Belva Wiley Gleaves, “Wawa,” 97, of Gresham, formerly of Nashville, Tenn., passed away March 27, 2014.
Belva was born and raised in Centerville, Tenn. She was loving, caring, loyal, strong-willed and sometimes feisty lady who loved her family deeply. She spent the last eight years of her life in Gresham living with her granddaughter.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Chester C. Gleaves; daughter, Shirley House; son-in-law, Sam W. House; parents, Solomon Thomas and Amanda Wiley; brothers, Henry, Fred, Grady and Jack Wiley; sisters, Eva Orton, Mary Etta Orton and Mattie Bates; granddaughter-in-law, Cindy House.
She is survived by her granddaughter, Beverly Neumeier (Rick); grandson, Sam W. House Jr. (Joan); sister, Sadie Hunneycutt; great-granddaughters, Melissa (Wally) Moesch, Miranda (Aaron) Eadler, Nicki (Derrick) Bernard and Cassandra House; great-grandson, Sammy W. House III; great-great-grandchildren, Madelyn Moesch, Dylan and Cole Eadler, and Jaxson Bernard; special nieces and nephews, Sara Marcelles, Barbara Richardson, Wallace Bates, Jimmy Bates, Elizabeth Antalek, Larry Bates, Elvis Orton and Jerry Wiley; daughter-in-law, Lisa Gleaves; special friend, Patti Peters. Also numerous great nieces and nephews and friends.
A funeral service was held at Hermitage Funeral Home in Old Hickory, Tenn., on April 3, 2014, at 3 p.m. with Pastor Jimmy Bates officiating. Entombment followed in the Hermitage Memorial Gardens.