Martha Ingram Dies at 90

Martha Ingram — one of the most respected, impactful and beloved philanthropists, arts supporters and businesspeople in Nashville history — has died. She was 90.

A release notes Ingram died peacefully while surrounded by family members. 

Having donated millions of dollars to various entities, Ingram was perhaps best known for her support of Nashville’s arts community. The billionaire spearheaded the development of the SoBro site home to the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. The facility opened in 2006 and was named for the late Kenneth Schermerhorn, the Nashville Symphony conductor for more than 20 years, whom Ingram was close to.

Ingram helped launch the Tennessee Performing Arts Center in the 1970s and the Tennessee Repertory Theater, now called the Nashville Rep. She served at various times on the boards of TPAC, Vanderbilt University Blair School of Music, Nashville Symphony, Nashville Ballet, Nashville Opera, Frist Art Museum and the Spoleto Festival U.S.A. in Charleston.

Ingram was instrumental in the building of the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville and the Gaillard Center in Charleston. She served as Keyboard Chairperson of the Blair School of Music. The Martha Rivers Ingram Center for the Performing Arts at the Blair School is named after her.

In the business sector, Ingram served as chairman of Nashville-based Ingram Industries, a diverse company with river barge transportation and book publishing divisions. She replaced her husband E. Bronson Ingram in the role when he died in 1995. 

Martha Ingram stepped down as chairman of the family business in 2008, with her son Orrin Ingram taking the helm as CEO and her son John Ingram taking over as chairman. At the time of her death, Martha Ingram was noted on Forbes as holding a net worth of $7.2 billion. She consistently landed on the Forbes 400 list of the richest people in America.

Ingram also was a trustee of Vassar College, Ashley Hall and The Harpeth Hall School. In 1992, then-Gov. Ned McWherter appointed Ingram to chair the Tennessee Bicentennial Commission, which commemorated the state’s admission to the United States.

Ingram was predeceased by her parents, John Minott Rivers Sr. and Martha Elizabeth Robinson Rivers, and her sister, Elizabeth Craig Rivers Lewine (Richard Lewine). She also was preceded in death by her husband of 36 years, Erskine Bronson Ingram II.

Ingram is survived by sons Orrin Henry Ingram II, John Rivers Ingram, David Bronson Ingram, daughter Robin Bigelow Ingram Patton, brother John Minott Rivers Jr. and multiple grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Visitation with the family is scheduled for Aug. 13 from 4 to 7 p.m. at St. George's Episcopal Church. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Aug. 14 at St. George's Episcopal Church. A private graveside service will be held for the family after the funeral service.

This article was first published by our sister publication, the Nashville Post.