Sallie Louise Holtsclaw Freeman, 96, of Roan Mountain, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday, February 19, 2016, at Johnson City Medical Center, surrounded by her family.
Mrs. Freeman was a lifelong resident of the Roan Mountain community and was the daughter of the late Will and Minnie Johnson Holtsclaw. She was of the Baptist faith.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Alexander “Eck” Freeman; brothers, Rome, Howard, Herman, Robert and Jim Holtsclaw; sisters, Florence Barnett (Mitch) and Nellie Hall (Lydia); step-children, George Freeman (Virginia), Ray Freeman (Frances), Ted Freeman (Juanita), Myrtle Birchfield (Tom) and Mabel Gouge (Widener); grandchildren, Helen Guinn, Randy Freeman and Harley McKinney; sons-in-law, Danny McKinney and Joel Chambers; and a grandson-in-law, Phillip Bennett.
Sallie has left behind to cherish her memory her brother, Wayne Holtsclaw and wife Willie; her children, sons, Bobby Freeman and wife Barbara of Mountain City, Tenn., Harlan “Nib” Freeman and wife Sharon of Petersburg, Alaska, Garfield “Ook” Freeman and wife Martha of Roan Mountain and Buster “Buck” Freeman and wife Sherry of Elk Park, N.C.; her daughters, Barbara McKinney and Patsy Chambers of Roan Mountain and Kathie Storie and husband Leslie of Jonesborough and a special son-in-law Larry “Jug” McKinney of Johnson City; her beloved grandchildren who knew her as “Granny,” Paulette Street and husband Larry, a grandson-in-law, Willie “Bill Allen” Guinn, Jennifer Freeman Merrell and husband James, Tami Freeman Simpson and husband Rick, Lesia Freeman Griswold and husband Alan, Timothy Freeman and wife Chrystal, Holly Freeman Houston and husband Mark, Dean Freeman and wife Carrie, Wendy McKinney Moody and husband P.J., Cindy McKinney Jones and husband Terry, Michael McKinney and wife Kimberly, Chad McKinney, Jerome Storie and Amanda Storie Foster; her great-grandchildren who called her “Granny Sallie,” Tommy and Bobby Guinn, Sydney and Spencer Merrell, Rochelle Callison and Cole Simpson, Garrett and Gracie Freeman, Matthew and Hayden Houston, Cody McKinney, Kristopher and Kourtney Yarber, Justin Banner and Coleton McKinney and Katelynn and Caleb Bennett; her great-great-grandchildren, Thomas Guinn, Michelle Whitley, Nicole Guinn, Cheyann Davis, Serena and Wyatt Callison, Pandora Yarber and Braylin and Aiden Banner; her great-great-great-grandchildren, Bryson and Jaden Whitley; and several nieces and nephews and extended family.
She worked at the Bemberg Plant, as a store clerk and cook. She enjoyed working in her garden and flowers until her health didn’t allow it, embroidery and word search puzzles. But, most of all, she loved cooking for and serving her family. When you came into her home she wanted to know if you were hungry or if you had had anything to eat.
A Celebration of Life service for Mrs. Freeman will be conducted at 7 p.m. Monday, February 22¸ at Tetrick Funeral Home, Rhododendron Chapel, Roan Mountain, with Ministers, Mr. Randy English and Mr. Michael Ricker, officiating. Music will be provided by Sherry Freeman, Holly Houston and Holly Ricker. The family will receive friends in the funeral home chapel from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, prior to the service, or other times at the residence. The graveside service and interment will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday, February 23, at Holtsclaw Cemetery in Sugar Hollow, Roan Mountain. Active pallbearers will be grandsons, Timothy Freeman, Dean Freeman, Michael McKinney, Chad McKinney and Jerome Storie, and grandsons-in-law, Alan Griswold, Mark Houston, P.J. Moody and Terry Jones. Honorary pallbearers will be Delaney Barnett, Dana Barnett, Doug Barnett, Chris Barnett, Kim Barnett, Sam Potter, Harold Brown and Steve Odom. Those wishing to attend are asked to meet the family at the funeral home at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday to go in procession to the cemetery. The Freeman family would like to extend a special thank you to her special caregiver, Kelsey Key, and the staff of Roan Highlands ReHab and Roan Highlands Nursing Center for the love and care shown to “Miss Sallie.” Online condolences may be shared with the family at our website, www.tetrickfuneralhome.com
Tetrick Funeral Home, Roan Mountain, is serving the Freeman family. Obituary Line: (423) 543-4917. Office: (423) 772-3928.