Emaly Lewis Conerly

Emaly Lewis 'Lew'? Culpepper Conerly died on November 6, 2013, at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, from complications related to a relapse of leukemia. She was born on July 21, 1944, and was 69 years old. She and Carlos, her husband of 47 years, had recently moved back to Johnson City, Tennessee, after spending several years in Redmond, Washington. She was the third daughter of Robert Edward Lee Culpepper, Jr, and Emaly Lewis Culpepper of Camilla, GA, which was her childhood home. She was a graduate of Agnes Scott College in Decatur, GA. In 1966, she married Carlos Conerly, originally of Shreveport, LA, with whom she raised two daughters. She received a Masters in Library Science at Emory University in Atlanta, GA, with the great joy of having found her true calling in library science and media studies. She, Carlos and the family lived in several cities around the south including Atlanta, GA; Raleigh, NC; Blacksburg, VA; Clyde, NC; Tallahassee, FL; Knoxville, TN; and Jefferson City, TN. Their various homes were due to job or family opportunities as she and Carlos grew in their respective professions. In 2011, in early retirement, Lew and Carlos moved to Redmond, WA, to help their daughter, Katie Campana, as she completed the work on her PhD in Library Science from the University of Washington. In Lews work life, she held several key positions in the library science field including Librarian at the University of Tennessee, Head of Circulation at Florida State University and finally Reference Librarian and Acting Dean at Carson-Newman University. Lew brought an insightful intelligence to each post and served each university with a deep professional skill enhanced by a joy and delight in her calling. She also found delight and strength in her work through her interaction with the students. In each different location, Lew and Carlos created a home full of joy and warmth centered on their steadfast faith in Jesus. In particular, Lews spirit reflected her deeply felt Christianity by freely offering love and support as she led Bible studies in most cities in which she lived. She would bring her own great stories filled with both meaning and often humor to explain and focus the Biblical words. She touched everyone she knew or worked with by the gentleness of her spirit surrounded by the light of Christ. Lew was also a great cook and loved her Nanas recipes as well as those that caught her fancy. She loved to experiment with food from different regions and was always eager to try something new and fresh. She and Carlos had a gift for gardening and embellished every home with beautiful and thoughtful landscapes '? aided in a great part of Carloss degree in forestry science. Lews openness of heart also found her an eager sojourner to different sites and locales. She delighted in seeing new places and enjoyed learning of their unique cultures and foods. She traveled for both pleasure and mission work and was always looking forward to the next trip. Her last year, in particular, symbolized her strong faith and unwavering joy. When she contracted leukemia in the spring of 2012, she faced it head-on fearlessly with abiding faith. She underwent extensive chemo which only seemed to strengthen her faith and brought out the humor and delight in living life one day at a time. She underwent a stem cell transplant procedure in late 2012 which appeared to miraculously fully rid her of the leukemia. Though an arduous process for Lew from the inception of the leukemia through the stem cell process, the staff at the various hospitals she visited always remarked on her gracious spirit, her (and Carloss!) humor and the steady confidence that she had in dealing with each unknown step along that ever-unfolding journey. She walked from light to light and could always find the strength to face each new challenge openly. Though fearful from time to time, she relied on her deep, proven faith and her loving family to support through her last year. While we mourn her passing, we also know that her spirit will live through her family and friends. She is survived by her husband, Carlos, and her two daughters '? Emaly McLean (and husband Mike) of Johnson City, TN, and Katie Campana (and husband TJ) of Redmond, WA. She has four granddaughters and one grandson. She is also survived by five siblings starting with the oldest '? Helen Culpepper Stacey, Atlanta, GA; Mary Culpepper Williams, Tallahassee, FL; Robert Edward Lee Culpepper III, Memphis, TN; India Culpepper Dennis, Greer, SC; and James Forrest Culpepper, Atlanta, GA. A celebration of her life will be held for her at The First Baptist Church of Jefferson City, Tennessee, at 11AM on Saturday, November 16, 2013 (1610 Russell Ave, Jefferson City, TN 37760). In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the Carson-Newman Library. Donations can be made, in remembrance of Lew, by mail at: Advancement Carson-Newman University C-N Box 72017 Jefferson City, TN 37760