Valerie E. Joh

Valerie E. Joh passed peacefully into the arms of the Lord October 30, 2026, surrounded by her family and loved ones. She was born the second child and first daughter of Dorothy White Edwards and Val Edwards on May 18, 1938, and was christened Valerie Vera Edwards. She spent nearly her entire life in the beloved city she called home, Kingsport, Tennessee. A graduate of Dobyns-Bennett High School, she attended Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia before completing her education at Katharine Gibbs School in Boston, Massachusetts. She began her career as secretary to the president of Longview National Band and worked as a secretary in the home building industry before presiding over Blue Ridge Properties, a real estate venture she and her children have nurtured into one of the region's preeminent real estate companies. In addition to her highly successful career, she was even more dedicated to and appreciated for her civic and philanthropic contributions to her community. She started as a water safety and swimming instructor for the City of Kingsport and taught over 9,000 people to swim. She was an alderman for the city of Kingsport for ten years and was then appointed by Governor Bredesen to serve on the Tennessee Real Estate Commission. She also served on advisory boards for Holston Valley Hospital and Indian Path Hospital. She was very passionate about her faith, teaching Sunday School at St. Paul Church and serving on church boards at both First Presbyterian Church and First Broad Street United Methodist Church. She was instrumental in bringing the Kingsport Carousel to life and personally carved Morning Glory the Unicorn, Sassy the Dancing Cat and Pickle the Flying Pig.

She lived her entire life feeling very blessed, particularly when it came to family. In 1959, she married Bill Glynn and together they welcomed three children: Ted Glynn (Beth), Colette (Ron, previously deceased) George, and Jenne (Tim) Berrigan. In 1984, she married Gale Joh and welcomed Camille Burdine and Hunter Joh as beloved stepchildren. She was a very proud grandmother to Joshua George, Val (Claire) George, Raven (Mila) Glynn, Madeline (Hartley) Depass, Peyton Deason and Allison Glynn. She was also recently blessed with her first great grandchild, Charles George. She is also survived by her brother and sister, Jim (Linda) Edwards, and Gayle (Tom) Despard, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

To those who knew and loved her, she will forever be remembered and admired for her faith in God, her devotion to her family and church, her charitable and joyous spirit and her appreciation of life and thankfulness for her many blessings.

The funeral service will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Kingsport, Tennessee at 3 p.m. on Monday, November 9, 2026. The family will receive friends following the service in the church fellowship hall.

There will be an inurnment service at Oak Hill Memorial Park on Tuesday, November 10, 2026. The time of service will be announced in the coming days.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church at 100 W. Church Circle, Kingsport, TN 37660 or the Kingsport Carousel 415 Broad Street, Kingsport, TN 37660 in memory of Valerie Joh.