Obituaries

Mar 2, 2019

Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.”

Rev. Smith E. Kestner, 98, was called to his heavenly home by his Savior Jesus Christ. Born February 23, 1921 – March 2, 2019. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II on...

Mar 2, 2019

Johnnie Bragg, 67, of Jonesborough, went to be with the Lord Saturday, March 2, 2019, following an extended illness. Born in Kingsport, Johnnie has lived in this area all of his life. A graduate of Sullivan Central, he played football all 4 years. He was an avid car collector and loved to be outdoors. Johnnie loved to sing, and he...

Mar 2, 2019

Russell Wayne Stewart, 58, of Bristol, passed away on Saturday, March 2, 2019 at Bristol Regional Medical Center. He grew up in Blountville and had resided in Bristol for most of his life. Rusty was a 1978 graduate of Sullivan Central High School.  He currently was employed at Aerus Electrolux in Bristol, VA for almost 40 years. Rusty enjoyed spending...

Mar 1, 2019

Jerry A. “Bird” Baines, 65, of Jonesborough, died Friday, March 1, 2019, after a courageous battle with cancer. He loved motorcycles and tinkering in the garage.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lonnie and Vella Baines.

Special thanks to Gene Littleton for keeping check on Jerry in his last days.

Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. on...

Feb 27, 2019

Donald R. Willis, 84, went to be with the Lord on February 27, 2019.  He was a member of Good Shepherd Baptist Church where he served as a deacon.  He served in the U.S. Army and was employed at Holston Defense/BAE for 41 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, W.D. and Lucy Willis; 5 brothers; 5 sisters;...

Feb 27, 2019

Ralph Barkley, 62, Kingsport, passed away on Wednesday, February 27, 2019.

A Celebration of Life with Holy Communion will be held on Saturday, March 2, 2019 at 2:00 pm at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, 584 Lebanon Rd., Kingsport, TN 37663.  A reception will follow the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church Food...

Feb 27, 2019

Mack Quillen, aged 94, went to be with the Lord the morning of Wednesday, February 27, 2019. He was born in Church Hill, TN on July 27, 1924, the son of the late George Patton Quillen and the late Bertha Simpson Quillen. He resided in Colonial Heights most of his adult life until moving to Augusta, GA seven years ago...

Feb 26, 2019

McKinley Mack Manis, 79, of Kingsport, TN, passed away on Tuesday, February 26, 2019 at his residence after a battle with cancer.  McKinley was born in Hawkins County, TN on May 21, 1939.  He served in the U.S. Army and retired from Eastman Chemical Company after 36 years of service.  McKinley was always ready and willing to help people in...

Feb 26, 2019

Earnest Lewis Maples, 73, of Blountville, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, February 26, 2019. Born in Pennington Gap, VA, he had lived in this area most of his life.  He proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War.  Lewis was a diesel mechanic with Mason-Dixon Trucking for many years.  He then retired from...

Feb 26, 2019

Kathleen Ann McConnell, 49, of Johnson City, passed away on February 28, 2019. Kathleen graduated from Dobyns-Bennett High School, University of the South with a degree in English, and her junior year spent at the University of Oxford (Hertford College) and the University of South Caroline with a Master’s Degree in English. She also studied ballet and violin for many...

Feb 24, 2019

Beloved husband, dad and grandpa

Lawrence Alan Larkey, 71, of Orlando, formerly of Kingsport passed away peacefully, on Sunday, February 24, 2019, surrounded by his family following a brief unexpected illness. Born in Kingsport, TN on July 30, 1947, the son of the late Lawrence E. and Dana Larkey.  He graduated from Dobyns- Bennett High School in 1965 and attended...

Feb 24, 2019

Nancy Louise Cox, 79, passed away peacefully after a short illness at Johnson City Medical Center on Sunday, February 24, 2019. She was born in Kingsport, TN and resided there all her life. Nancy loved helping other people and loved her family. She was employed by Kingsport Electric for almost 40 years.

She was preceded in death by her parents;...

Feb 24, 2019

Joann Merck Rasnake, 89, passed away on Sunday, February 24, 2019 at Holston Valley Medical Center after a brief illness. She was of the Baptist faith and had been a member of Pleasant View Baptist Church, having been saved at an early age.  She had lived in Kingsport for most of her life.

She was preceded in death by her...

Feb 23, 2019

Sam Wesley Hicks, Sr., 81, of Kingsport, entered his heavenly home on Saturday, February 23, 2019. He was a lifelong resident of Kingsport, having retired from Kingsport Press/Quebecor Printing in 2001 after 44 and a half years of service. Wes was a member of First Free Will Baptist Church of Morrison City for over 56 years and served as Chairman...

Feb 22, 2019

Bill Dove, 89, of Kingsport passed away Saturday, February 23, 2019. He was born in Daulphin County, PA. Bill lived in the Harrisonburg, VA area until March 1966, moving to Kingsport, TN the same year. He worked for Mason Dixon Lines as a long distance truck driver.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Jeanette Horne Dove; mother and...

Feb 21, 2019

James R. “Jim” Sneed, 77, of Kingsport, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, February 21, 2019 at Holston Manor following a period of declining health.  Born in Sullivan County, TN on March 6, 1941, a son of the late Henry and Stella Byrd Sneed, he had resided in this area his entire life. He attended Holston High...

Feb 21, 2019

Feb 21, 2019

The beautiful musical journey ended today, Thursday, February 21, 2019, with the death of Rachel Woods Skinner.  It began many years ago in Ashland, KY. There she participated in many musical programs in school, and traveled many summers to Lake Placid New York for training in voice and cello. At Dennison University in Ohio she was in many programs as...

Feb 21, 2019

Gary “Wayne” Horn, 65, of Concord, NC, went home to be with the Lord unexpectedly Thursday, February 21, 2019, at Atrium Health University Hospital. Born in Rantoul, IL, on November 12, 1953, son of Vaughn and Jean Horn, he graduated from Ravenswood High School in West Virginia in 1971. Gary was a veteran, having served in the Air Force. He...

Feb 21, 2019

Steve “Pug” Lawson, 62, of Jonesborough, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, February 21, 2019. Born in Eidson, TN, he had resided most of his life in the area. Steve was a huge UT Vols football fan. He enjoyed his gardening, and loved to fish and hunt.

He was preceded in death by his father, Arnold Lawson; and...