Submitted by Connie Baumann

VARNELL, MRS. BENSY EAVES, 81, widow of Evart J. Varnell, and resident of Rt. 2, Decatur, Tenn., died Thursday morning in an Athens hospital after several months illness. A native of Bradley County, Tennessee, she was the daughter of the late Russell Eaves & Sally Buchanan Eaves, She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church. Survivors are two sons, Harold Varnell, Rogersville, Tenn; Herbert C. Varnell, Decatur; five daughters, Mrs. ? Hill, Mrs. Edna Jennings, both of Decatur; Mrs. Ruby Johnson, Alpharetta, Ga; Mrs. Kate Gray, Cleveland, Tenn., Mrs Grace Goforth, Knoxville; 36 grandchildren; 53 great-grandchildren; two half-sisters, Mrs. Ruth King, Cleveland; Mrs. Charles Biggs, Benton, Tenn.; one half-brother, Jack Tilley, Augusta, Ga. Funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Cottonport Baptist Church with the Revs. John Henry and Glen Crabtree officiating. Burial in Decatur Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Ziegler Funeral Home, Athens.

 

Chattanooga Times
September 28, 1973