Marlene Wilhoit

She was born Nov. 1, 1938, to parents, J.D. and Sallie Kate Goins. She was born and raised in Greene County and lived on the Birdwell Farm as her dad was a sharecropper and then moved to Cedar Creek community. At the age of 8, she would walk to church at Broyles Chapel and to school.

She enjoyed playing in Cedar Creek with lifelong friends Ann (Collins) Rohr, Hoot Bowers, Ross and Jan Collins, Jerry and Ronnie Holt and her brothers and sisters.

She was the oldest of eight children and was "mom" to many.

She attended St. James School where she played basketball and graduated in 1956.

She began work at the age of 16 at Roses Five & Dime, and after graduating high school went to Business College. She went to work at Magnavox and then Bowsers. Then she went to Greene Valley Development Center where she worked until retirement.

She married our sweet Daddy May 25, 1958, James H. Bobby Foreman, and they had a wonderful marriage until he passed at the age of 52 of kidney cancer. They had two daughters, Gwyn and Jamie.

They lived on the family farm all their married life and raising their children was such a blessing.

She then found the second love of her life in Curtis Wilhoit. They were married June 11, 1988. They lived a very happy, fun-filled, traveling life. They attended South Greene football and basketball games with the "gang", University of Tennessee Men's and Women's basketball and football games. After games they all loved eating lots of ice cream.

She and Curtis attended and were members of Solomon Lutheran Church where she sang in the choir. Before marrying Curtis, she was a member of Cedar Creek Presbyterian Church where she served on Sessions, sang in the choir, was treasurer for many years as well as Sunday school teacher. The family said, "Mom also loved to attend services on Sunday and Wednesday nights at Flag Branch Church of God. Mom loved all church services and loved to sing."

She loved to quilt, sew, make apple butter, and can anything she could get her hands on.

The family said, "Mom loved her family. Her grandchildren all called her Nana. She watched every ballgame, all cheer games, every dance recital and loved every minute of it."

Survivors are daughters: Gwyn (Petie) Southerland, and Jamie (Kevin "Bucky") Ayers; grandchildren: Annie (Chris) Bailey, Jeremy (Brittney) Southerland, and Jalissa (David) Worley; great-grandchildren: Preston Bailey, Autumn Bailey, Ella Kate Bailey, Marley O'Neal, Riley Southerland, Pyper Southerland and Colton Southerland, Bennett Worley; recently joined the family stepgrandson and his family: Brock (Tarah) Campbell Grayson and Brantley Campbell, Trevor and Brooklyn Hensley (Oaklyn and Wrenley); stepchildren: Jerry (Deanna) Wilhoit, and Kevin (Sarah) Wilhoit; stepgrandchildren: Darius (Whitney) Hoese, Kenan (Makayla) Wilhoit, Javan (Joseph) Tillery, Peyton (Natalie) Wilhoit; stepgreat-grandchildren: Adalynn Wilhoit, Emersyn Wilhoit, Weston Wilhoit, Colton Hoese, Chloe Hoese, and Lawson Wilhoit; siblings: Lucendia (John R.) Davis, Ann Rader, Odean "Deannie" Goins, Rommie (Nancy) Goins, Sheila Goins Shipley, and Kent (Jaymie) Goins. Having a big family is such a blessing. We have enjoyed many trips to Myrtle Beach, Disney, to the lake and "Christmas in the cabin." Survivors also include brother-in-law: Lowell (Margie) Foreman; brothers-in-law: W.C. (Alice) Wilhoit, and Fred (Betty) Wilhoit; sweet friends: Beryl Freshour, Imogene Shipley, Lonnie "Hippie" and Linda Key, Willis and Trixie Bowers, Earl and Lillian Keith, Donald and Frances Collins, Ann Rohr, and the Greene Valley Developmental Center family; and church families: Solomon Lutheran Church, Cedar Creek Presbyterian Church, and Flag Branch Church of God.

She was preceded in death by two husbands: James H. "Bobby" Foreman and Curtis Wilhoit; a sister: Priscilla Taylor "Aunt Pris" called her "Pa"; a brother: Dexter Goins; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Charlsie and Eugene Wilson and Betty Wilhoit, and Novella Foreman; and sweet friends: Buford Shipley, Brenda and Byrd Malone, and Dick Rohr.

She survived breast cancer and ovarian cancer and 10 years of dementia. She was a very faithful and strong woman.

The family expresses a special thanks to Wellington Manor staff in Newport, Caris HealthCare, and Life Care Center of Greeneville.

The family will receive friends from 2-4 and 5-7 p.m. Thursday at Kiser-Rose Hill Funeral Home. The funeral service will follow at 7 p.m. in Kiser-Rose Hill Chapel with Minister Sonya Solomon and Pastors Harrell and Marci Cobb officiating.

The interment will be Friday at 11 a.m. in GreeneLawn Memory Gardens. Family and friends are asked to meet at 10 a.m. at the funeral home to go in procession to the cemetery.

Pallbearers will include Chris Bailey, Preston Bailey, Jeremy Southerland, David Worley, Kenan Wilhoit, Darius Wilhoit, Joseph Tillery, and Brantley Campbell.

Honorary pallbearers will be Winter & Company Dance Studio (WCDS) past and present teachers, students and parents.

Condolences may be sent to the Wilhoit family at www.kiserrosehillfuneralhome.com