Henrietta Bagwell

Henrietta S. Bagwell went to be with God on Wednesday, August 4, 2021. Born October 3, 1920, she was 100 years old at the time of her passing.

She was born in Stewart County, TN, to parents, Henry & Nancy (Clements) Smith. She married Noel R. Bagwell, Sr., who served for 16 years as Montgomery County’s District Attorney General who preceded Henrietta in death after 47 years of loving and faithful marriage.

Henrietta was also a longtime member of First Baptist Church. She enjoyed traveling and many leisure pursuits. She was an excellent bridge player and loved reading. She would frequently read ten or more books per week.

In the century she spent on this earth, she witnessed the Roaring ‘20s and the Great Depression, World War II, the vibrant 1950s, the tumultuous 1960s, the space race, the fall of Communism and the advent of the Information Age. Raised in a house with no electricity or running water, she ultimately saw a man walk on the moon, the birth of the Internet, and the first private space flights. Through it all she said, “Times change, but human nature never changes.”

Henrietta was a woman of great dignity and substance, an inspiration to all who knew her. She always promoted honesty, modesty, kindness, charity and the best virtues of her Christian faith. She was always generous and welcoming, funny and vivacious. Her love, kindness and maternal care as well as her dignity, class and poise made her the epitome of a true Southern Belle. Her greatest legacy is the character of those she has left behind.

She is survived by one son, N. Reese Bagwell, Jr., a daughter-in-law, Susie Bagwell; three grandchildren, Noel R. Bagwell, III (Devon); Holly Bagwell Austin (Josh); and Autumn Bagwell Zuckerman (Scott) as well as four great-grandchildren: Jacob Austin, Benjamin Austin, William Henry Bagwell and Avery Rae Zuckerman.

A celebration of Henrietta’s life will be held at 12:30 PM on Saturday, August 7, 2021 at the chapel of McReynolds-Nave & Larson Funeral Home, the Rev. Cal Hampton officiating. She will be laid to rest beside her beloved husband at Greenwood Cemetery.

Henrietta’s family will receive friends on Friday, August 6, 2021, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM and on Saturday from 11:00 AM until the time of service at the funeral home. Condolences may be made at NaveFuneralHomes.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts will be welcomed at 2nd Mile Church, 804 South Riverside Drive, Clarksville, Tennessee 37040 or the Clarksville-Montgomery County Public Library for the improvement of the large print library selection.