Danielle Treece

Danielle Treece, 71, of Kingsport went peacefully to be with the Rock of Ages, on February 1, 2019 following a short battle with cancer.    Danielle was born on December 26, 1947 into the biggest Christmas day snowstorm in Charlotte NC’s history.   Her late father James Daniel Bivins Jr. had to melt ice from the car tires to make it to the hospital on time, and her late mother, Frances Scott Bivins, would go on to say Danielle was the greatest Christmas gift she ever received. 

As a child, Danielle loved to teach her dolls music lessons - she would later say it was because they always did exactly what she asked of them.   At age 12, she became a big sister to James “Jimmy” Daniel Bivins III, whom she loved and cared for her whole life.

Danielle earned her B.A. in Christian education (CE) from Pfeiffer College, before spending three years in Albemarle, NC as a Director of CE at Central UMC which would forever be fond in her heart for its memories and friendships.   Following this, she obtained an M.A. in CE from Scarritt College.   At age 26, she felt God call her to “Go back to My church and feed My Sheep” - which she did for the next half century.   This began with a move to Kingsport in 1975 to serve as DCE at Mafair UMC.    Friends today still recount her walking out to the edge of a diving board to engage teenagers in a Bible study, in ways that would have lasting impact.  In 1977, she met and married a good ‘ole NC boy named Lanny Calvin Treece.   They were faithfully married for 41 years, with Lan-Man being her steady rock and friend.

In 1979 she became a mother and spent the next two decades faithfully raising her three sons, guiding them in the ways of the Lord.   She loved summer time, mountain streams, walks on the beach, and lemon tea every morning.   She enjoyed having meaningful conversations with family and friends, many into the late-night hours.  She had a silly side, “bad hair days”, and would dress in costumes for fun at any chance.

Danielle taught youth passionately for all of her life.  Known affectionately as “Donyell” or “Rabbi” she led numerous youth retreats and Bible studies at Mafair, as well as involvement in the Sonrise Emmaus Community.  She served on Kingsport’s Young Life committee for over 20 years.  In 1998, she worked with other parents and graduating seniors to found the Sullivan County Baccalaureate Service.  For over 10 years, she hosted a Mom’s-in-Touch prayer group to pray faithfully for their own children as well as many others.   In 2012 she published a book entitled “The Real Thing” in which she challenged young people to pursue God and to know him passionately and personally.   To her 11 grandchildren, she was tenderly known as “Meems”.  She loved holding each one as a baby and was a source of warmth and love for them all.

Danielle will be missed dearly by her husband, Lanny Calvin Treece; her son Mark Treece, and wife Ann; her son Ben Treece, and wife Meredith; and her son John Treece, and wife Crystal.  Her beloved brother Jimmy will also miss her greatly.  Her in-laws Coy and Julia Hudson and Betty Oelhafen will also miss her beautiful spirit.  She was preceded in death by her parents, and her fun-loving brother-in-law, Dick Oelhafen.   The hope of the family is that her 11 Treece grandchildren, Susanna, Caleb, Makayla, Samuel (Mark & Ann); Charlotte, Harrison, Amelia (Ben & Meredith); Luke, Claire, James, and Graham (John & Crystal); will one day follow the Lord with the same passion and zeal as their “Meems”.

Her race now complete, a celebration of her life will occur on Saturday, February 9^th at Mafair UMC. Visitation will be from 11:00am-1:30pm, followed by a service, and burial immediately afterwards in Oak Hill Memorial Park.   Memorial contributions can be made in her memory to either Kingsport Young Life or Mafair UMC Youth Fund, 1409 E. Center St. Kingsport, TN 37664.   As she would say, may you never settle for less than God’s best!