Carol Mae Releford

TEMPLE, Ga. — Carol Mae Releford, Aug. 26, 1965 – March 15, 2011, went home to be with the Lord after a courageous battle with Lupus. Carol passed away peacefully at her home in Temple, Ga., with her family by her side.

Carol was born and raised in Kingsport before settling in Temple, Ga. She was born the daughter of the late Ruby J. Pierce and Billy Saucers. She was a woman of great faith.

Carol will forever be remembered by her husband Frankie Releford, her loving sisters, Betsy Tompkins of Kingsport,
Susan Beard of Atlanta, Ga., Hedda Beard of Temple, Ga.; devoted
Beard and brothers, Joseph James Beard, both of Kingsport; beloved children, Sanchez Releford of Kings- port, Alloah Releford, Charmaine Releford and Faheem Releford, all of Temple, Ga.; treasured grandchildren, Kaban and Keelen Releford, Imani and Eric Releford; along with a special auntie, more like a sister, Daisy Pierce; and uncles, Willie Joe and Timothy Pierce; and her precious nephews and nieces; as well as a countless of other family and friends who were blessed to know her.

Carol sang like an angel and loved being with her family, loved her friends and deeply enjoyed watching her beloved grandchildren.

Carol Mae Releford touched the lives of many people with her love and generosity, and maintained her trademark kindness and songs of joy all the way throughout her life.

Friends and family are invited to celebrate her life during a memorial service on Sunday, March 27, 2011, at 2 p.m. at the Full Gospel Mission Church on East Sevier Ave.

Please contact family for donations and for further information at (423) 340-6692.

John Edwards III

KINGSPORT — Mr. John Edwards III, 66, passed away peacefully on Tuesday (March 22, 2011), at his home with his family and his loyal companions, his dogs, Samson and Eve, by his side.
Mr. Edwards was a member of Lee Street Baptist Church, Bristol, Va. He retired from Northeast State. John served in the U.S. Navy, served a tour of duty in Desert Storm and retired from the Naval Reserve. John enjoyed being on the golf course until his health no longer permitted. He also served as president of the Douglass High School Alumni of Bristol, Va.
John was preceded in death by his mother, Mrs. Jeanette Edwards; father, Mr. John Edwards Jr.; sister, Mrs. Barbara A. Edwards; grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Ben (Eva) Gammon.
John leaves to mourn his passing and cherish his memory, his two sons; his devoted caretaker, Mr. John (Scotty) Edwards and Mr. William (Billy) Fugate; a special friend and the mother of his children, Mrs. Charlyne Edwards; aunt, Mrs. Josephine Grudger, Decatur, Ga.; and a host of other loving relatives and friends; his golfing partners, Mr. Vernon Smith, the Rev. James Whiteside and Alex Hall; co-workers of Warriors Path Golf Club.
The family also would like to thank Amedisys Hospice for the care and dedicated service they provided for their loved one.
The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until the hour of service on Friday at Lee Street Baptist Church, 1 W. Mary St., Bristol, Va .
Funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday at the church with the Rev. Dr. W.A. Johnson officiating.
The interment will follow at V.A. National Cemetery, Mountain Home, Tenn. Military rites will be conducted by D.A.V. Honor Guard Chapter #40.
Mr. John Edwards III and family are in the care of R.A. Clark Funeral Service Inc. (423) 245-4971 and (423) 764-8584.
www.raclarkfuneralservice.com

Irene Shoemaker

GATE CITY, Va. — Irene Shoemaker, 88, Gate City, Va., passed away Saturday (March 12, 2011) at Wellmont Holston Valley Medical Center.

