Obituary of Mary Alexandra Mott Hirsch

Mary Alexandra (Alex) Mott Hirsch passed peacefully on December 22, 2017 with loving family by her side after a brief illness. Alex was born on January 22, 1940 and her parents were John Adam Mott and Kate Wilson Mott both of whom predeceased her. She is predeceased by her husband of almost 48 years- Frank A. Hirsch of Elizabeth, NJ. Alex was raised in Chattanooga and graduated from the Girls Preparatory School in 1958. She married Frank Hirsch on June 27, 1958. They had three children and raised their family on Lookout Mountain. Alex/”Mimi” is survived by her three children, seven grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and her twin sister. The children include Katherine Hollywood (Holly) Willis of Winston-Salem, NC., Frank. A. Hirsch, Jr. and wife Lorna Peele Hirsch, of Raleigh, NC., and Ellen Hirsch Tessmann and husband David Tessmann of Lookout Mountain, TN. The seven grandchildren include Meade H. Willis and wife Abby Lithgo Willis of Greensboro, NC., Mary Katherine Willis of Winston-Salem NC., and Robert Rutherford (Ford) Willis and wife, Emily Weidie Willis of Asheville, NC., Hayden Alexandra Hirsch of San Diego, CA., Hadley Anna Hirsch of Minneapolis, MN., Mary Lillian Tessmann and John David Tessmann of Lookout Mountain, TN. The surviving great grandchildren include Lucy Willis and Hazel Willis of Greensboro, NC., and William Styles Lautemann, and Nicholas Willis-Lautemann of Winston-Salem, NC. Martha Jan Powell is her twin sister who resides on Lookout Mountain. She is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews. Alex Hirsch was a homemaker and a nurturer. She loved her family dearly and enjoyed taking care of their needs—whatever they were. Her life was always about her family, and she never put her priorities or her pleasures above those people who surrounded her. Each and every one came away knowing the sweetness of their caring "Momma/Mimi" and her ministry of love. Alex had a passion for elephants for their strong family orientation. The family has requested that donations be made to The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, TN in her memory in lieu of flowers. Donations can be made directly to the website https://www.elephants.com/ or mail checks to The Elephant Sanctuary, PO Box 393 Hohenwald, TN 38462. A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, January 6th at the Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church in the Chapel starting at 12 noon 316 N Bragg Ave, Lookout Mountain, TN 37350 (423) 821-4528. The family will receive friends from 11 am until the time of the service at the church on January 6th. Arrangements are by Wann Funeral Home & Cremation Center, at the foot of historic Lookout Mountain, St. Elmo (423) 821-7551. Please share your memories, stories and photos at www.wannfuneralhome.com.