Willie Mae Adams Truelove

Willie Mae Adams Truelove, 82, passed away peacefully on July 24, 2021, surrounded by family. A life-long resident of White County, she was the daughter of Herschel and Zena Mae Adams and wife of the late Johnny “Buck” Truelove. She was a Christmas-loving globetrotter who made it to 49 states along with numerous trips to Mexico, Canada, and a trip to Japan where she carried around her own fork because she was “just too old to figure out chopsticks.”

Willie Mae was a dedicated and loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. It did not matter if she was working first, second, or third shift at Talon or Clarks-Schwabel, she never missed a ball game, band performance, or school event for her children, Dianne, Denise, Debbie, and Denver. She also made sure her grandchildren were late to school every Wednesday by cooking her famous biscuits and gravy, so they begged their parents to take them to Nanny’s house for breakfast.

Willie Mae enjoyed sewing and crafting, and doing puzzles with her friends, but nothing bigger than 300 pieces because she just didn’t have time for 500 pieces. She was an avid reader, but only Amish love stories. And she loved driving her son’s sports car with the top down, in the rain, and her granddaughters in the back seat.

She is survived by her brother TJ Adams; daughter Dianne Gilleland, husband Claude; daughter Debbie Truelove, husband Gary Petty; son Denver Truelove, wife Victoria. She is also survived by grandchildren, Jonathan “JJ” Gilleland, Caleb Gilleland, wife Sarah; Dallas Truelove Jarrad, husband B.J., Cheyenne Truelove, Branson Truelove; Kirsten Ravencroft, Brittany Petty, Steven Petty, Rylee Petty, Daniel Petty, Ty Gooch, Kenzie Petty; as well a great-grandchild, Easton Jarrad.

Willie Mae always had an open door for anyone who needed a bed which extended her family even more. She is also survived by eleven exchange students who called her “mom;” Mary Maples, Debbie Glass, and Debbie Bryson. In addition, she had many others who called her “Nanny,” as well, Danyell Maples, Phenesha and Peydon Nicely, Erin Depino, Ashely LaFountain, and Aubrey Hogan, Skylar Sutton.

Willie Mae is predeceased by her husband of 52 years, and love of her life, Johnny “Buck” Truelove, her sisters Ruth Shelnut and Hazel Allison, and her daughter Denise Purdue.

Visitation for Willie Mae will be held Sunday, July 25th from 2pm-4pm and 6pm-8 pm, and a memorial service will be held Monday, July 26th at 11am in the chapel of Barrett Funeral Home followed by interment at Gateway Cemetery next to her beloved husband. The family would like to thank the staff and residents of Laurel Lodge Assisted Living and Memory Care for their loving care of Mrs. Willie Mae.

To share a memory or to leave the family a condolence please visit www.barrettfh.com.

Barrett Funeral Home, Cleveland. 706-865-3101.