Florene Neelley Lambert

Florene Neelley Lambert, 96, longtime resident of Campbellsville Pike, died Friday, March 11, 2011 at NHC Hillview. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:30 P.M. Sunday at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Andrew Roberts officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Saturday after 4:00 P.M. and Sunday after 1:30 P.M. at the funeral home. Notes of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.oakesandnichols.com. The Maury County native was the daughter of the late James Drake Neelley and Bertha Mai Beard Neelley. On October 28, 1938 she married Alva Austin Lambert who preceded her in death on June 10, 1972. She was a 1934 graduate of Columbia Central High School and received her Teaching Certificate from Middle Tennessee Teachers' College. In her early life, she taught in one room schools at Sunnyside, Dark's Mill, Theta and Southport. She was a former custodian at Brown Elementary School. Mrs. Lambert enjoyed vegetable and flower gardening, playing piano and painting. She was a member of Jackson Heights Church of Christ where she had taught Sunday School for several years. Survivors include two brothers, Ewing (Juanita) Neelley of Columbia; John (Yvonne) Neelley, Sr. of Clinton, Mississippi; four nephews, David Neelley of Raymond, Mississippi; John Neelley, Jr. of Columbia; Jim Neelley of Franklin; Edward Neelley of West Virginia; four nieces, Susan O'Neal of Greenville, Mississippi; Patricia Terrell of Lumberton, North Carolina; Nancy Neelley Hicks and Curry Long, both of Nashville; close friends, Sarah Toombs and Mary Reaves. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Janice Austeen Lambert; infant son, John Mark Lambert; and two sisters, Louise Neelley and Christine King. Pallbearers will be David Neelley, John Neelley, Jr., Jim Neelley, James Neelley, Steven Neelley, Zach Neelley, Arthur Hanes, and Doug Pollock. Honorary pallbearers will be members of Jackson Heights Church of Christ and the staff of NHC Hillview.