Edith Overbey

Edith Russell Overbey, 87, of Kingsport, joined her husband of 64 years, David B. Overbey, for a reunion celebration in heaven on Tuesday afternoon. She leaves behind her two sons and their families, a brother, several nieces and nephews, a host of friends and neighbors and fellow members of Litz Manor Baptist Church.

Edith was born in Hawkins County and attended Rogersville High School. When her parents sold their farm in Persia and moved to Kingsport, she began working in spinning at Tennessee Eastman Kodak, where she worked from 1942 to 1947 and where she met her future husband, David. They married in 1947 and had two sons. Edith was a devoted and loving wife and mother.

While Edith spent most of her married life as a housewife and homemaker, she began to work outside the home as her sons entered high school and college. She worked in the Kingsport Office of the U.S. Census Bureau for the 1970 Census and then was Deputy Registar for the Sullivan County Election Commission. She was a long-time volunteer for the 1st District Congressman, Jimmy Quillen, over the years addressing thousands of envelopes for the area Congressman's letters to graduating high school students.

In addition to her family, Edith was devoted to her church family at Litz Manor Baptist Church, where for many years she was a Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teacher and a member of the WMU. Edith was an avid reader and was seldom without a book.

Edith Overbey will long be remembered for her quiet and dignified manner. She was truly a gracious and giving lady, contributing to her community, her church and her family. She particularly doted on her granddaughters. Nonetheless, she was a fighter, keeping the home fires bright while her husband served aboard ship in World War II and the Korean War and beating back breast cancer and heart disease.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, David B. Overbey; parents, James Dewey and Velma Douglas Russell; sister, Margaret Jewel Padgett; and brother, Joseph R. Russell.

Edith is survived by sons, D. Russell Overbey and wife, Carolyn of Knoxville, TN, and Douglas Overbey and wife, Kay of Maryville, TN; daughters, Kathleen O. Thomas and husband, Ryan of Brentwood, TN, Hannah Millard of Maryville, TN, and Elizabeth O. Thomason and husband, Matt of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL; brother, G. Donald Russell and wife, Helen of Oak Ridge, TN; brother-in-law, Samuel L. Padgett of Seymour, TN; sister-in-law, Bobbie B. Russell of Hendersonville, TN; nieces, Margaret Jane Seaton and husband, John of Greeneville, TN, Samantha Lee Bruce and husband, Wayne of Jonesborough, TN; and Terri Lynn Gruenwald and husband, Bill of Hendersonville, TN; and nephew, James Joseph Russell and wife, Lori of Greenville, SC.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, October 25th from 6-8:00 pm at Hamlett-Dobson, Kingsport.
Funeral services will be conducted on Friday, October 26th at 11:00 am at Litz Manor Baptist Church with Dr. Danny M. West and Pastor Chris Alford officiating. The body will be taken to the church thirty minutes prior to services.

Burial will follow the service at Oak Hill Memorial Park.

Pallbearers will be the men of Litz Manor Baptist Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in honor of Edith's life and memory be made to Litz Manor Baptist Church, 1383 Dewey Ave., Kingsport, TN 37664.