Sharon Anderson Nevils Pettigrew
Sharon Anderson Nevils Pettigrew, 79, went to be with the Lord on January 28th, 2026. Sharon was truly a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, friend, and nurse. Sharon graduated from Methodist Hospital School of Nursing in 1968 in Memphis, TN. She worked in surgery, cardiology, obstetrics, emergency, critical care, and was thrilled to open the new Haywood Park Hospital in 1974 in Brownsville, TN, working there until her retirement. She served as Director of Nurses and Director of Quality Management and became the President of the Tennessee Association for Healthcare Quality and active member of the National Association for Healthcare Quality, which took her to conferences all over the country to learn how to best improve healthcare. She loved her career as a nurse for almost 40 years and touched so many lives through her work. Most importantly, she has been a good and faithful servant of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Sharon helped start and lead GriefShare, a grief recovery support group, at First United Methodist Church in Brownsville, TN until she moved to Mount Juliet. She also loved to crochet Prayer Shawls for the church and probably crocheted hundreds of Prayer Shawls for church ministries across the state and these were prayed over and given to individuals who needed the comfort of Christ during illnesses and difficult times. Sharon also adored her puppies, Abby and Bear.
Sharon is preceded in death by her parents, Elmer and Rachel Nevils, brother Tommy Nevils of Covington, TN, her son Hiram Franklin (Trae) Keller Ill of Brownsville, TN, and her parents-in-law Dean and Ann Pettigrew of Brownsville, TN.
Sharon is survived by her husband of 50 years, Gary Dean Pettigrew, daughter, Shannon Leigh Keller Roberts, son-in-law William Clark Roberts, and four grandchildren, William Clark Roberts II, Rachel Elizabeth Roberts, Jeffrey Wade Roberts, and Catherine Grace Roberts, all of Knoxville, TN. She also is survived by her brother Phillip Nevils (Bobbie), brothers-in-law Jack Pettigrew (Glenda) and Woody Pettigrew (Judy), as well as nephews Rob, Scott, Talton, Lester Dean, Jackson, and Everette Pettigrew and niece Mary Wyatt Pettigrew Crow.
The family would like to thank her wonderful caregivers, Teresa Taylor-Trice and Dawn Cochran, as well as the loving staff of Northshore Heights Senior Living and the exceptional staff of Parkwest Medical Center in Knoxville, TN. Also, the family wishes to thank the caring staff, clergy, and friends in the Better Together Sunday school class of Middlebrook Pike United Methodist Church, Knoxville, TN.
Visitation will be at 10 AM and service at 11 AM on February 7, 2026, at First United Methodist Church in Brownsville, TN with graveside service to follow at Oakwood Cemetery with the Reverend Sammy Tillman officiating and funeral services provided by Lea and Simmons Funeral Home in Brownsville, TN.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Sharon N. Pettigrew Nursing Scholarship at First United Methodist Church, Brownsville, TN or memorials may also be made to Middlebrook Pike United Methodist Church, Knoxville, TN, or to the charity of your choice.
Absent from the body, now present with the Lord. AMEN
