Terry "Flea" Whitaker

Flea Whitaker went to be with the Lord on December 30, 2025 at the Johnson City Medical Center. He was a lifelong resident of Kingsport. He graduated from Sullivan Central High School, where he was an exceptional basketball player. Flea was currently employed at Eastman Chemical Company and had been there for 37 years. He always loved hunting, working on cars, but what he loved most of all was his family and grandchildren. While his kids were young he enjoyed many years of coaching and building lasting relationships with all the kids that still call him “Coach Flea.” He played softball for various public leagues throughout the years. He was a loving husband, dad, brother and papa, and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Rant & Lula Mae Spears; mother, Patsy Louis Barnes Whitaker; brother, David Whitaker; and fur baby “CoCo.”

Those left to cherish his memories are his loving wife, Sherry whom he has been married to for 41 years; daughter, Jamie Christian and husband, Mark; son, Chris Whitaker and wife, Emily. Flea was a proud Papa to four grandchildren, Reilee Christian, Aiden Christian, Leeya Kate and Allie Whitaker; father, Claude Whitaker; sister, Sarah Spangler and husband, John; and several nieces and nephews; and fur baby “Zoey.”

The Family will receive friends on Saturday, January 3, 2026 from 12:00 – 2:00 pm in the Chapel of Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home & Memorial Park, 2630 Highway 75, Blountville, TN 37617 with funeral services to follow with Brother Randall Roller officiating. Graveside services to follow in the Hamlett-Dobson Memorial Park Garden of Peace.

Pallbearers will be Russell Pope, Tommy Lawson, Tony Mann, Al Parker, Hunter Hawkins and Aiden Christian. Honorary Pallbearers will be David Webb, Kevin Whitehead, and Billy Houser.

Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Terry Lee Whitaker.