Carolyn Hubbard Tanner

Carolyn Hubbard Rains Tanner, a resident of Nashville, Tennessee, passed from this life on Friday, January 9, 2026, surrounded by her loving family.

She was born in Ripley, TN, on September 24, 1936. Always beautiful, Carolyn was crowned Miss Ripley, Miss Strawberry Festival in Humboldt, and Miss West Tennessee, all while a student at Ripley High School. She maintained strong friendships with her childhood friends from Ripley her entire life. While living in Houston, TX, in the early 1980s, Carolyn successfully owned and ran Woodforest Children’s Shop. She also had a successful career as a real estate broker with Graham and Boles in Winston-Salem, NC, in the 1980s and 1990s.

Carolyn was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Nashville. Her faith was strong. She often repeated that she viewed death as an "essential and sacred part of Heavenly Father’s plan of salvation". Carolyn cherished her strong bonds with church friends, both young and old, who she frequently surprised with her sometimes dark sense of humor.

In the kitchen, Carolyn was known for her Monkey Bread, German Pancakes, Lemon Meringue Tarts, Chocolate Fudge, Lace Cookies, and maybe especially her "Beautiful Ham”. Of course, it was all served at a beautifully set table! She had a strong enthusiasm for home decor aesthetic, which undoubtedly led both of her daughters to pursue careers in interior design.

Carolyn enjoyed researching her family's genealogy and playing the piano, with hymns and standards being her favorites. Carolyn was always generous with her time, energy, and material blessings to both her family and friends. Most importantly, she had an exceptionally strong relationship in her role of Grandmommy and Grammy with her three grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Carolyn is preceded in death by her parents, John Henry Hubbard and Margaret Emmalyn Lightfoot Hubbard; husband, John Emerson (Buzz) Tanner; daughters, Margaret Ann Rains Neese and Carolyn Elizabeth (Liz) Rains Upshaw, along with their father, John Albert Rains, with whom she was married for 32 years; two brothers, John Wayne Hubbard and William Franklin (Bill) Hubbard; two sisters, Margaret Elaine Hubbard Allen and Charlotte Hubbard Anderson Koob Rush.

Carolyn is survived by three grandchildren, Jessica Elizabeth Neese (Kenny) Cassini of Brentwood, TN, Joshua Ronald (Effie May Nichols) Upshaw of Houston, TX, and John Ashley Lightfoot Neese (Mary-Michael Montiel) Neese of Birmingham, AL; and eight great-grandchildren, Jackson Overstreet Keenan of Knoxville, TN; Kate and Caroline Cassini, of Brentwood, TN; Jason Upshaw of Houston, TX; and Landon, Lucy, Lynlee, and Lawson Neese of Birmingham, AL.