Retired state Sen. Anna Belle Clement O'Brien, 86, of Lake Tansi Village near Crossville, died Monday, Aug. 31, 2009, in University of Tennessee Medical Center, Knoxville.
Known as The First Lady of Tennessee Politics, she represented Roane County in the Tennessee State Senate for many years in the 1970s-90s.
She was the Senate's first chairwoman on three committees — the transportation and education committees and the Democratic Caucus. She helped pass significant education reforms under Gov. Lamar Alexander.
She led the charge to change laws to force medical insurance companies to cover mammograms for women and helped to pass the law that empowered patients to control their terminal care through a living will.
Her leadership helped to enact the Better Schools program, creating Centers and Chairs of Excellence, Master Teachers and Governor's Schools.
Born in Scottsville, Ky., she was the daughter of Robert and Maybelle Clement, both of whom preceded her in death.
She attended McMurray College in Abilene, Texas. After completing a year of college, she returned to Tennessee and worked as a clerk typist with the state rationing board. She was recommended to Capital Chevrolet Co. as a secretary after World War II.
She later helped her brother, Frank Clement, in his successful bids for governor in 1953-59 and from 1963-67. She served as his chief of staff in his last term.
She bought a lot and built a small cabin in Lake Tansi, a favorite vacation place that was in the first stages of development, in the 1960s.
She and her husband, whom she married around the same time, later expanded the cabin and made it their home from which she served as state senator and he served as a justice on the Tennessee Supreme Court.
Active in many civic organizations in the Cumberland County area, she often offered her support to Democratic candidates seeking office in the state and campaigned with them even in her retirement years.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, retired Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Charles O'Brien, whom she married Nov. 9, 1966, in Memphis; and her brother, former Gov. Frank G. Clement.
Survivors include sister, Emma Peery; and nieces and nephews, many of whom are prominent in Tennessee politics.
The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m. CDT Friday, Sept. 4, in Tansi Community Church.
Funeral service will follow, with the Rev. Jeff Monday officiating. Hood Funeral Home, Crossville, is in charge of arrangements.
Roane County News 9/4/2009
Known as The First Lady of Tennessee Politics, she represented Roane County in the Tennessee State Senate for many years in the 1970s-90s.
She was the Senate's first chairwoman on three committees — the transportation and education committees and the Democratic Caucus. She helped pass significant education reforms under Gov. Lamar Alexander.
She led the charge to change laws to force medical insurance companies to cover mammograms for women and helped to pass the law that empowered patients to control their terminal care through a living will.
Her leadership helped to enact the Better Schools program, creating Centers and Chairs of Excellence, Master Teachers and Governor's Schools.
Born in Scottsville, Ky., she was the daughter of Robert and Maybelle Clement, both of whom preceded her in death.
She attended McMurray College in Abilene, Texas. After completing a year of college, she returned to Tennessee and worked as a clerk typist with the state rationing board. She was recommended to Capital Chevrolet Co. as a secretary after World War II.
She later helped her brother, Frank Clement, in his successful bids for governor in 1953-59 and from 1963-67. She served as his chief of staff in his last term.
She bought a lot and built a small cabin in Lake Tansi, a favorite vacation place that was in the first stages of development, in the 1960s.
She and her husband, whom she married around the same time, later expanded the cabin and made it their home from which she served as state senator and he served as a justice on the Tennessee Supreme Court.
Active in many civic organizations in the Cumberland County area, she often offered her support to Democratic candidates seeking office in the state and campaigned with them even in her retirement years.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, retired Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Charles O'Brien, whom she married Nov. 9, 1966, in Memphis; and her brother, former Gov. Frank G. Clement.
Survivors include sister, Emma Peery; and nieces and nephews, many of whom are prominent in Tennessee politics.
The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m. CDT Friday, Sept. 4, in Tansi Community Church.
Funeral service will follow, with the Rev. Jeff Monday officiating. Hood Funeral Home, Crossville, is in charge of arrangements.
