Betty Jo Hardin Combs, 81, of Bluff City, Tenn., was called home on Thursday morning, August 6, 2015, at NHC of Bristol, Va., after a courageous, three-year battle with cancer. Betty Jo was born in Carter County, the daughter of the late Logan and Pearl Potter Hardin. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Lewis Combs Sr., and two brothers, Jack and Wayne Hardin.
Betty Jo was a lifelong educator. She began her teaching career at Chinquapin Elementary, where the 1966 Chinquapin Elementary Class still holds the National Attendance Record for all students retaining perfect attendance for the entire year. She also taught at Bluff City Elementary for 27 years, where she was vice chairman of the school board for most of her tenure. She was also Master School Board member, 1 of only 5 in the state of Tennessee. She served on the school board for 11 years, and while on the board, she donated all of her earnings directly back into the school. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and a member of Chinquapin Baptist Church. She enjoyed cruising, traveling and spending time with her family.
Survivors include a son, Lewis Combs and wife Karen, of Bristol; a grandson, Logan Combs, of Bristol; two brothers, Norman Hardin, of North Carolina, and Clifford Hardin, of Georgia; and a sister-in-law, Pat Hardin, of Columbus, Ohio. Many special friends and several nieces and nephews also survive.
A service to honor and celebrate the life of Mrs. Betty Jo Hardin Combs will be conducted at 3 p.m. Sunday, August 9, in the Chapel of Peace of Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, with Rev. Rusty Verran and Rev. Jamie Ferguson officiating. The family will receive friends in the funeral home chapel from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, prior to the service. The graveside service will be conducted at 10 a.m. Monday, August 10, at Happy Valley Memorial Park. Active pallbearers will be Joe Davenport, Joe Mike Akard, Randy Lockner, Nathan Trombley and Brarry Cox. Honorary pallbearers will be the teachers and students of the Sullivan County School District, the Sullivan County School Board, Dr. Jubal Yennie and Mike Combs. Those wishing to attend the service are asked to meet at Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, at 9:15 a.m. Monda, to go in procession. Those who prefer memorials in lieu of flowers may make donations to the Hospice House of Bristol, 280 Steeles Road, Bristol, TN 37620. Online condolences may be shared with the family at our website, www.tetrickfuneralhome.com.
Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, is serving the Combs family. Office: (423) 542-2232. Obituary Line: (423) 543-4917.