Novella C. Heaton, 82, of Elizabethton, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, September 19, 2019, at Hermitage Health Care Center following an extended illness. She was a daughter of the late Maynard and Carma Williams Collins. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Command Sgt. Major Samuel Heaton Jr., U.S. Army Retired; two sisters, Burnia Pierce and Myrtle Gilliam; and three brothers, Authur Collins, Willard “Billy” Collins and Earl R. Collins.
Novella retired as an aide from Unaka Elementary School. She was a spunky military wife and a wonderful Christian mother and grandmother. She was a member of Nidiffer Chapel Free Will Baptist Church where she sang in the quartet. Novella enjoyed sewing and making quilts and spending time with her family. She was known for treating people well and with respect.
Those left to cherish her memory include two daughters, Sandra Huskins and husband Curtis of Elizabethton and Patricia Kuykendoll and husband Mike of Powder Springs, Ga.; a son, Steve Heaton of Elizabethton; four grandchildren, Brent Huskins and wife Amy and Lacey Wolfe and husband Dustin, all of Elizabethton, Hollie Guinn and husband Ryan and Chelsie Harvey and husband Eric, all of Georgia; two great-granddaughters, Hayley Huskins and Lily Huskins, both of Elizabethton; two sisters, Lola Bowers and Betty Edwards and husband Andy, all of Elizabethton; two brothers, Luther Collins and Bobby Collins, both of Elizabethton; a brother-in-law, Ken Gilliam of Kingston, Tenn.; and several nieces and nephews.
A service to celebrate the life of Novella C. Heaton will be conducted at 3 p.m. Sunday, September 22, in the Chapel of Peace of Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, with Rev. Nick Colbaugh officiating. The family will receive friends in the chapel from 2 until 3 p.m. Sunday, prior to the funeral service. The graveside service and interment will follow the funeral service at Caldwell Springs Baptist Church Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be selected from family and friends. Honorary pallbearers will be Hugh Buckles, Dallas Williams, Rodney Campbell, Bill Hamilton and Con Nave. The family would like to extend a special thank you to the nurses and staff of Hermitage Health Care Center and Amedysis Hospice for the love and care shown to Novella during her illness. Words of sympathy and kindness may be sent to the family at www.tetrickfuneralhome.com.
Tetrick Funeral Home, 211 North Riverside Drive, Elizabethton, is honored to serve the Heaton family. Office: (423) 542-2232. Service Information Line: (423) 543-4917.