- Date Of Birth: January 1, 1952
- Date Of Death: February 2, 2022
- State: Tennessee
Karen Mitchell Porter died February 2nd, 2022 of Covid-19/Pnemonia in Williamson County Medical Center with her loving partner and children at her side. She was born January 1st, 1952 in Birmingham, AL. She was 70 years old.
Karen was preceded in death by her mother Tina Mitchell, beloved uncle Michael Mitchell, grandmother Anastacia KidiaKoula, and ex-husband and father of her children Tommy Lee Porter.
She is survived by her son, Benjamin (Tiara) Porter; stepson, Steven (Paula) Porter; partner, Michael Eacret; his children and grandchildren; and her own grandchildren Baylee Porter, Jackson Porter, and Penelope Porter.
Karen possessed a remarkable combination of ferocity and compassion, making her a soft shoulder to cry on and a warrior for an advocate. She provided wisdom to anyone who sought it, sometimes at the cost of some hard truths delicately laced with empathy and humor.
Since she was a child, Karen appreciated art and music. While she learned many types of dance, Tap was her favorite as a young girl. She taught herself to sew to make her own clothing. She knew she had to put her best foot forward if she wanted to be successful and taken seriously. It also didn’t hurt to look glamorous while taking the world by storm.
Karen was a self made woman. She rose through ranks in a male dominated Worker’s Compensation Industry to ultimately become a Quality Assurance Manager at Amerisafe at the time she passed. Even acquaintances would describe her as a workhorse. She had an amazing work ethic and could recognize it in others. When Karen saw it in someone else, she quickly became their biggest hype woman. She promoted countless local businesses, individuals, and coworkers, finding ways to rally support around them.
She had a generous heart for service. She supported organizations such as Box 55, 917 Society, and helped organize and gather school supplies for children in need. Since 2020 she had been serving as treasurer for the Nashville Republican Women’s Association working tirelessly for the organization and supporting its members.
Her family and pets were most precious to her. They were her pride and joy, and she fought endlessly for them.
Although she was told by doctors that she was unable to have children, she gave birth to her “miracle” son, Benjamin, in 1976. She was his biggest cheerleader; she could be heard from the stands at his highschool football games yelling “Kill ‘em Porter!!!” over top all the other cheers. They enjoyed a loving and humorous relationship to the end.
Despite her short stature, she could shop laps around her family, hunting for the best deals and of course, best shoes, often tiring out her family that she loved doting on. Always prepared during her outings, her purse was near Mary Poppy-ian, containing anything anyone might need, and several things no-one realized they needed.
She enjoyed listening to music played by her devoted partner, Mick. She hummed and tapped her foot while he played and occasionally mimed minor adjustments to volumes. They shared thirteen years of unconditional love and support as she fought two battles of cancer and chronic illness.
Most of all she loved being a Yia Yia (Greek Grandmother). She beamed when she showed pictures of her grandchildren and rejoiced in their successes. Her grandchildren never wanted to truly disappoint her. While a stern Yia Yia was a beloved trope, they knew that she was always in their corner.
Her strength and grace were unparalleled. They were proven by her ability to accomplish much in her career and volunteer work while battling physical ailments. She had a lifelong battle with lupus, among other autoimmune disorders, beat lymphoma in 2016, which left her immunocompromised, and breast cancer in 2021. She never let these keep her from being on time and looking fabulous.
A woman of faith, she now walks alongside her Savior free of pain. Though her passing has left a large hole in the many lives that she has touched, she has imparted her own strength, wisdom, and humor to those she left behind.