Irene was born in Tazewell County, Va., on July 4, 1922, to the late Jim and Nannie Johnson. It was in Tazewell County, Va., where she attended school until moving to Gate City, Va., on Oct. 6, 1941, to be with her mother. She loved gardening, caring for pets, and keeping house. She spent 26 years in house service with Inter Mountain Telephone Company, 14 years at the Gate City Laundry Mat, and in 1997 she took on the job of caregiver.
She loved the Atlanta Braves baseball team and watching Tiger Woods play golf. Going to the Fairview Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays was a passion she pursued for 30 years.
She was a member of Hale’s Chapel Church.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by seven brothers and three sisters.
She is survived by cousins, Virginia Clemons, Tazewell, Va., and Mrs. Fay Vi n e y, Tazewell, Va.; and one granddaughter, Adrianna Latoia “Toy” Shoemaker, Greenville, Tenn.; grandson, Jason Shoemaker; and daughter-in-law, Aubrey Shoemaker, Greeneville, Tenn.
The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m. Thursday at the Gate City Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. in the Gene Falin Memorial Chapel of the funeral home with the Rev. Rochelle Maxwell and Pastor Keenan West officiating.
Burial will follow in the Holston View Cemetery, Weber City, Va. Carl Muncey, Bob Payne, Wallace Ross, Jr., and Buster Stacy will serve as pallbearers. James Woods and Wallace Ross Sr. will serve as honorary pallbearers. An online guest registry is available for the Shoemaker family at www.gatecityfunerals.com. Gate City Funeral Home is honored to be serving the family of Irene Shoemaker.

Rosetta Marie Gulatte

KINGSPORT — Sister Rosetta Marie Gulatte, 89 of Kingsport, departed this life at Holston Valley Medical Center Saturday (March 12, 2011).

She was preceded in death by her parents, Clara Mooney Snoddy and Talmon Andrew Snoddy; husband, Willie True Gulatt; a devoted son-in-law, Eugene Hood; sisters, Nannie Kate Lee, Mary Alice Grissom and Lillian Cannon.
She is survived by her loving and devoted daughter, Linda Jane Hood, Kingsport; son, Andrew (Mary Anne), Greeneville, Tenn.; grandchildren, Joshua A. Gulatte, Savannah, Ga., Willie Andrew Gulatte, McDonald, Ga., Rashard Gulatte, Rockingham, N.C.; step-grandchildren, Mack Wise, Atlanta, Ga., Sabrina Gay, Baltimore, Md., Jeffery Almond, McDonald, Ga.; nieces, Ada Ruth Moultry, Kingsport, Velma (Arthur) Lemon, Atlanta, Ga., Valerie Lee McCoy, Greeneville, Tenn., Carmella R. Lee, Johnson City, Tenn.; nephews, John Robert Lee, Jr., Hollywood, Fla., Lafayette Lee, Greeneville, Tenn., James (Michelle) Lee Boynton Beach, Fla.; a host of great-nieces and great-nephews; special friends and thanks to Mrs. Ollie Perry and the Shiloh Baptist church family.
Funeral services for Sister Gulatte will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Thursday at Shiloh Baptist Church with, Dr. Rev. Kenneth Calvert officiating.
The internment will follow at Warrensburg Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until the hour of service.
Sister Gulatte and family are in the care of R. A. Clark Funeral Service, Inc.
www.raclarkfuneralservice@yahoo.com, 423-245-4971.

Mrs. Donna Gail Perry

KINGSPORT — Mrs. Donna Gail Perry, 54, 247 Carver St. Kingsport, departed this life on Thursday, (March 10, 2011) after a long illness at Holston Valley Medical Center.

She was the daughter of the late Mr. James Hoard and Mrs. Mildred Hoard. Mrs. Perry was born on Jan. 8, 1957, in Kingsport, where she lived all her life.

She is survived by her husband, Mr. Henry Perry; two daughters, Ms. Selena Perry and Mrs. Michelle Perry; one granddaughter, Ashant Perry; three sisters, Ms. Brenda Wood, Atlanta, Ga., Mrs. Janet (Grover) Miller and Ms. Deborah Butts; several nephews and nieces; a special best friend and nephew, Mr. Kalid Azizz; closest best friends, Ms. Helen Beatty, Ms. Betty Ann Thomas, Mrs. Glenda Vaughan, Mrs. CeCe Rutledge and Mrs. Tammy Martin and a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral services Mrs. Donna Gail Perry will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Tuesday at Powerful New Life with, Elder Hugh Hale, officiating.

The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until the hour of service.

The internment will follow at V.A. National Cemetery.

Mrs. Perry and family are in the care of R.A. Clark Funeral Service, Inc.

www.raclarkfuneralservice.com 423-245-4971