East Tennessee Funeral Home And Cremation Services

06/19/2023

06/19/2023

BOLD PRINT: CAIDEN BURGETT

Caiden Burgett, 17, passed away on June 11, 2023, at St. Jude's Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. He was born on November 10, 2005 in Oak Ridge, Tennessee to Charlie Burgett and Brandy Smith.
He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Rosa Wilson and great aunt, Gail Hurst.
Caiden is survived by his daughter, Rylie Rigney; mother, Brandy Smith; stepfather, Jason Smith; father, Charlie Burgett; brothers, Colton Burgett and Abel Smith; stepsister, Destiny Ferrell; nephew, Kamdyn; grandparents, Gary and Velma Dotson, Carolyn Dotson and Bonnie and Harold Smith; and a host of other family and many friends.
The family will receive friends from 4pm - 6pm on Wednesday, June 21, 2023 at East Tennessee Funeral Home. A service will follow with Robert Smith officiating. Burial will take place at 11am on Thursday, June 22, 2023 at East Tennessee Cemetery.
Please visit www.hamlettdobson.com to leave an online condolence for the family.

At Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Homes, we do our utmost to make every service unique. A personalized service touches families and friends and celebrates a life well lived. We are always inspired by the beautiful examples we have seen and will be happy to share some of them with you.

06/19/2023

CAIDEN BURGETT Caiden Burgett, 17, passed away on June 11, 2023, at St. Jude's Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. He was born on November 10, 2005 in Oak Ridge, Tennessee to Charlie Burgett and Brandy Smith. He was preceded in death by his grandmother,...

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06/08/2023

KATHERINE “KATIE” TAGGART DRISKELL Katherine "Katie" Taggart Driskell, age 80, of Piney Flats, TN, passed away on June 6, 2023, in the company of family and her beloved caretakers. Katie was born in Lynchburg, VA on July 6, 1942, to N.A. Tagga...

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06/08/2023

KATHERINE “KATIE” TAGGART DRISKELL

Katherine "Katie" Taggart Driskell, age 80, of Piney Flats, TN, passed away on June 6, 2023, in the company of family and her beloved caretakers.

Katie was born in Lynchburg, VA on July 6, 1942, to N.A. Taggart and Mary Faye Dougherty. The Taggarts lived in the small community of Yuma, VA before moving to Kingsport in 1946, where she attended Dobyns-Bennett High School, making friendships that lasted throughout her entire life.

She spent her career pursuing her passion for teaching, from the inner-city high schools of Chicago to the Appalachian hills of Tusculum College to large state schools like the University of Georgia, finally retiring from East Tennessee State University in 2004. Along the way, she collected an array of degrees from Peabody College in Nashville, the University of Wisconsin, the University of Chicago, and the University of Tennessee.

She took great joy in her family, beach trips, square dancing, cultivating interesting plants, and was a great lover of animals. It will come as no surprise to those who knew her that she once rescued a stray goat in a parking lot, somehow got it into her tiny Datsun, and drove it home until its owner could be found.

She is survived by her son Ian Blackburn (Mary Anne Walker) of Knoxville, TN; sister Anna Ruth Gregory of Tucker, GA; niece Alice Hartnett (Howie) of Charlotte, NC; niece Susan Nimmo (Robert) of Camden, AR, and grandnieces Abby Hartnett, Reagan Hartnett, Serena Nimmo, and Leanna Nimmo.

The family will receive friends from 10 AM - 11 AM, Saturday, June 10, at East Tennessee Funeral Home, 2630 Highway 75, in Blountville. Funeral services will begin at 11 AM with Pastor Mike Stout officiating. A private graveside service will follow.

East Tennessee Funeral Home & Cemetery is honored to serve the family of Katherine “Katie” Taggart Driskell.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in her honor to WynnWood Wildlife Rehab Center (https://bit.ly/wynnwood).

06/02/2023

Charlotte Sue Cornwell, 83, passed away Thursday, June 1, 2023. Born in Johnson City, she had lived most of her life in Gray. She was a hairdresser early on, then in later years was manager of the petite department at Proffitt’s Department Store. C...

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06/02/2023

CHARLOTTE SUE CORNWELL

Charlotte Sue Cornwell, 83, passed away Thursday, June 1, 2023. Born in Johnson City, she had lived most of her life in Gray. She was a hairdresser early on, then in later years was manager of the petite department at Proffitt’s Department Store. Charlotte enjoyed gardening and her cats. She was an excellent cook.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Attlee Barnes and Hattie Jenkins Barnes; husband, Max Cornwell; grandson, Matt Cornwell; one sister; and one brother.

Charlotte is survived by her son, Alan Cornwell and wife Amie; two grandchildren, Max Cornwell and Marcie Cornwell; sister, Evelyn Norwood; and several nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m. on Monday, June 5, 2023, at East Tennessee Funeral Home. The funeral service will follow with Pastor Ryan Shaffer officiating.

Burial will follow at East Tennessee Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be family and friends.

05/31/2023

PHYLLIS GAIL POPE

Phyllis Gail Pope went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at Johnson City Medical Center. Born in Sullivan County, Tennessee, Gail resided in this area most of her life. She worked for many years as a beautician and was a member of New Grace Baptist Church in Bristol, Tennessee.

Mrs. Pope was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Kyle Pope and brother, Alan Douglas. She is survived by her son, Kyle Pope, II and wife Rita and sisters, Karen May and Brenda Dyer.

A visitation will be held from 11:00am – 1:00pm on Saturday, June 3, 2023, in the Chapel of East Tennessee Funeral Home, 2630 Highway 75, Blountville, Tennessee. A service will follow at 1:00 pm with Brother Sam Haynes officiating. Burial services will be held in East Tennessee Cemetery, Garden of Prayer.

East Tennessee Funeral Home & Cemetery is honored to serve the family of Phyllis Gail Pope.

05/31/2023

PHYLLIS GAIL POPE Phyllis Gail Pope went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at Johnson City Medical Center. Born in Sullivan County, Tennessee, Gail resided in this area most of her life. She worked for many years as a beautician and wa...

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05/15/2023

MARY LUCILLE DEAKINS SMITH

Mary Lucille Deakins Smith, 88, of Gray, Tennessee, passed away peacefully at her home, surrounded by her loved ones.
Born in Washington County, Tennessee on November 18, 1934, a daughter of the late Richard Beryl and Etta Marie Ford, she has resided in this community her entire life.
Lucille worked as a librarian for the Washington County Library System- Gray Branch Library for an honorable 35 years. She was also a devoted member of Gray United Methodist Church. Lucille enjoyed reading, traveling, and spending time with her cherished grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She will be deeply missed and remembered as a kind and loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother, and great-grandmother to those who knew her.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her first husband and father of her children, Harold Keith Deakins; second husband, Lawrence Smith; two brothers and one sister.
Those left to cherish her memory include her daughters, Nancy Sutphin (Farrell) and Deborah Deakins; son, David Deakins (Pam); two grandsons; one granddaughter; seven great-grandchildren; one sister and several nieces and nephews.
A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at 11:00am in the Garden of Devotion at East Tennessee Cemetery at 2630 Hwy 75, Blountville, TN, 37617. The service will be officiated by Gerald Trent.
Attendees are asked to arrive by 10:45am prior to the service.
Pallbearers will be family members.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Washington County Library System- Gray Branch Library or Gray United Methodist Church in honor of Lucille.
East Tennessee Funeral Home and Cemetery is honored to serve the family of Mary Lucille Deakins Smith.