Charlotte Winford Zehring's Obituary
Charlotte Winford Zehring, passed into eternity on July 21, 2025, at home, with her
family by her side after being diagnosed with brain cancer in December 2024. Born February 9, 1955 in Wayne County TN, Charlotte was the embodiment of grace and love from the very beginning. Charlottes's legacy is one of a servant’s heart with a smile, grace, and the enduring mark she left on every life she touched. She is preceded in death by her parents, Tom and Christine
Winford, her stepdaughter, Kelsey Zehring and father-in-law Ralph Zehring. Charlotte is survived by her husband, Kyle Zehring and mother-in-law Sandy Zehring of Memphis, TN; a sister, Margaret Winford Coffman and husband Larry (deceased) of Las Vegas, NV; two brothers Tom Winford and wife Diane of Cape Coral, FL and Frank Winford and wife Beth of Horseshoe Bay, TX; and eight nieces and nephews: Krystal, FW, Miles, Kirbi, Thomas, Allison, Hannah and Spencer. Additionally, she had many cousins who were so special to her.
Charlotte, a long-time Memphis resident, graduated from Lausanne School
in 1973. She furthered her education at Queens College in Charlotte, NC and Southwestern at Memphis, now known as Rhodes College where she earned her BA degree.
She received her MS degree in Education from Memphis State University in 1983. Her teaching, coaching, and counseling spanned a total of 43 years at both Lausanne and ending with St. Mary’s Episcopal School from which she retired in 2019. Charlotte was recognized with numerous awards during her career at St. Mary’s School and most notably two national awards: Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation 2007 Joseph B. Whitehead Educator of Distinction Award and the 2011 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program Teacher Recognition Award in Washington, DC. She was a true teaching professional with a love of learning and the ability to connect with her students in a very special way.
Services will be at Mission Church, 6000 Briarcrest Ave in Memphis at 11:00 AM Saturday, August 2 with visitation from 9:30 to 11:00 AM.
As we prepare to celebrate Charlotte's extraordinary life, the family graciously requests that donations in her memory be made to St. Mary’s Episcopal School in memory of Charlotte Winford Zehring. The school was so close to her heart. Its address is 60 Perkins EXT, Memphis TN 38117. Charlotte's light will forever illuminate the paths of those who were blessed to know her.
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