Doris Gill Chambers

Doris Gill Chambers, age 96, of Cleveland, passed away on July 16, 2023.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Dee Cherry; parents, Malcolm and Anne Gill, brother, Peter Gill; sister, Nancy G. Wren, and many other other relatives and friends.

Doris is survived by her sisters, Eloise G. Norwood and Linda G. Woodlief, of Oxford, NC; son, Frank, of Cleveland; daughter, Darlene Owen, of Walland, TN; grandson, Les E. Neuhaus III; granddaughter, Savannah B. Cherry; great granddaughter, Phoebe Sofia Neuhaus, many nieces, nephews; and many, many others who loved her.

This remarkable woman was a loving mother to three birth children and “adopted” by many more, of all ages. A happy homemaker for many years, Doris became a nurse at age 40, and worked on the Nursery and OB floor at Bradley Memorial Hospital until retiring 27 years later. Patients, doctors, fellow nurses and staff respected her work ethic and professionalism during her entire hospital career. Six months later, she began working for Dr. Brenda Snowman, OB/GYN, and continued, full then part time, until the age of 90.

Born in Virginia, her family moved to Granville County, N.C. when Doris, the oldest of five children, was a little girl. Her father raised tobacco and farmed vegetables with all the children helping as soon as they were able. The Depression and later years were extremely hard and Doris remembered many sacrifices from that time. The family cow provided milk; chickens provided eggs and meat, along with hogs they raised. There were many, many days her school lunch pail contained only a ham biscuit…but she felt fortunate, since many classmates often had less. Her father was a stern disciplinarian, who instilled a fierce work ethic in all his children, which carried over in all their lives. Her mother was loving, fair and lived her Faith, which she transferred to all of them. The children have remained close their entire lives.

After her marriage to D. Frank Chambers, Doris had her first child, Frank (Jr.), in 1949. Twenty-one months later, they were blessed with a daughter, Darlene. Through their early years, she was a homemaker while they lived in Durham, N.C., Burlington, N.C., New Orleans, and Shreveport, La. Doris worked as a secretary for a time; but soon was again able to stay home with her children, where she was deeply involved in their activities. In 1961, they were blessed with another daughter, Dee. The family moved to Bay Minette, Ala., and nearly three years later to Cleveland, TN., where Doris finished raising her family. All three children are Cleveland HS graduates. They were members of Broad Street United Methodist Church. Later, she joined Wesley Memorial United Methodist.

Always active, Doris has been on several ship cruises and many other travel adventures. She was an officer of the Am Vets and American Legion Ladies Auxiliary. With a group of her closest friends, they founded the Red Shoe Society social club. Those weekly luncheons and annual parties provided decades of highlights for her. Here’s to Doris Chambers and her life well-lived!

Doris’ family will hold a Celebration of Life service from 4pm until 6pm on Monday July 31st at the Cleveland Chapel of Companion Funeral Home located at 2415 Georgetown RD NW, Cleveland, TN 37311. You are invited to share a personal memory of Doris or your condolences with her family at her online memorial located at www.companionfunerals.com.