Marian Penrod

Marian Penuel Penrod, age 92, of Hendersonville, Tennessee formerly of Murfreesboro, peacefully passed into eternal rest on January 28, 2023.

Marian was born on May 11, 1930, in Statesville, Tennessee in Wilson County to the late Hayden Lawson Penuel and Zoie Lee (Cunningham) Penuel.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her former husband, Dr. William T. Penrod, Jr.; brother, Frank Kenneth Penuel; sister-in-law, Kathleen Lester Penuel; and infant sister Minnie Ruth Penuel.

She is survived by her daughters, Cheryl P. Puryear (Bill) of Gallatin; Laura P. Moseng (Mike) of Madison, Indiana; and Paula Penrod, also of Madison. She is survived by three grandchildren, Kate Puryear Brown (Justin) of Castalian Springs; Grace Puryear Hencey (Carl) of Greenbrier; Hayden Puryear (fiancé Erica Larson) of Sonoma, California; and great-grandson Luke Brown.  She is also survived by her nephew, Kelvin Penuel (Vivian) of White House, and niece, Kay Penuel Winn (Bill) of Lascassas, Tennessee, and their children.

Marian was a librarian-media services teacher at Mitchell-Neilson Primary School in Murfreesboro at the time of her retirement, concluding a 34-year teaching career, 28 of those years for Murfreesboro City Schools. She taught grades K, 1, 2, 4, and 6, in Michigan, Kentucky and Tennessee.

She held a Bachelor of Science in Education from MTSC - Murfreesboro; a Master of Religious Education from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky; a Master of Education from the University of Miami; and continuing graduate studies at the University of Memphis and Middle Tennessee State University.

During her 20’s, prior to raising a family, she served as a missionary at the Seminole Indian Reservation in Florida.  She was a youth leader at her church.  She lived in various towns, cities, and states throughout her life: Statesville, Shelbyville, Jackson, Dyersburg, Murfreesboro, and Hendersonville in Tennessee; as well as Irving, Texas; Parma, Michigan; Golden Pond, Kentucky; both Miami and Gainesville, Florida; and Schenectady, New York.

Marian was a long-time member of First Baptist Church in Murfreesboro. She delighted in traveling, singing in church choir, writing, and was a voracious reader. She never wanted to stop learning.

Marian saw the beauty in the world around her and often pointed it out, opening the eyes of those around her to see what she saw.  She saw the beauty in people and all situations, even during the hardest times of her life.  She often said that she had a very blessed life, and indeed she was a blessing to many.  One can only imagine the beauty she exclaimed over as she entered the gates of heaven!

A celebration of her life will be held in May.