Doris Christine Little

After a long period of declining health, Doris Christine Little died at home on March 11, 2009, one day after turning 85. In her final moments, as with all those that came before, God used her to bless others and increase the faith of those around her.

Doris was an accomplished woman. She was born in Abingdon, Virginia, graduated from William King High School, and completed courses at Mary Fry Business School. She enjoyed working in the clerical field for several businesses, including Holston Valley Hospital, Lowenstein's of Memphis, J. Fred Johnson Department Store, and Mason-Dixon. She was actively involved in two family-owned businesses - Little & Adams and A&L Industrial Construction & Maintenance - for over 50 years. She was gifted with a precise and inquisitive mind, and she used this gift well in her working life.

She became a Christian when she was 12 years old and was brought up in the Methodist Church. As a devout Christian, her spiritual beliefs and faith were central to her life, and she felt her special gift was intercessory prayer for others. She was a faithful member of Colonial Heights United Methodist Church. In 1952, she was one of the charter members who helped organize a unit of Women's Society of Christian Service. She received two special Mission Recognition pins from the United Methodist Women for her service.

Doris always enjoyed cooking and provided many wonderful meals for family and friends throughout her life. Always putting her family first, she made many sacrifices to help provide a warm, loving and nurturing home. She nourished her family's bodies with cherished heirloom recipes and their spirits with Christian principles. It was this generous spirit that she extended out to her church and to the community. Her days were spent serving the Lord and her family, and accomplishing His good work through a life of grace. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, and will be greatly missed by all her family.

She was preceded in death by her parents Henry A. and Laura Belle Ratcliffe, and two sisters - Evelyn Harris and Alberta Ratcliffe.

She is survived by her loving husband of 65 years, Tom; two daughters - Jane Adams and husband Roy, Rachel Lanthorn and husband Wayne, all of Kingsport; three granddaughters - Tabitha Sells and husband Sean, Kingsport; Dr. Hayley Evans and husband David, Pine Mountain, Georgia; and Dr. Hannah Harvey and husband Joseph, Atlanta; three great-grandchildren - Henry and Tillie Sells, and Gabriella Evans; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. The family is most grateful to all of her caregivers, medical providers, and Hospice nurses who were invaluable in the excellent care they provided her.


The family will receive friends from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday at Colonial Heights United Methodist Church.

Services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday at the church with Rev. Thomas Seay and Dr. Angela Hardy Cross littleofficiating. Burial will follow at East Lawn Memorial Park. Family will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be current and former employees.