Barbara Ellen (Wright) Walls

Barbara Walls, age 81, longtime resident of Somerville, Tennessee and wife of the late Donald Yancey Walls, departed this life Tuesday morning, November 12, 2019 at her residence.

Barbara was born September 4, 1938 in Hardeman County, Tennessee, the daughter of the late Herbert E. Wright and Pauline Robbins Wright. She attended schools in Hardeman and Haywood counties and was a graduate of Haywood County High School. She moved to Somerville in 1956 and was married March 6, 1960 to Donald Yancey Walls.

Barbara was a longtime residence and community leader in Fayette County and was inducted into the County Officials Association of Tennessee (COAT) Hall of Fame. She received this award at the annual Conference Award Dinner on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville. Barbara was recognized for her years of service as the Fayette County Clerk & Master from September 1, 1982 to August 31, 2005. She served as the COAT Legislative Liaison and was the Legislative Chairman with 10 years of service which included serving on a committee for computerizing courthouses across the state.

Barbara was the Campaign Manager and Legislative Liaison for John S. Wilder, Sr. from 1960 until 1982. She was a voting assistant at the Fayette County Nursing Homes and a member of the Absentee Ballot Board for the Fayette County Election Commission. County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS), under the direction of the University of Tennessee, recognized her as a Certified Public Administrator with over 800 hours of credit.

She served as the Chairman of the Board for the Corrections Management Corporation. Her community involvement includes one of the founding members of the Business & Professional Women’s Club and served as the Parliamentarian and was a two-time recipient of the Woman of the Year Award. Barbara was a Lifetime Board Member of the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Fayette County Democratic Party, a member of the West Tennessee Board of Trustees for the Fayette County Library and Archives and was the Legislative Liaison for International Association of Clerks, Recorders, Election Officials and Treasurers (IACREOT). Barbara was also an Honorary Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives, an Honorary Sergeant of Arms of the Tennessee House of Representatives and an Honorary Member of the Lieutenant Government Staff. Barbara was the Colonel Aide de Camp for the Governor’s Staff and Jaycette of the Year for the Fayette County Jaycette’s in 1968.

Barbara is survived by her sister, Judy Wright Harvey of Somerville, Tennessee; two nephews, Cole Wright Harvey, Clayton Wright Harvey; several cousins and many friends.

A gathering of family and friends of Mrs. Walls was held from 5 to 6 P.M. Monday, December 2, 2019 at the Peebles West Funeral Chapel at Oakland. A celebration of life service was held at 6 P.M. following the visitation.

The family requests that memorials be directed to St. Jude Memorial Giving, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959 or the Friends of the Library, Attn: Laura Winfrey, 216 W. Market Street, Somerville, TN 38068.