Phillip Horton just celebrated his 90th birthday with family and friends.
To see pictures of the grand event, click the link below (courtesy of V. Bursey Photography, Atlanta).
https://www.vbursey.com/CelebrationsandParties/Phillip-Hortons-90th-Birtday
Pamela Jean Sensabaugh passed away Friday, July 12, 2024. She was the daughter of Cleveland and Mary Rutledge, born in Kingsport, Tennessee.
She graduated from Douglass High School in the Riverview Community. Pamela's class was one of the final graduating classes from Douglass. She also attended Clark University.
She began her career in the trucking industry as a secretary and advanced to Terminal Manager at Mason and Dixon, Overnite, and Service Transport.
Pamela worshipped and showed her love for the Lord at Central Baptist Church in Kingsport and Friendship Baptist in Greeneville, Tennessee. She loved to cook and bake. She enjoyed reading and solving a few pages in crossword books. Pamela always had an encouraging and caring word for her friends and family.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents, James and Lenora Clark; her parents, Cleveland and Mary Rutledge; and her loving husband, John E. Sensabaugh.
To celebrate and remember her life, she leaves her daughters, Marchita Sensabaugh and Meleka (Kevin) Arnett; grandkids, Natricia Onry, Antonio (Christine) Smith, Akeyia Arnett, Wesley Arnett, Kayden Arnett, and Braylon Arnett; great-grandkids, Cobi Thornton, Victoria Thornton, Demi Howard, Ilunga Smith, and Amir Smith; special cousins, Annette LeFlore, Mary Ann LeFlore, Donita White, special Friends Dawnella Ellis, Dallas Watterson, and Andra Watterson; Varley Hickman and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Services for Pamela Sensabaugh will be held on Monday, July 22, 2024 at the Central Baptist Church, 301 Carver Street, Kingsport. The visitation will be from 10 AM to 11AM, and the Celebration of Life will be from 11 AM to 12 Noon. Interment will be from 1 PM to 1:30 PM at the Mountain Home National Cemetery, 215 Heroes Drive, Mountain Home, TN.
Professional care for the Sensabaugh family is provided by R. A. Clark Funeral Chapel and Cremation Service, Inc. 802-806, East Sevier Avenue, Kingsport.
Mrs. Mary Carpenter, May 8, 1934 - July 4, 2024
Mary Deloris Wood Carpenter was the seventh child and youngest daughter out of ten children born to Thurman and Lula Wood. She was born and raised in Big Stone Gap, Virginia. At eight years old, she was baptized at First Baptist Church on Wood Avenue by Rev. A.S. Mitchell. She attended James Bland High School and graduated in June 1954. She then attended and completed one year at Swift Memorial Junior College.
She worked at North Electric and Strolee companies, where she made many friends because she never met a stranger. She joined Central Baptist Church and was loved by all who knew her. She had a beautiful tenor voice. She was a devoted choir member who had a personal strut when the choir marched in to sing. She could be seen from the choir stand doing her sign language to someone sitting in the pews saying, "I love you." Even at age 90, she remained active in the choir until God called her home. She loved her church family, and sometimes the Lord would put someone on her heart to call and sing, "I just called to say I love you." Everyone was either "little boy," "little girl," or "the shot."
Mary was a woman of many talents. Her love of painting ceramics can be seen throughout her home. She also loved candles and had many, many different beautiful plants! She was the Matriarch of her family and loved family gatherings where sometimes she'd show her dance moves. She was also a wonderful poet; most of her poems were to her siblings who went before her.
Some of her favorite sayings were: "Hi darling!" If one of her grandchildren or children were leaving for a trip, she would say, "You better get on the road before it gets dark." If you were discussing something with her, she would look at you and say, "Be real," when she was troubled about anything, she would say, "Merciful Father." She knew who to call on! She had an unfathomable devotion to her family. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Thurman and Lula Wood; husband, Aubrey Carpenter, Sr.; sisters, Mabel, Dorothy, Ruth, Gloria Ann, Doris, and Billie Sue; brothers, Wayne, Eugene, and Clinton; children, Jeffery, Ronald, and Angela; and one grandson.
