Obituary of Betty Lou Blair

Betty Lou Russell Blair, 77, of Kingsport, went home to be with the Lord, early Thursday morning, April 17, 2014, at Preston Place II after a brief illness. She was born in Randleman, N.C., she was a former resident of Church Hill and had lived in Kingsport for the past two years. Betty retired from Higher Ground Baptist Church where she was a devoted member. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and sister. Betty loved spending time with her grandchildren. Words cannot express the love, care and kindness shown us by the staff and residents of Preston Place Community, Betty and Wallace's home over the past year. Also a special thank you to Caris Hospice. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ted and Thelma Huddleston Russell; and a sister, Mary Ruth Shelton . Surviving are her loving husband of 59 years, Clifton Wallace Blair; children, Clifton Wallace "Wally" Blair, Jr., Cindy Dorton and husband Ralph "Buzz," Penny Sykes and husband, Mickey, Becky Head and husband, Bobby; grandchildren, Brian Sykes and wife, Jennifer, Jeremy Dorton and wife, Lynn, Amanda Sykes and Lily Head; great granddaughters, Haley Godsey and Miranda Sykes; brothers, Jimmy Russell and wife, Lois and Frank Russell; sisters, Dot Jackson, Ann Hagy and husband, Sam, Carolyn Hammond and husband, Raymond, Maxine Surgenor and husband, Steve and Irene Anderson and husband, Wayne; many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews who loving called her Aunt Betty. The family will receive friends from 4 - 7 pm Friday at Carter-Trent Funeral Home 520 Watauga St., Kingsport. A funeral service will follow at 7 pm in the funeral home chapel with Dr. Phil Hoskins and Pastor Tommy Shuler officiating. Music will be provided by Tommy and Sherry Shuler and Ashley Pierce and Tina Horne. A graveside service will be conducted at 11 am Saturday at Oak Hill Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Brian Allen Sykes, Jeremy Dorton, Scott Anderson, Mike Shelton, Mark Hammond, Steven Linkous, Randy Gregg and Randy Hammond. Family and friends are asked to meet at the funeral home to go to the cemetery in a procession. Carter-Trent Funeral Home, downtown Kingsport, is serving the family of Betty Lou Blair.