She was also affectionately known as “Joy” to her family and to whom anyone her late husband, Claude K. Robertson, introduced her. Joy was born in Winchester, TN on February 19, 1932 to Oscar Newell McCollum and Anna Hartsell McCollum. They moved to Tullahoma, TN when she was 8 years old. When she went to her new school, Claude said that the minute he saw her, he knew he was going to marry her. They were married 13 years later on September 25, 1953. They were married nearly 40 years when Claude passed away April 7, 1993. He was the love of her life. Joy and Claude loved UT sports and reared their children to love them, too. They became UT season football ticket holders in 1956, and she continued going faithfully until 2019 when she, physically, could no longer go. Joy was also a long-time member of Second Presbyterian Church, where she was active in her Circle group and the Presbyterian Women’s Association until she was physically unable to continue.
Joy was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband, Claude, and her sisters, Billie McCollum Carroll and Aileen McCollum Halcomb.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Claudia Robertson Lineberger and husband, Jerry; her daughter, DeAnna Robertson Davis, all of Knoxville; three step grandchildren, Ann Montano and Wayne and Joe Lineberger of San Antonio, TX; special nieces and nephews, Gayla Halcomb Ritch, Foley, AL, Dan Halcomb, Huntsville, AL, Lynne Carroll Wickerham, Canyon Lake, TX, Mac Halcomb, Birmingham, AL, and Kitty Ray Swain, Atlanta, GA; special Robertson cousins, Bryan Robertson, Oak Ridge and Gail Robertson, Knoxville, seven step-great-grandchildren, and several great and great-great nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank the staff of Shannondale Health Care Center for Joy’s excellent care and would particularly like to thank CNAs, Jala and Nini, her favorites, for all of their love and care.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 - 7:00 pm, Sunday, May 8, 2022 at Berry Funeral Home, 3704 Chapman Highway with the funeral to follow at 7:00 pm, officiated by Reverend Tim Reynolds, Second Presbyterian Church. A graveside service will be held at 1:00 pm on Monday, May 9, 2022 at Woodlawn Cemetery, 4500 Woodlawn Pike in Knoxville. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Shannondale, 801 Vanosdale Rd., Knoxville, TN, 37909 or Second Presbyterian Church, 2829 Kingston Pk. Knoxville, TN 37919.
Online condolences may be left at www.berryfuneralhome.com.