She is survived by her son, Aubrey (Tobey) Carpenter Jr.; daughters, Donna (Raymond) Bowers and Erika Carpenter; 15 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildrens, three great-great grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins; a special friend, Mary Burns; two church sisters, Mrs. Betsy Ann Pierce and Mrs. Frances Graves; two church sons, Donald Davenport and Melvin Drumgoole; as well as a host of many, many friends.
Visitation for Mary Carpenter will be Monday, July 15, 2024 from 11 AM to 12 Noon at the Central Baptist Church, 301 Carver Street, Kingsport. The service will follow at 12 Noon. Interment will be at the Oak Hill Cemetery.
The family is served by the R. A. Clark Funeral Chapel and Cremation Service, Inc., 802-806 East Sevier Avenue, Kingsport.
Charles Wright, age 77, passed away peacefully on July 9, 2024, at Holston Valley Hospital in Kingsport, TN. He was born on December 2, 1946, in Birmingham, AL, to Joe Spencer and Tommie Ree Wright. He attended Knoxville College and earned Biology and Chemistry degrees from East Tennessee State University.
Charles was a highly gifted man with multiple artistic and scientific skills, abilities, and talents. His favorite hobbies included music, bowling, hunting, fishing, taxidermy, and riding his motorcycle. He retired from Eastman Chemical Company as a Senior Research Chemist in 2008 and was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Charles is survived by his wife of 56 years, Dr. Brenda White Wright; daughters, Tamala D. Wright and Shana Q. Wright-Avery (Jeffery); son, Jamil R. Wright; grandchildren, Christopher, Jaisan, and Sean Avery; brothers Joe and Tommy Wright (Marsha); sister Carol Gayles; and several beloved nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.
A memorial service will not be held at this time.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution via mail to the ETSU Foundation (memo Dr. BWW Emerging Leaders Academy), P.O. Box 70721, Johnson City, TN 37614, or online at www.etsu.edu/ela.
Henry Perry departed this life Saturday, June 22, 2024. He was born in Norton, Virginia to Abram Perry and Ollie Mae Lewis.
The graveside service was held on Friday, July 5, 2024 at the Mountain Home National Cemetery.
Care of the Perry family provided by R.A. Clark Funeral Chapel and Cremation Service.
William Albert "Smiley" Carpenter, 70, of 1014 Maple Street, departed this life Monday, July 1, 2024, after a long illness.
Mr. Carpenter was born on January 18, 1954, a lifelong Kingsport citizen and a member of Mt. Zion Holiness Church. He also attended the Douglass Elementary School in Kingsport. He served in the U.S. Army. He was a member of Clinch Mountain Lodge 531 and Kingsport Masonic Lodge #688 F&AM.
He was preceded in death by his father, O'lan T. Carpenter; mother, Hattie Bristol; and several brothers and sisters.
Mr. Carpenter is survived by his children, Chad Lee and Dominic Peters; six grandchildren, Tiara Lee, Chae Lee, Jayla Lee, LaVeaha Harrison, TeArrius Brooks, and Ta'Kari Brooks; five brothers, James Henry, Richard Henry, Larry Carpenter, and James Carpenter; one sister, Mary Jane (Stanford) Treece; uncle, Lyneal Bristol; aunt, Edith Brown; special nephew, Clifford Miller; and several nieces, nephews and friends.
Services for William Carpenter will be held on Thursday, July 11th, 2024 from 12 PM to 1 PM at the Central Baptist Church, 301 Carver Street in Kingsport. Interment will follow at the Holston View Cemetery, 226-296 Yuma Road, Weber City, VA.
R.A. Clark Funeral Chapel and Crematory Service, 802-806 East Sevier Avenue, Kingsport is serving the Carpenter family.
Patricia Jane Wood - affectionately known as Trish by close family and friends - passed away June 23, 2024, in New Carrollton, Maryland, at the age of 71. She succumbed to multiple complications and effects of a stroke from 2017.
Patrica was born April 12, 1953, in Kingsport, Tennessee, to Fred and Dora Grace Lollar. Her early life was rooted in the values of family and community, which she carried throughout her life. Patricia was the 10th of 11 children born to Fred and Grace. She grew up in a close knit community and family, surrounded by high achievers and loving siblings.
The Lollar family may not have had much money, but they were highly respected and revered in the community. They showed love through acts of service, and had a huge amount of laughter and joy. Patricia and her siblings loved to sing, dance, and play cards. From Spades to Canasta to Pinocle and Bid Whist, the siblings always had a fun filled time when they were together. Patricia was in her element when she saw a pack of Bicycle cards in the room.