Roane County News 9/4/2009
Retired state Sen. Anna Belle Clement O'Brien, 86, of Lake Tansi Village near Crossville, died Monday, Aug. 31, 2009, in University of Tennessee Medical Center, Knoxville.
Known as The First Lady of Tennessee Politics, she represented Roane County in the Tennessee State Senate for many years in the 1970s-90s.
She was the Senate's first chairwoman on three committees — the transportation and education committees and the Democratic Caucus. She helped pass significant education reforms under Gov. Lamar Alexander.
She led the charge to change laws to force medical insurance companies to cover mammograms for women and helped to pass the law that empowered patients to control their terminal care through a living will.
Her leadership helped to enact the Better Schools program, creating Centers and Chairs of Excellence, Master Teachers and Governor's Schools.
Born in Scottsville, Ky., she was the daughter of Robert and Maybelle Clement, both of whom preceded her in death.
She attended McMurray College in Abilene, Texas. After completing a year of college, she returned to Tennessee and worked as a clerk typist with the state rationing board. She was recommended to Capital Chevrolet Co. as a secretary after World War II.
She later helped her brother, Frank Clement, in his successful bids for governor in 1953-59 and from 1963-67. She served as his chief of staff in his last term.
She bought a lot and built a small cabin in Lake Tansi, a favorite vacation place that was in the first stages of development, in the 1960s.
She and her husband, whom she married around the same time, later expanded the cabin and made it their home from which she served as state senator and he served as a justice on the Tennessee Supreme Court.
Active in many civic organizations in the Cumberland County area, she often offered her support to Democratic candidates seeking office in the state and campaigned with them even in her retirement years.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, retired Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Charles O'Brien, whom she married Nov. 9, 1966, in Memphis; and her brother, former Gov. Frank G. Clement.
Survivors include sister, Emma Peery; and nieces and nephews, many of whom are prominent in Tennessee politics.
The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m. CDT Friday, Sept. 4, in Tansi Community Church.
Funeral service will follow, with the Rev. Jeff Monday officiating. Hood Funeral Home, Crossville, is in charge of arrangements.
Roane County News 9/4/2009
Known as The First Lady of Tennessee Politics, she represented Roane County in the Tennessee State Senate for many years in the 1970s-90s.
She was the Senate's first chairwoman on three committees — the transportation and education committees and the Democratic Caucus. She helped pass significant education reforms under Gov. Lamar Alexander.
She led the charge to change laws to force medical insurance companies to cover mammograms for women and helped to pass the law that empowered patients to control their terminal care through a living will.
Her leadership helped to enact the Better Schools program, creating Centers and Chairs of Excellence, Master Teachers and Governor's Schools.
Born in Scottsville, Ky., she was the daughter of Robert and Maybelle Clement, both of whom preceded her in death.
She attended McMurray College in Abilene, Texas. After completing a year of college, she returned to Tennessee and worked as a clerk typist with the state rationing board. She was recommended to Capital Chevrolet Co. as a secretary after World War II.
She later helped her brother, Frank Clement, in his successful bids for governor in 1953-59 and from 1963-67. She served as his chief of staff in his last term.
She bought a lot and built a small cabin in Lake Tansi, a favorite vacation place that was in the first stages of development, in the 1960s.
She and her husband, whom she married around the same time, later expanded the cabin and made it their home from which she served as state senator and he served as a justice on the Tennessee Supreme Court.
Active in many civic organizations in the Cumberland County area, she often offered her support to Democratic candidates seeking office in the state and campaigned with them even in her retirement years.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, retired Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Charles O'Brien, whom she married Nov. 9, 1966, in Memphis; and her brother, former Gov. Frank G. Clement.
Survivors include sister, Emma Peery; and nieces and nephews, many of whom are prominent in Tennessee politics.
The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m. CDT Friday, Sept. 4, in Tansi Community Church.
Funeral service will follow, with the Rev. Jeff Monday officiating. Hood Funeral Home, Crossville, is in charge of arrangements.
Roane County News 9/4/2009
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