Betty Ann McFarland, 81, of Elizabethton, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, August 18, 2014, at Sycamore Shoals Hospital.
Mrs. McFarland was a native of Carter County and the daughter of the late Thomas and Florence Howard Myrick. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, James W. McFarland, on July 24, 1988, and by four brothers and two sisters.
Mrs. McFarland was a tireless community servant. As a lifelong member of Phillippi Baptist Church, she served as church secretary/clerk, musician, teacher and former assistant superintendent of the Sunday School, and president of the Anna Breedlove Missionary Society. She was a former district, regional and state president of the Women’s Auxiliary of the Tennessee Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention, and past club, county, regional and state president of the National Association for Family & Community Education. She served on the boards of the Douglas School, Langston School and Swift College Alumni Associations, and was secretary of a women’s club called The Comwolies.
Betty was also a board member at the Elizabethton Public Library, the Elizabethton Senior Citizens Center, the advisory boards of Tetrick Funeral Home and the Elizabethton Star, and worked with Carter County’s Character Counts and 4-H Programs. In between all that Mrs. McFarland helped feed the needy, ministered to prisoners, delivered books to newborns at the hospital, told stories to children and helped decorate Christmas trees at Sycamore Shoals State Park.
Survivors include two sons, James Kevin McFarland and wife Chrystal, North Charleston, S.C., and J. Nadir Omowale (Kurtis) and wife Akanke, Detroit, Mich.; six grandchildren, Kira, Jamere, Adoni, Miles, Maya and Jaylan; and one great-grandchild, Carter. Several nieces and nephews also survive.
A funeral service to honor the life of Mrs. McFarland will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, August 23, at Phillippi Baptist Church, 200 East M Street, Elizabethton, Tenn., with Rev. Joseph Holifield officiating. Music will be under the direction of the Phillippi Baptist Church Choir. The family will receive friends at the church from 1 until 2 p.m. Saturday, prior to the service. The graveside service will be conducted at 10 a.m. Monday, August 25, in the Mountain Home National Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be selected from family and friends. Honorary pallbearers will be the Elizabethton Community. Those wishing to attend the graveside service are asked to meet at Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, at 9 a.m. Monday to go in procession. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.tetrickfuneralhome.com and signing the guest book.
Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, is serving the McFarland family. Office: (423) 542-2232. Obituary Line: (423) 543-4917.