Chumley named 'Alumnus of the Year'

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Mary Nelle Chumley
Lipscomb's Alumnus of the Year

  When you look into the eyes of Mary Nelle Chumley you see a passion for Lipscomb that has lasted a lifetime. From her earliest remembrances, Lipscomb has been a vital part of Chumley’s life and she has dedicated much of her life to serving Lipscomb and its students. To honor her dedication to Lipscomb, Chumley has been selected Alumnus of the Year for 2006.

  “This honor was the furthest thing from my mind! I just could not imagine this. I am stunned. I just can’t remember when Lipscomb wasn’t part of my life,” she said.

  A native of Bowling Green, Ky., Chumley and her family moved to Franklin, Tenn., to open Franklin Dry Goods when she was six-years-old. It was during her childhood that Chumley’s relationship with Lipscomb began as her grandfather, Claude Williams, was named to the Lipscomb board of directors. When it was time for high school, Chumley headed off to David Lipscomb High School, from which she graduated in 1949. It was here that she first met her future husband, John Hutcheson. They were students at David Lipscomb College together — he two years ahead of her in his studies — where they both sang with the College Chorus and majored in art. After two years of college, Chumley left to begin another phase of life. “I came to Lipscomb to get a B.A. and I left with my ‘M.R.S.’” Chumley recalls.

  The Hutchesons headed to Indiana where John taught for seven years before returning to Lipscomb in 1958 when he joined the art faculty. Not only did Lipscomb gain a faculty member in John, but also an event decorator in Mary Nelle.

Mary Nelle Chumley was honored at Homecoming chapel as the 2006 Alumnus of the Year. She was given a bouquet of pink roses and a standing ovation. Here she is being congratulated by President Randy Lowry and his wife Rhonda.
  “We worked together on remodeling dorm lobbies, decorating for Lipscomb events, hosted many students in our home. We worked together on putting the Backlog together. Everything John was involved in, I was, too. He did Homecoming for years — and so did I,” she said.

  Chumley has decorated for events for every president from Athens Clay Pullias to new president L. Randolph Lowry. She has decorated for two inaugurations and for every Homecoming since 1958 in addition to graduations and other campus events. She was a founding member of the Associated Ladies for Lipscomb and continues to be active in the operations of Avalon Home.

  In 1986 Chumley’s husband of more than 34 years, John, died of cancer. He was later named one of the  Lipscomb Legends. Mary Nelle continued to serve the school that she loved so dearly. In 1990, she married Charles Chumley (’39), who was named Alumnus of the Year in 1991, and together they served Lipscomb until his death in 2004.

  In addition to her service at Lipscomb, Chumley has taught generations of children at Granny White church of Christ and adult ladies. She assists in the coordination of the food and sewing ministries. She has also taught photographic oil coloring in the adult education program at Nashville State Technical College. She  was a bridal consultant for over thirty years.

  Chumley will be honored during Homecoming chapel on Friday, Feb. 10 at 10 a.m. in Allen Arena and at the special Homecoming Awards Dinner that evening.