All Tributes

Karen Barker was born on June 23, 1963 in Whitwell, Tennessee. She spent most of her childhood in Chattanooga, Tennessee where she graduated from Brainerd High School with the class of 1981. While in Chattanooga, Karen enjoyed her friendships and work at The Read House in the banquets department.  As an adult, she moved to Southaven, Mississippi where she lived with her long-time partner Lois Rainey and their two children Drew and Carl Rainey.  Karen was an active member of...

Lawrence Owen "Griff" Griffin, 87 went to be with the Lord on July 30, 2020. He is survived by his loving wife, Reba of 58 years, and adored daughter, Kristy (Bill) Hammontree. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jessie and Lawrence Griffin, Sr. Griff was a graduate of The Baylor School and the University of Chattanooga. For many years he owned Quick Employment Agency and later worked and retired from Orange Grove as supervisor of the Recycling Center. Griff was a faithful and active...

Juanita “Tootsie” Cowley, 91, of Hixson, passed away peacefully in her sleep on July 29, 2020. She had a long and happy life and will be greatly missed by her family. Tootsie was born in 1929 in Detroit, Michigan. She resided in North Chattanooga for most of her life and graduated from Red Bank High School. In the late 1940s, she began working at Miller Brothers department store as a salesperson, buyer, and a model. Tootsie loved her job and won many sales awards at yearly conventions...

Robert “Bob” Ronald Rahn, born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on July 28, 1940, passed away peacefully at his home in Hixson the morning of his 80th birthday. While his health had been declining over the last few weeks and the last 28 years had brought many medical challenges for him, God blessed him with an active life enjoying his family, friends, numerous activities, and God’s beautiful mountains and rivers. After serving in US Air Force and completing his Masters at the University of...

Sam Gennoe, affectionately known as “Poppy”, age 90, of Hixson, passed away at home on July 28, 2020. Sam was born December 30, 1929 in Decatur, TN to the late Herman and Lottie Gennoe. He graduated from Meigs County High School and from the University of Chattanooga with a degree in accounting. While attending UC, he was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity and a member of the wrestling team. Sam served in the Army during the Korean War where he was a forward observer and a...

Andrew G. Cope, 79, passed away July 27, 2020.He was predeceased by his parents, Andrew N. And Mary Katherine (Copeland) Cope. Andy was a lifelong native of Signal Mountain and loved the place where he grew up. He graduated from The Baylor School in 1959 where he was a Captain in the school’s military corps and was also Captain of a MidSouth Champion soccer team. He graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1963 with a B.S. degree in Business Administration and was President of the SAE...

Ellen Dishman Abernathy was born January 16, 1926 in Kannapolis, North Carolina and departing this life July 27, 2020 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She was married to Rev. James W. Abernathy, also of Kannapolis, on Christmas Day, 1945. After his service in the United States Navy in World War II, James and Ellen returned to North Carolina, then on to Louisville, for seminary training. They were married for nearly 56 years, sharing ministry responsibilities across nine states in local church and...

James R. McKinney, Jr. passed away peacefully at the age of 84 on Saturday, July 25, 2020. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Hattie and James “Mac” McKinney, Sr. and brother William S. McKinney. He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Linda (Rhoden) McKinney, four daughters, Dawn (Randall) Livingston, Meredith (Andrew) Ruffner, Blair Giannamore (Todd), and Jamie McKinney (Ed) Hogg, ten grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. Jim was born September 26,...

William Doyle “Bill” Knight, 80, of Hixson left this world for his heavenly home on July 24, 2020. Bill was a firefighter for the City of Chattanooga for 30 and ½ years. He loved spending time with his family, fishing and camping and also was a member of Bayside Baptist. He was preceded in death by his parents, Wesley and Mavie Knight, his son Larry Knight, one sister and six brothers. He leaves behind his loving wife Patricia, sister Christine Hooper of Scottsboro Alabama, one son...

Ada Elizabeth "Libby" Gray, 88, of Chattanooga, passed away Friday, July 24, 2020. Ada was born in Millstone, KY to the late Randolph and Rosamond (Bentley) Holbrook. Ada loved playing bingo and getting her hair and nails done. Ada was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, Arnold Lee Gray; son, Greg Gray; and brothers, Jack and Johnny Holbrook.  Ada is survived by brother, Allen; sister, Mary; five children: Pam, Ralph, Teresa, Joanna and Melanie; thirteen grandchildren; several...