Frances Blessing Reed

Frances Blessing Reed, 88, of Kingsport, passed away August 2, 2011 following an extended battle with heart disease. She was a wife, mother, sister, friend, teacher, volunteer, and lifelong member of several community organizations.

Frances was born in Cassard, Virginia, the daughter of John and Ethel Blessing, and moved with her family to Kingsport during her childhood. She graduated from Dobyns-Bennett High School and proudly worked as a secretary and bookkeeper for the City of Kingsport and served as a nurse's aid at the hospital during World War II. Frances went on to pursue an education at the college level receiving both a bachelors and masters degree in education from East Tennessee State University. She taught for 30 years at Jackson Elementary School in Kingsport City Schools.

During her retirement years, Frances enjoyed her friends and the opportunities to participate in Delta Kappa Gamma, the West Kingsport Women's Club, Kingsport Garden Club, The Kingsport City Retired Teachers Organization, The Crusaders, and activities surrounding her membership in Mafair United Methodist Church. She gained great pleasure from volunteering, loving the opportunities of gift wrapping at Christmas for the Boys and Girls Club and decorating at the Netherland Inn.

Frances was preceded in death by her husband, Jack M Reed, her son-in-law, William F. Riesberg, two brothers, James E. and Hugh W. Blessing, one sister, Ruth Joleen Blessing, and her parents, John and Ethel Blessing.

She is survived by her daughters Karen Reed-Wright and her husband James F. Wright of Kingsport and Sandra Reed Riesberg of Charleston, SC.

Frances is also survived by 5 grandchildren: Peyton Jennings-Wright of Dallas, TX; Niki Riesberg Grimball and husband, Michael of Charleston, SC; Brooke Riesberg of Charleston, SC; Brian Riesberg and wife, Aleta of Mount Pleasant, SC; and Buffy Riesberg Gillespie and husband, Matt of Charleston, SC; and five great-grandchildren.

She is also survived by two brothers: Audley L. Blessing and his wife, Helen of Blountville, TN and Gordon Blessing and his wife, Jean of Kingsport. She is survived by one sister-in-law, Joan Blessing of Florence, SC and several nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 4, 2011 at Oak Hill Memorial Park. A memorial service will follow at Mafair United Methodist Church at 2 p.m. with Rev. Kim Goddard officiating. The family will receive friends in the Fellowship Hall at the church following the service.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to any of the following: Mafair United Methodist Church 1409 E. Center St. Kingsport, TN 37664, American Heart Association http://www.heart.org, or St. Jude Children's Hospital http://www.stjude.com.