Barbara Newsome Deere

Barbara Newsome Deere, age 73 of Nashville, TN, formerly of Kingsport, passed away Friday, March 11, 2016. Ms. Deere was born July 11, 1942 in Kingsport, TN to Hamner Ellyson Newsome and the former Alice Delena Necessary, and was a graduate of Dobyns-Bennett High School, and a member of First Broad Street United Methodist Church. She went on to attend Emory University and received a Bachelor's Degree in English from the University of Tennessee.

Ms. Deere began her career working in real estate in the Tri-Cities area. After her time in real estate she was the Director of Upper East Tennessee Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence. She then accepted the position of Director of Marketing with Johnson City Medical Center and went on to assume the same role at North Side Hospital where she was also a member of their administrative council. She was then promoted to the Regional Marketing Director for HCA. Following her time with HCA, she accepted a position as the Marketing Director for Russell County Medical Center in Southwest Virginia. During her time in Russell County, she wrote a weekly column for the local paper and also had her own radio show. After retiring and moving to Nashville, she decided to return to work and became the Office Manager for Rubenfeld Law Office.

Ms. Deere felt strongly about being involved in the community, and consistently gave her time to many causes and organizations, including serving as president of the Russell County Chamber of Commerce just before retiring. During her time in Nashville, she volunteered as a reading tutor for elementary aged children with Davidson County Schools.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

She is survived by three daughters Lynn Dorton, married to John Dorton, Nashville, Michelle Edwards, Nashville, and Leslie Deere, London UK; three grandchildren, Hunter Dorton, married to Rachel, Carter Dorton, and Sarah Edwards Taylor; three great-grandchildren, Drew, Kelsey and Grayson Dorton; step-mother, Dorothy Newsome, Kingsport; many aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family and friends.

The family will hold a memorial service and then receive friends at 11 AM on Saturday, April 23, 2016 at First Broad Street United Methodist Church with the Rev. Joe Green presiding. A private family burial service will be at Oak Hill Memorial Park in Kingsport, TN.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee, 1704 Charlotte Ave., Ste 200, Nashville, TN 37203 and to the Tennessee Literacy Coalition, tnliteracy.org.