Glenna Ruth Hartley

Glenna Ruth Adams Hartley went home to be with Jesus on August 3, 2021. She was born in Independence, Missouri on June 19, 1931, and (although she never wanted anyone to know her actual age) lived to be 90 years old. Her life calling was to serve in ministry alongside Dr. Kenneth Hartley, Sr, the love of her life. She fulfilled that capacity in church and collegiate settings, traveling all over the world and supporting music ministries at home and abroad. She was a “mother” to countless college students who passed through the halls of Union University.

She also felt her ministry was serving as a Registered Dietician at Western State Hospital in Bolivar, Tennessee and she faithfully did so for more than 25 years. For nearly fifty years, she played the piano for youth choirs, children’s choirs, and elementary Sunday School classes at First Baptist Church of Jackson, Tennessee and sang in the adult choir on Sundays as well as for their Living Christmas Tree program each year. She also found great joy in playing in the handbell choir there. Additionally, she served as the treasurer for the Quail Ridge Homeowner’s Association for 16 years and loved her friends and neighbors.

She is survived by her three children, Anne Kathleen Hartley-Choate (Richard), Loren Glen Hartley, and Kenneth R. Hartley, Jr. (Stacey), six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. She loved all of her family dearly and always wanted to know what they were doing and was extremely proud of each of their accomplishments. She was preceded in death by her parents, Glen and Helene Daisy Burt Adams of Independence, Missouri, and her lifelong love, Dr. Kenneth R. Hartley, Sr. of Jackson, Tennessee, who directed the Music Department at Union University for 30 years and for whom the current recital hall at Union is named.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting all memorial gifts be given to the Music Department at Union University in Jackson, TN. Gifts can be made through the Union University Office of Institutional Advancement, 1050 Union University Drive, Jackson, TN 38305, or by giving online at www.uu.edu/giving .

SERVICES: A visitation will be on Saturday August 7, 2021 from 10:00 A.M. to 12:45 P.M. with a Celebration of Life Service following at 1:00 P.M. at Arrington Funeral Directors with Pastor Kenneth R. Hartley officiating. A brief graveside service will be immediately following at Ridgecrest Cemetery.

Arrington Funeral Directors, 148 W. University Parkway, 731-668-1111
https://www.arringtonfuneralgroup.com/live-webcasting/