“Geece,” as she was known by friends and family, was a lifelong resident of Claiborne County, Tennessee, and though she came from a Methodist family, she joined the Riverside Missionary Baptist Church in Harrogate, Tennessee, in her 20s and was the most elderly member at the time of her death. Her love for the Lord was always evident and shone brightly to all who knew her.
She absolutely loved to work. She farmed, raised cattle, worked at Signal Knitting Mills, and along with her husband, Earl, ran Cosby’s Grocery in the Cave Springs/Riverside community until her retirement. She raised a garden envied by all, with rows as straight as an arrow and hardly a weed to be seen. She shared what she grew with anyone who asked or was in need. She was an excellent cook, and enjoyed nothing more than feeding her family, friends and community.
She is preceded in death by her father and mother, Arch and Della Cline, step-mother, Bertha Cline, her sisters, Imogene Cline, Opal (Oakley) Sherrod and Ruth Tabor, parents-in-law, Meak and Glessie Cosby, and son-in-law, Wallace Overton.
She was married for 37 years to Earl Howard Cosby, who passed away December 10, 1985, and after 39 years apart, they are now rejoicing together in the presence of our Lord and Savior.
She is survived by her daughters, Brenda J. Cosby and Sandra E. Cosby Overton, of Tazewell, Tennessee; her grandchildren, David Bunch (Melany), of New Tazewell, Tennessee, and Morgan Overton Phillips (Nate) and Jackson Overton of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; her great-grandchildren, Wes Bunch and Neil Bunch of New Tazewell, Tennessee, and Caroline Phillips and Andy Phillips of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; and sister-in-law, Barbara Cosby Reed of Fairborn, Ohio, and a host of family and friends.
The family will receive friends at Coffey Funeral Home in Tazewell, on Friday January 3, 2025 from 4 until 7 PM, with funeral following after at 7 PM, to be officiated by Reverend Kim Collingsworth, music provided by the Heavenly Heirs and C.F. Bailey. Graveside service will be Saturday January 4, 2025 at 11 AM with interment to follow at Bethel Cemetery in Tazewell.
Pallbearers: David Bunch, Wes Bunch, Neil Bunch, David Malone, Eric Bruce, Steve Bolinger and Donnie Longworth.
A special thank you to Claiborne Health and Rehabilitation Center for the wonderful and loving care she received while there and Suncrest Hospice Service.
While a resident at the nursing home, Genice was roommates with Lucy Bailey of Rose Hill, Virginia. They grew to love each other, and they shared so much laughter and memories of the past. A heartfelt thank you is extended to the family of Lucy, who treated Genice like their own mother, and helped care for her on a daily basis.
