Elizabeth Bare Randolph, 98, of Birchwood, TN, died peacefully at home on Sunday, April 20, 2014, surrounded by family.
She was born in Birchwood May 30, 1915 to James Doyl and Lennie Holman Bare. She was a member of a pioneer family of Birchwood. The land where she lived and raised her family has been in the family since 1841. She was a graduate of Birchwood High School and Carson Newman College. She was the wife of Warren Bernard Randolph, whom she married in 1937 and who preceded her in death in 1980. Both educators retired in 1974 after over 70 years of service to schoolchildren of Hamilton County. She last taught at Harrison Elementary but also taught at Ooltewah High School and Birchwood School. Her life was dedicated to God, her family, her church, her community and her students. She was a selfless giver and even in her 90s was helping to “feed the elderly”. She was always full of gratitude even into her final days. She was a lifelong member of Birchwood Baptist Church and a tireless worker among her church family. She taught Sunday School and training union, played piano, sang in the choir and ministered to many.
She was preceded in death by one sister, Louise Johnson of Dunlap.
She is survived by sons, Don (Susie), Bob (Carole) and James (Aimee); ten grandsons, Joe, David, Ritch, Mike, Allen, Gene, Chris, Mark, JW and Drew Randolph; one granddaughter, Beth (Randolph) Fadelle; 19 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; two sisters, Helen Thigpen of Birmingham and Dorothy Colston of Murfreesboro; and multiple nephews and nieces.
Funeral services will be conducted at 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 23, at the Birchwood Baptist Church by Pastor David Delmotte and former Pastor Gary Powell. Interment will follow in the Birchwood Baptist Church Cemetery with grandsons serving as pallbearers. The church property and cemetery where she will be laid to rest was donated by her Bare ancestors in the late 1800s.
The family would like to thank the Birchwood Baptist Church family, the Birchwood Community and Hospice of Chattanooga for their love and support.
The family suggests memorials be made to the Birchwood Senior Neighbors or the Birchwood Baptist Church.
Ralph Buckner Funeral Home has charge of the arrangements.