John B. “Peeps” Holsclaw Sr., 78, of Johnson City, Tenn., went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, November 29, 2018, from Franklin Woods Community Hospital. John was born in Elizabethton to the late Fred and Susan Harmon Holsclaw. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Donna Hendrix Holsclaw; an infant daughter, Christy Michelle Holsclaw; two brothers, Charlie Holsclaw and Claude Holsclaw; and two sisters, Pauline Shell and Ola Campbell.
John attended East Tennessee State University and the University of Tennessee, where he played football on a scholarship. He was the former Carter County Property Assessor for 27 years and was a member of Elizabethton Church of Christ, where he had served as a Deacon.
John also was the announcer for Carter County sports on WBEJ for 41 years and was known as “The Voice of the Cyclones.” He was a former Lyons Club member and enjoyed golfing, fishing, hunting, and announcing sporting games and attending sporting events.
Those left to cherish his memory include his children, Tammy Holsclaw-Jones and husband Randy of Johnson City, John Holsclaw Jr. and wife Sheri of Johnson City and Kim Buckner and husband Brian of Elizabethton; eight grandchildren, Brooke Jones-Cannon and husband Ethan, Casey Jones, Alex Jones, Taylor Holsclaw, Kaeli Sams, Dana Belle Holsclaw, Hannah Holsclaw and Holly Holsclaw; and seven siblings, Maxine Gagliano of Elizabethton, Martha Forbes of Johnson City, Juanita Pansock of Elizabethton, Arthur Holsclaw and wife Jeannie of Elizabethton, Barbara Millsaps of Elizabethton, Betty Jean Maupin and husband Jim of Elizabethton, and Willie Holsclaw and wife Leota of Elizabethton. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive.
A service to celebrate the life of John B. “Peeps” Holsclaw Sr. will be conducted at 5 p.m. Saturday, December 8, in the Elizabethton High School Gymnasium with Mr. Roby Ellis, Mr. Dennis Pierce and Mr. Eddy Craft officiating. The family will receive friends in the gymnasium from 2 until 5 p.m. Saturday, prior to the service, or at the residence at other times. The committal and entombment will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday, December 9, in the Mausoleum of Peace at Happy Valley Memorial Park. Active pallbearers will be Steve Roberts, Jeff Holsclaw, Norman Hodge, Ronnie Taylor, Alex Jones, Brian Buckner, Ethan Cannon and Dale Fair. Honorary pallbearers will be his nephews, his church family, all coaches and ball players throughout the years, whom he loved so much, including his little league ball players, his teammates at Elizabethton High School and University of Tennessee, the staff of WBEJ radio, his broadcasting associates and all of his special friends. Those wishing to attend the service are asked to meet at Tetrick Funeral Home of Elizabethton at 1:15 p.m. Sunday to go in procession to the cemetery. Those who prefer memorials in lieu of flowers may make donations to High Rock Bible Camp for Children, 137 East C. Street, Elizabethton, TN 37643. The family would like to extend a special thank you to Ivy Hall Nursing Home, Franklin Woods Community Hospital and their nurses and staff, and the other doctors and nurses who have been involved in his care, for the love and care shown to John and his family during his illness. Heartfelt appreciation is also extended to his family members and special friends, who lovingly cared for him in his home during his illness. Online condolences may be shared with the family on our website, www.tetrickfuneralhome.com
Mr. Holsclaw and his family are in the care of Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton. Office: (423) 542-2232. Service Information Line: (423) 543-4917.