Billie Jean Chambers

Billie Jean Chambers, age 85, a lifelong resident of Dandridge, TN walked boldly into the arms of her Savior on December 1, 2019. She was the daughter of the late Pierce and Mollie Henry McCoig, and was also preceeded in death by her husband of 63 years, H.B. Chambers; brothers Daniel and Jack McCoig; sisters and brothers-in-law Anna Lee McCoig, Edith (Frank) Shrader, Mamie (Don) Hammonds, and Geneva McCoig; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Cecil “Harry” (Racine) Chambers. She is survived by her children Mark (Jane) Chambers, Karen Chambers, and Steven (Angie) Chambers; grandchildren Shane (fiancé Katie Lamb, JD) Chambers, and Haley (Dr. Josh) Manuel, all of whom she was tremendously proud; great grandchildren, and loves of her life, Emery Grace Manuel, Nora Kate Manuel, and the expected Graham Henry Manuel; sister-in-law Gwendolyn McCoig; special cousins Garland McCoig and Helen Faye White; best friend and loving day companion Linda Smith; several nieces, nephews and other cousins, along with a multitude of friends. And we all will cherish her memory until we see her again. Billie Jean was a member of Dandridge First United Methodist Church where she was a past Sunday school teacher, but had recently been attending Shady Grove United Methodist Church. She worked for ten years as a substitute librarian for the Dandridge Public Library, and then served for forty years as the director. It was there that she encouraged multiple generations of the area’s youth to achieve their potential and befriended all of the patrons young and young at heart. She was a past Cub Scout Leader of Pack 77 in Dandridge and was a charter member of the Martha Dandridge Washington Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. Billie Jean often declared that she was “shy,” but if you were fortunate enough to encounter her as a friend, or a stranger, you would beg otherwise. She offered words of wisdom, showered compliments, and made sure that everyone enjoyed a laugh through sharing one of her many stories. Her kindness was always on display and her generosity unparalleled. She was truly a beautiful lady, inside and out. Among the many things that Billie Jean was to so many people, in her own words she was “a tough old bird!” The family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 4, 2019, at Shady Grove United Methodist Church, with the funeral service following at 7:00 p.m. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, December 5, 2019 at Shady Grove Cemetery. The Reverends Dr. Jason McIntosh, Rev. Sherri Franklin, and Dr. Steve Brown will officiate. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to the Dandridge First United Methodist Church for the Wednesday Night Meal Program, P.O. Box 8, Dandridge, 37725, the Shady Grove Cemetery Fund, 1675 Harold Patterson Rd., Dandridge, TN 37725, or St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. ARRANGEMENTS BY FARRAR FUNERAL HOME, DANDRIDGE, TN