Vivian Watlington Hastings

Vivian Maxine Hastings went to be with the Lord on December 10, 2022, at 1:23 a.m.  Vivian was born January 26, 1934, in Bogota, TN to Frank and Beatrice Watlington.  With GOD’s blessings, Vivian, her husband Walter, and eight families started what is now known as Parr Avenue Church of Christ in Dyersburg.  Vivian’s love for GOD’s word was evident in her daily life of love for others, hospitality, and kindness.  Vivian was a true “Southern Lady” who always had a pleasant smile and a kind word.

Vivian’s young life in Bogota took her to the cotton fields where she chopped cotton as she dreamed of being in the cars that passed on their way to Dyersburg.  She graduated Dyersburg High School in 1951 after which she went to work in Mayor Hart’s office as his secretary.

In 1952, she met and married her husband, Walter Hastings.  They remained married for 57 years.  She dedicated her life to her Boys, Walter, Jon and Lee.  She was a homemaker while her sons were in high school, at which time, she and her dear friend Etta West owned and operated 3 Diet Center franchises in Dyersburg, Blytheville, AR and Hopkinsville, KY.  Later, Vivian became a licensed Affiliate Real Estate broker and handled Hastings Realty’s residential sales. She was a volunteer Pink Lady at Parkview Hospital, loved playing bridge with her close friends, and being a member of “The Little Book Club”.  She found great joy in visiting the nursing homes and providing meals for families in need or suffering loss.  Vivian was a Cub Scout leader, and never missed any of her boys’ sporting events. She was proud that her son Jon and grandson Sloan achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.

Funeral services will be at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 13, 2022, in the Chapel of Curry Funeral Home officiated by Scott Owen, Lee Hastings and Sloan Hastings.  Interment will follow in Fairview Cemetery. 

The family will receive visitors Tuesday, December 13th beginning at 11:00 a.m. until service time at 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Sloan Hastings, Kevin Wilkerson, Kim Peckenpaugh, Tim McCraw, Jeff Heathcott and Jeff Agee will be serving as pallbearers.  Honorary pallbearers will be Danny Carpenter, Glenn Still, Ralph Reynolds, John Tucker and Brian Ramm.

Vivian is survived by her son Lee Hastings (Annetta) of Temple Terrace, FL, daughter-in- law, Emily Hastings Ragsdale of Brentwood, four grandchildren, Camden Hastings, Tinsley Hastings, Sloan Hastings and Olivia Hastings, sister and brother-in-law, Janice and Ralph Reynolds of Dyersburg, sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Donald and Jonnie Finch of Palm Coast, FL.  Also surviving Vivian is Jeanne Criswell, trusted family friend and assistant.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Hastings, her son, Jon Hastings and her brother Bobby Joe Watlington.

The family wishes to thank her precious sitters, Gwen Mallard, Diane Anderson, Sherrian Tucker, Geri Hendren, and Rhonda Sparks who took such wonderful care of her in her later years.

The family requests memorials be directed to Walter and Vivian Hastings Endowed Scholarship, Florida College, 119 N. Glen Arven Avenue, Temple Terrace, FL  33617 or Parr Avenue Church of Christ, 2482 Parr Avenue, Dyersburg, TN  38024.

Funeral services are under the direction of Curry Funeral Home.  We are privileged and honored to serve the Hastings family. You may share your condolences and your memories with the family at www.curryfuneral.com.