Clara Belle Hill

Clara Belle West Hill of Nashville, Tennessee, 87, left this earth March 17, 2019 in Alachua, Florida at the home of her daughter, Debrah, surrounded by her family. Clara was born on August 11, 1931, in Reddens Chapel, Coffee County, Tennessee on the family farm of her parents, John Malcolm and Maude Reynolds West. Her parents, twin brother Randall West and former husband Ernest Gaylor Hill precede her in death.
Clara graduated from Tullahoma High School in 1949 and from Middle Tennessee State College with her Bachelor of Science in 1954. She was a lifelong educator, teacher and mentor. Clara inspired her students pushing those with ability and lovingly giving a hand up to those with less ability or means. She provided emotional support to those students that had insurmountable odds whether it was a life-threatening illness, economic crisis or social marginalization. Clara’s concern was always that her students received an education that would prepare them for a successful life.
Clara began her career in Walker County, Georgia teaching from August 1951 through December 1953 in order to pay her remaining college tuition. After graduation, she returned to Tennessee teaching in Estill Springs before moving to Tullahoma in 1962. Clara taught numerous grades in the schools of the Tullahoma school system until her retirement in 2000 including first, third, and fifth grades as well as elementary physical education and homebound students. Clara will be remembered as a loving mother devoted to her children. She was her children’s biggest advocate making sure that they had and took advantage of every opportunity she could provide for them. Clara is survived by her three children, Sharon Hill of Nashville, Tennessee, Debrah and husband David Armstrong of Alachua, Florida, and Malcolm and wife Désirée Hill of Thompson’s Station, Tennessee. Clara is also survived by her granddaughter Elizabeth Armstrong of Fort Smith, Arkansas, nieces Kathy West of Tucson, Arizona, Pam West Junk of Auburn, Washington and nephew Randy and wife Julie West of Snohomish, Washington. The family asks that  donations be made to Alive Hospice of Nashville, Tennessee or Haven Hospice of Gainesville, Florida.