Vera Lusk Proffitt

Vera Lusk Proffitt, age 95, of Maryville, passed away peacefully Tuesday, January 17, 2017, at Shannondale Healthcare Center, Maryville, TN. Vera was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, on October 9, 1921. She and her beloved brother, Sherman, grew up in and around Rahway, NJ. Several years after graduating from Rahway High School, Vera was invited to consider furthering her education at Maryville College through the benevolence of local Fanwood (New Jersey) Presbyterian Church members. Astonished and grateful for their support and assistance, Vera soon found herself traveling 700 miles south to Maryville, Tennessee. Vera thrived at Maryville College, singing in the Vesper choir, working in the dining hall, and participating in many campus organizations and clubs. She was a cheerleader and was elected Homecoming Queen her junior year. It was here that she met her future husband, Bill Proffitt, a member of the football and track teams. After her graduation in 1949, and prior to her marriage to Bill in May, 1950, Vera worked as the Christian Education director at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in Knoxville. She briefly worked at the Aluminum Company of America in Alcoa after they were married. She actively served New Providence Church in many ways: as an elder, through Presbyterian Women circle groups, as the church librarian and on various committees. She and Bill have been members of a Geneva fellowship group there for over 35 years. A high point of their community service was the establishment of the Proffitt-Lusk Family Scholarship at Maryville College as a way to pay forward the educational opportunity Vera was so grateful to have received. Vera and Bill moved from Alcoa to the Shannondale community in 2012, where they were frequently spotted walking together in the early mornings. As a lifelong learner, a collection of books, Bible studies, games, beautiful music and crossword puzzles were never far from her reach. She loved needlework and many of her lovely projects have graced their home for years. Her sourdough bread and chocolate chip cookies were legendary. Travel was another pastime she and Bill enjoyed over the years, however, nothing pleased her more than spending time with her children and their families. She was a devoted wife and mother, gracious and caring. Always optimistic, calm, and joyful, Vera quietly brought love and encouragement to all who knew her. We will treasure her kind and gentle spirit, her wise counsel and most of all, her beautiful smile. Vera was preceded in death by her parents, Sherman W. and Lillian Valentine Lusk; and her brother, Sherman Lusk, Jr. She is survived by her husband of 66 years, William F. Proffitt, and their children: William, Jr. (Mary Jesse) of Maryville; Paul (Annette) of Suwanee, Georgia; and Jean Nunnally (Todd) of Houston, Texas; six grandchildren: David and Benjamin Proffitt, Jeremy Proffitt (Karene) and Lori Griffith, and Carson and Christian Nunnally; five great-grandchildren: Joshua, twins Eleazar & Nathaniel, Ebenezer Proffitt and Arya Griffith. Friends are invited to join the family in a service of celebration of Vera's wonderful life on Saturday, January 28 at 3 PM at New Providence Presbyterian Church in Maryville. The family will receive friends after the service in Westminster Hall. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts be directed to the Proffitt-Lusk Scholarship at Maryville College at 502 East Lamar Alexander Parkway, Maryville, Tennessee 37804, Attention: Office of Advancement.