Annie Pope Mulherin

Annie Sue Pope Mulherin was born June 3, 1913 in Mercer, Tennessee daughter of Mary Frank Ragland and Fenner Lee Pope. Mrs. Mulherin graduated from Mercer High School and received her bachelor of science degree in chemistry from Memphis Teacher's College in 1935 and her Master's in Education from Memphis State University. Mrs. Mulherin began her teaching career in Stuttgart Arkansas before returning to Madison County to teach at Britton Lane School, Uptonville School, and Beech Bluff High School. During World War II, Mrs. Mulherin worked in Washington, D.C. for the Bureau of Standards as a mechanical engineer. After the war, she returned to Mercer to teach at Mercer High School and married Joe Jackson Mulherin on May 23, 1950.In the early 1950's, Mrs. Mulherin became the first woman principal in Madison County of a four year high school, Mercer High School. Mrs. Mulherin then became supervisor of elementary schools for the Madison County School System and retired after 39 years from the school system in 1978 as supervisor of the Madison County high schools.Mrs. Mulherin was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma for 55 years and served as president of that organization. Mrs. Mulherin was also president of the Jackson-Madison County Retired Teachers Association, Tennessee Elementary Principal's Association, and the Tennessee Education Association. Mrs. Mulherin was a charter member of the Jackson Lioness Club and the Jackson Madison County Teacher's Credit Union and served two different terms on the board of directors.Mrs. Mulherin was a lifelong member of the Mercer Cumberland Presbyterian Church where she served as the stated clerk and elder. Mrs. Mulherin was one of the first women to ever be appointed moderator of the presbytery. Mrs. Mulherin loved Mercer and Hatchie Bottom and enjoyed hunting, fishing and traveling with her husband Jack Mulherin. While teaching school at Mercer, Mrs. Mulherin was also the basketball coach and her love of sports continued throughout her life. Mrs. Mulherin never missed a Memphis State basketball game when it was on television. Mrs. Mulherin was so proud of and cherished the time spent with her two grandchildren, David and Jennifer.Mrs. Mulherin was preceded in death by her husband Joe Jackson Mulherin and her sister Madeline Pope Bolde. Mrs. Mulherin is survived by her son, Pope Jackson Mulherin and his wife Deborah, their two children David and Jennifer Mulherin and her two nephews William Pope Bolde and Michael Lee Bolde of California.Visitation for Mrs. Mulherin will be at Arrington Funeral Directors, Friday March 26, 2010 from 3 to 5 and from 6 to 8. Visitation will also be at the Mercer Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Mercer on Saturday March 27, 2010 from 1 to 2 P.M.The funeral service will be at the Mercer Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Mercer Saturday, March 27, 2010 at 2 P.M, with burial at Ebenezer Cemetery following the service.