Trish began her school years at the segregated Fredrick Douglass Elementary school, where she thrived. She thought she would matriculate from Douglass High School like her older siblings, but a new, state of the art integrated high school, was built at the beginning of her high school journey. She graduated from Dobyns-Bennet High School in 1971.
Trish began dating George Wood of Gate City, Virginia, when they were both teens. When George graduated from high school in 1971, he enlisted in the United States Air Force. They were engaged before he left for basic training. Patricia left to attend Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Patricia and George were married December 23, 1973. They were married for 50 years at her passing. They had 3 children; Katrina Renee, George Douglas II, and Ebony Taiwana.
Patricia's husband George served in the Air Force for 20 years, a journey they navigated together with strength and resilience. The Wood family lived all around the United States and in Germany. Like most military spouses of her time, Patricia worked hard to maintain a sense of home, and to help provide for the family. Patricia was a woman of many talents, and used them all to make a comfortable home. One way she made money each time they moved was to tailor young airman's uniforms. She was an excellent seamstress, and could make anything from dresses to short sets, to coats and suits. She made curtains and pillows, and even handcrafted "Cabbage Patch" dolls. It was not uncommon to go shopping with her and hear "I can make that, and make it better, too."
Patricia's higher education journey was marked by perseverance, overcoming numerous challenges due to frequent relocations as a dedicated military spouse. Each time the family moved, she would take classes at a local college. However, when the family moved to the next military installation, local colleges would not accept most of her credits from previous institutions, and she would have to retake classes, or a new set of required coursework. Eventually, through sheer determination and hard work, Patricia graduated summa cum laude from Strayer University with a BS in Business Administration in 2000. By the time she graduated, Patricia had accumulated enough college credits around the country to have earned 2 undergraduate degrees.
Her professional life included various clerical roles within the US government and military, culminating in a position as an analyst for the US Postal Service, Office of Inspector General. Trish's career was a testament to her adaptability and determination, consistently rebuilding her professional life alongside her husband's deployments.
Patricia was a creative and outgoing individual, known for her many acts of service, loyalty, and a humorous, assertive nature that endeared her to many, and even scared a few. Her artistic talents shone through in her hobbies. She was the "OG" of upcycling. Her children knew to be wary if she stopped the car near a curb: that meant she would make them get out of the car to collect an item she would later renovate (yes, this was utterly embarrassing for her children!). Besides sewing, she was also amazing at macramé, painting, upholstering, jewelry making, cooking (she made the best peanut brittle and fudge you will ever find), and BARGAIN HUNTING!
Patricia was known for her thrift store finds, and had a regular thrift store circuit. She was known by name by thrift store employees from Clinton to Columbia. She had an eye for collectibles and treasures, and could envision a new life for quality furniture that had seen better days. She saw the beauty in things others discarded; at times, that meant people as well.
Faith played a significant role in Patricia's life. She was raised in Bethel AME Zion in Kingsport. As a military spouse, she attended service at numerous Protestant churches, but always tried to find an AME or AME Zion church when she could. She became a member of Union Bethel AME Church in Brandywine, Maryland, after George was stationed at Andrews AFB. She contributed passionately to her church community. She was an active member of the Guiding Lights Senior Group, Unity Choir, Women's Missionary Society, and the Order of the Eastern Star.
Trish is survived by her husband of 50 years, George, and their children and spouses, Katrina R. Dodro (George Scott), George II (Sheron), and Ebony T. Wood; grandchildren Isabella Sojourner, Amira Grace, and Trey; siblings Shirley Ann, Margaret Clara Eunice, and Ada Vanessa; and (too numerous to name) nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Charles Alfred and George Wesley, and sisters Freda, Elizabeth, Helen Francine, Zelma Huphelia, and Evelyn Beatrice, nephew Christopher Weaver, and niece Nicole Francine Lynch.
A memorial service was held Friday, July 5, 2024, at 10:00 AM at Union Bethel AME Church in Brandywine, MD.
The arrangements are under the care of Adams Funeral Home, P.A., in Aquasco, Maryland. Patricia's life was a portrait of service, love, and commitment. She left a lasting impact on everyone she touched. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that people donate blood if possible, or sign up to be an organ donor, continuing her legacy of service.