Shirley Hawke Gragg

Shirley Hawke Gragg went to be with the Lord and Savior on July 28, 2011, at the Johnson City Medical Center after a brief illness. She was a resident of the Appalachian Christian Village, where she had lived for several years. Mrs. Gragg was 97 years old . She was born October 8, 1913 in Greene County and had resided in Johnson City for many years. She was a long time member of Unaka Avenue Baptist Church where she had taught Sunday School and presided as President of the Missionary Society. In addition to her parents James and Minnie Hawk of Greene County, she was preceded in death by siblings, Ada Ambrose, Lucille Weemes, Doake, Jess, Drew and Earnest Hawk. She was also preceded in death by her first husband John Morlan and second husband Charles Gragg. She is survived by several nieces and nephews. Peggy Humphreys and husband John, Eugene Weemes, and Carolyn Hawk of Johnson City, Roy and wife Dorothy, Erwin, Lois Rosser, Knoxville, Emma Lou Moore and Ruth Kinley, Bull Gap, Mary Taylor, Sumpter, SC.,and step-daughter Barbara Lukowski, St. Louis, Mo. and several great-great nieces and nephews. Mrs. Gragg began writing poetry at age 83 and was proud of becoming poet laureate at age 89. She continued with writing poetry and painting landscapes until her vision prevented her from continuing. Mrs. Gragg entered Budd Hospital School of Nursing in 1935 and transferred to Grace Hospital School of Nursing in Banner Elk, NC and graduated in 1939 as a Registered Nurse. While there she became an instructor and Director of Nursing. She later moved to Missouri Baptist Hospital as instructor in Nursing Arts and in the US Navy Cadet Corps during war times. She returned to Baptist Hospital in Knoxville, TN as Director of Education in School of Nursing and later to ETSU as instructructor in the Nursing program. She was a charter member of Pi Gamma Tau Honor Society and was inducted into Epsilon Sigma Chapter of the Sigma theta Tau Nursing Honor Society, ETSU as honor for contributions to Nursing Literature. She co-authored Scientific Principles of Nursing text with the first one published in 1958. Later she completed 8 editions which were presented in several languages. The family wishes to thank all the nursing staff at the Appalachian Christian Village for the loving care they showed to our Aunt during her stay at the Village. Funeral services will be conducted in the Morris Baker Funeral Home South Chapel at 2:30 pm Saturday, July 30, 2011. Pastor Ronnie Mitchell will officiate. The family will receive friends from 12:30PM to 2:30PM with services to follow. Burial will follow in Monte Vista Memorial Park. Friends will serve as pallbearers.