Roxanne (Anderson) Venable

Roxanne Anderson Venable, 64, went home to be with her Lord early Sunday morning, January 27, 2019.

Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Roxanne was an avid organizer of backyard theater and a graduate of Banks High School. Upon receiving her bachelor’s degree from Auburn University in Journalism and English, she moved to Switzerland where she served as a Journeyman with the Southern Baptist Mission Board. After two years of writing letters to Robert (Bob) Venable, Jr, whom she had met at Auburn, she returned to the States and became a reporter with the Opelika Auburn News.

A few years later, she and Bob married, and she spent the next 37 years in her favorite vocation: wife, homemaker, and mother of three wonderful children. She fought a valiant fight against Breast Cancer for 17 years and never complained once.

She filled her life with service, volunteering as a member of the Junior League of Chattanooga, Memorial Hospital Auxiliary (earning her 500 hour pin!), and the Friends of Cloudland Canyon Georgia State Park. She was active in several congregations during her life - South Roebuck Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, First Presbyterian Church and Calvary Chapel in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Grace Community Church in Trenton, Georgia.

She delighted in having native flowers in tiny vases on every windowsill, the songs of frogs at dusk, collecting rocks on favorite hikes, and dancing whenever she had the chance.

Together with a vast community of friends and neighbors, the family remembers Roxanne for her courage in the face of profound challenges, her tremendous kindness, her steadfast companionship, and her infectious and vivacious love of life. 

She is survived by her husband, Bob Venable, Jr;  children, Laura Ruth Venable, Joseph (Susanna) Venable, and Marianne (James) Dillon; as well as her father, Roy Anderson; sisters, Rachel Anderson Harden and April (Johnny Blue) Craig, and beloved granddaughter Davey Jean Venable (Joseph and Susanna).

Her family is grateful for the many nurses and doctors at Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga and in Fort Oglethorpe, and Hearth Hospice as well as all those who supported along the way with homemade meals, cards, prayers, and love.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held Thursday, January 31^st at 11 am at First Presbyterian Church, 535 McCallie Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 37402.  A visitation at the church will be held from 10 am until the hour of the service.  All are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Helen Ross McNabb Center https://www.mcnabbcenter.org/ or to Friends of Cloudland Canyon State Park

https://www.friendsofcloudlandcanyon.org/

You may visit www.heritagechattanooga.com to view the memorial tribute and also share special memories of Roxanne with her family.

The family will receive friends Wednesday, January 30 from 5:30 pm until 7:30 pm at Heritage Funeral Home, 7454 E. Brainerd Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.