emma and Anna Hubbell, Austin and Anne Claire Hubbell and Raleigh Lawrence and two great-great-grandchildren, Noah Gibson and Elizabeth Skyler Gibson. She was also deeply loved by her many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by four brothers, Clyde Austin, Homer Austin, Paul Austin and Joseph Austin; two sisters, Lutie Austin Jones and Sadie Austin.

Pallbearers will be Jeff Hubbell, Jamie Hubbell, Paul Gibson, Charles Gibson, Brandon Gibson, Greg Lawrence and Kenneth Jones.

Honorary Pallbearer will be Dr. John Simmons.

Memorials may be made to Bethel Church of Christ Building Fund, 2231 Mack Benderman Road, Culleoka, TN 38451 or Columbia Academy, 1101 West 7th St., Columbia, TN 38401.

Photos & information by Wayne Austin, 2003 from family records, a nephew 16 Apr 2009. Obit of Mary Hubbell sent to me by MB Richardson 17 Sep 2010.