Ollie C. Whitehead

Died: Feb. 7, 2010

ELIZABETHTON -- Ollie C. Whitehead, 79, of Main Street, Hampton, died Sunday at Sycamore Shoals Hospital.

Her family stated, "She went home to be with her Lord following an extended illness."

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law: Glenda Gail and Leslie McCracken of Orfordville, Wis., formerly of Chuckey, Tenn.

A Carter County native, Mrs. Whitehead was a daughter of the late Laney James and Alice Teague Carden.

She was a member of Union Baptist Church.

Mrs. Whitehead was the owner/operator of Whitehead's Greenhouse in Hampton for 42 years.

She enjoyed collecting dolls, gardening and spending time with her grandchildren.

She was the widow of Clarence Whitehead Sr., who died April 4, 2002.

Survivors, in addition to a daughter and son-in-law, include a son: Steven Douglas Whitehead of Hampton; three grandchildren: Christina McCracken and John Joseph McCracken, both of Orfordville, and Andrew Whitehead and his wife, Shanda, of Elizabethton; one great-grandchild: Kaila Whitehead of Elizabethton; one "guardian grandchild": Jeffery Rutter of Orfordville; three sisters and one brother-in-law: Susie and Marshall Combs of Elizabethton, Lula Belle Fair of Watauga, and Sherry Carden of Hampton; two brothers and sisters-in-law: Roosevelt and Ruth Carden and Raymond and Sue Carden, all of Hampton; one brother-in-law: Donnie Carden of Hampton; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by a daughter: Wanda Gentry, a son: Clarence Whitehead Jr., three sisters, and three brothers.

The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday in the Chapel of Peace at Tetrick Funeral Home in Elizabethton, and other times at the home.

The funeral service will follow visitation at 7 o'clock in the funeral home chapel. The Rev. David Montgomery will officiate.

A committal service will be held at 10 o'clock Thursday morning in Happy Valley Memorial Park. The Rev. Darrell Holly will officiate.

Family and friends will meet 9:15 at the funeral home to travel in procession to the cemetery.

Pallbearers will be selected from family and friends.

Honorary pallbearers will be her friends and neighbors, former customers of the greenhouse, and the members of Union Baptist Church.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 2335 Knob Creek Road, Suite 101, Johnson City, TN 37604.

Condolences may be sent to the Whitehead family online at www.tetrickfuneralhome.com, where a guestbook is also available, or by fax to (423)542-9499.