Wilna Lowe Lewter Gentry, 96, passed into her Lord’s hands on Nov. 10, 2024. She was the first-born child of Willie and Odell Lewter born on May 28, 1928, in the Pearl City community in Lincoln County, Tennessee.

She met her husband William B. “Bill” Gentry and married in 1945. Bill owned the milk route that picked up and delivered milk from the local farms to the Borden and Kraft plants in Fayetteville. His route included Willie Lewter’s farm. The couple “courted” by Wilna riding with Bill as he finished his route and then returning her home so she could do her farm chores.

Our cherished mother leaves a lasting legacy of her large family. She and Bill had 12 children. Bill passed away in 1970 and Wilna raised the children on her own with courage and hard work. She passed on to her children a sense of strong faith, values and work ethic.

When asked how she was going to raise her children alone, she replied, “we are all for one and one for all, we will do it together.” She faced adversity and hardship with faith, grit, and love. She met every challenge head-on and never failed her children. Money was always in short supply, but they never missed a meal and always had what they needed. She taught her children to be strong and independent.

As a result of her strength and faith and the example she set as the matriarch of her large family, our communities and nation are populated with business owners, teachers and educators, doctors, firemen, medical and emergency professionals, men of faith, trades and craftsmen, contractors, and on and on. Most importantly, her family is a family of faith and good citizens.

Wilna touched the hearts of many, often taking in those who needed a place to eat and live, giving them her great guidance. She followed in her mother’s footsteps as an excellent cook, often baking 144 biscuits each morning. One son wrote a song that included the verse, “she had a hundred ways to cook a pinto bean.” She told friends and family that “I would have pintos and potatoes today, then potatoes and pintos tomorrow.” Her reputation as a cook was widely appreciated by the thousands of hungry patrons who had the privilege of sitting at her tables. She earned the affectionate title of the “Best Southern Cook” from her loved ones.

Wilna spent her career as a restaurant manager and chef, working at establishments like Blue Birds Grocery, M & E Restaurants, Sands Restaurant, and KFC. William and Wilna helped create and run Gentry’s BBQ.

Her life philosophy was simple: Live your faith with an abundance of forgiveness, work hard with honesty and your best effort, laugh at yourself and with others, and love your family and friends with all your heart.

She never quit raising her family. At the age of 96 years, 5 months and nine days, her last words to her children were “love each other, always love each other.”

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, at Higgins Funeral Home with Bro. Greg Wiser and Joe Wiser officiating. Burial will follow in the Lebanon Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, at Higgins Funeral Home.

Survivors include all 12 of her children, Jack (Deborah) Gentry, Jerry (Jan) Gentry, Danny (Janice) Gentry, Randy (Audrey) Gentry, Gary Gentry, Deborah Gentry, Terry (Phyllis) Gentry, Mike (Pam) Gentry, Jeff (Cindy) Gentry, David (Shawn) Gentry, Dale (Teresa) Gentry, and Steve (Vanatta) Gentry; 28 grandchildren; 49 great-grandchildren; 21 great-great-grandchildren; sister, Linda (Oren) Bates; brothers, Larry Lewter, and Denny Lewter; sisters-in-law, Cindy Gibson, and Pete Gentry; brother-in-law, Bill Gentry; and numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members and special friends.

In addition to her parents, Wilna was preceded in death by her husband, William Bernard Gentry; daughter-in-law, Teresa “Terri” Gentry; grandsons, Mark Blevins, Kevin Gentry, and Christopher Ryan Gentry; brothers, E.W. Lewter, and Jimmy Lewter; sisters, Gayle Lewter Haislip, Eloise Lewter Dollar, Doris Lewter Solomon; and sisters-in-law, Kathy Lewter, and Donna Lewter.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, 1016 W. Jackson Blvd. #1073, Chicago, Illinois 60607.

She will be deeply missed by all those who had the privilege of knowing her.

Higgins Funeral Home is honored to be serving the family of Wilna Lowe Lewter Gentry.