Area Obituaries

Betty Jean Fortenberry Riggs, 63 of Spencer, Tennesssee died Saturday, September 2, 2023. Betty loved her family, loved to cook, enjoyed working out, and taking care of her flower gardens. Betty always had a smile on her face, was an amazing caregiver, always giving her services to others, touched the lives of everyone she came…

Johnnie Harwood Hitchcox passed away peacefully on Monday, September 4, 2023 in the care of NHC Dunlap, Tennessee at the age of 93. Johnnie was born on February 11, 1930. She was a member of Bethel Church of Christ. Johnnie was preceded in passing by her son, Clayton Eugene (Big Boy) Harwood; her husbands, Harold…

Leatha Noreen (Wilks) Hildebrandt passed away at the age of 92 on September 6, 2023 in Pikeville, Tennessee of natural causes. Born April 26, 1931 in Muskegon Heights, Michigan, she attended Muskegon Height HS and upon graduation married her sweetheart Don Hildebrandt. She and Don started their family while Don served in the Navy for…

Jeremiah Swafford Jeremiah Swafford, 41, of Pikeville, Tennessee, died Tuesday, September 6, 2023. He was of the Baptist faith. He was a blacksmith and trained horses. He was a loving father and son.  He loved his children. He is preceded in death by his grandmother, Lottie Swafford; and grandfather, Buck Swafford. He is survived by…

Charles Kenneth Swafford, 72, of Pikeville, Tennessee died Monday, September 4, 2023. Kenneth loved his daughters, enjoying his grandchildren, and farming his cattle ranch. Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents, Manuel and Eunice Wright Swafford. Left to cherish his memory are his daughters, Kristal (James) Robbins, Ashley (David) Madewell; grandchildren, Lincoln and Kennedy…

Rhonda Darlene Roberts, 67 of Spring City, Tennessee died on Thursday, August 31, 2023 at Centennial Medical Center in Nashville. She was born in Winchester, Tennessee on January 18, 1956 to the late Henry Looney and Hazel Stubblefield Brinkley. Rhonda was a graduate of Bledsoe High School and the Rhea County Board of Education LPN…

Leroy Doyle Nation was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee on September 19, 1948. He attended Soddy Daisy High School and graduated in 1967. He retired from Binswanger Glass Company in Chattanooga. Leroy loved his family, grandkids, his fighting roosters, football, and any kind of racing. He was of the Baptist faith. Leroy was preceded in death…

Richard Carric Sapp, 63, of Pikeville, Tennessee died Monday, August 21, 2023. Richard loved his children, playing with his grandkids, fishing and drafting. He was of the Baptist faith. Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Robert C. “Bobby” Jr. and Pearlie Sapp. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Katrina Tompkins Sapp;…

Mike Glenn Dodson, 58, of Pikeville, Tennessee, lost his valiant battle with sudden respiratory failure on Saturday, August 26, 2023. Mike grew up in Ooltewah, Tennessee and graduated from Ooltewah High School in 1984. Above all, Mike was a loving and devoted father. He was always on the sidelines, in the stands, or wherever his…

Rodney Keith Watson, 67, of Resaca, Georgia, passed away Wednesday, August 16, 2023 at AdventHealth Redmond following a brief illness. Rodney was born in Pikeville, Tennessee on December 24, 1955, the son of the late James (Doyal) Watson and Cwilla Haston Watson. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers, Paul…