Nora Ragland Witmer

Nora Ragland Witmer, 83, passed away on June 7, 2024 surrounded by her loving family. Nora was born in Raleigh, North Carolina to George William Ragland and Helen Browning Ragland.

Nora attended Holton Arms in Washington, DC. She was an accomplished ballerina and performed with the famous Rudolph Nureyev. From there she attended Finch College where she met the love of her life, Wallace VanMetre Witmer, in New York City. They married and moved to Memphis in 1961. In Memphis, Nora participated in many esteemed organizations. She was a Silver Bell member of The Little Garden Club and was awarded many ribbons. She also was a member of the Junior League, The Noel Club, The Little Club, the Memphis Hunt and Polo Club, and a former member of the University Club and Memphis Country Club where she was a championship tennis player.

Nora and Wallace moved to La Grange, Tennessee in 2002. Nora became very involved in the Immanuel Episcopal Church, where she served as Senior Warden for many years. She was responsible for the creation of the Church Flower Guild, the cemetery, and the restoration of the church.

Throughout her life, Nora loved to entertain, cook, garden and collect early American antiques. She often hosted friends and family at the General Store and at their home, Cedar Hall. Nora had many talents, but will be remembered most for her kind heart. She is the closest thing to an angel we know.

Nora is survived by her loving husband of 64 years, Wallace, and their five children, Nora Browning Witmer, Wallace VanMetre Witmer III, Julie Witmer Smith (Bill), Eve Witmer Johnson (Brad), and Camille Chandler Witmer. She is also survived by her twelve grandchildren, Edward, Nora, Baxley, Grace, Ava, William, Camille, Julie, Jimbo, Helen, Evie, and Isabelle, and her three great-grandchildren, Walker, Banks, and Ellie.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to Immanuel Episcopal Church, P.O Box 21, La Grange, TN 38046.