Jesse James Birchfield, of Elizabethton, a wonderful great big beautiful Christian man, who was so loving to everyone, left this earth Tuesday, June 30, 2015, to live with Jesus. He was born July 21, 1931 in Carter County to the late Jesse James and Sudie Graybeal Birchfield.
Mr. Birchfield was a graduate of Elizabethton High School and Duke University. Jesse served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. He was a former teacher and coach at Unaka High School and a retired District Manager with Syntex Pharmaceutical of California. He was a former Professional Football Player and was an official with the Southern Conference of Football.
Jesse was a Sunday School Teacher, Superintendent of Sunday School, Chairman of the deacon board, treasurer and choir member of First Free Will Baptist Church for 50 years.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sisters, Vivian Baker and Doris Lawrence; his brother, Robert “D.L.” Birchfield; his precious mother-in-law, Georgia Kate Pope; his brothers-in-law, Sonny Hale and Jerry Pope; and sister-in-law, Joy Pope.
Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Joyce Pope Birchfield; daughter, Dr. Jessica “Katie” Gladstone and husband Bob of Hollywood, Fla.; sister-in-law, Leta Hale, and many special nieces, nephews and cousins; a god child, Tiffany Taylor Jenkins; and his special angel, whom he loved dearly, Judy Carver Deloach.
A service to celebrate the life of Jess Birchfield will be conducted at 10 a.m. Friday, July 3, in the Mausoleum of Peace at Happy Valley Memorial Park with the Rev. Raymond Amos and the Rev. Preston Sartelle officiating. Music will be by his daughter, Dr. Katie Gladstone, and David Arney. Active pallbearers, who are requested to assemble at the funeral home at 9:20 a.m. Friday, will be Ron Carver, Lynnwood Barfield, Charles “Dude” LaPorte, Kim Birchfield, Kenny Webb, Joseph Taylor, Vic Deloach, Victor Deloach, Gerald Jenkins and Josh Garrison. Honorary pallbearers will be Howard Bowers, Berlin Benfield, Charles Hollowell, Ralph Stout, Ted Tipton, Bobby Glass, Bill Greene and his devoted and loving neighbors, Jennifer and David Arney. To those who prefer, memorials may be made in memory of Jesse to the First United Methodist Church, 325 East E Street, Elizabethton, TN 37643. The family would like to express a special “Thank You” to the entire staff of Ivy Hall Nursing Home for their beautiful and loving care of Jesse. Family and friends will assemble at the funeral home at 9:20 a.m. Friday to go to the cemetery. Condolences may be sent to our website, www.memorialfcelizabethton.com
Memorial Funeral Chapel is serving the Birchfield family.