Funeral services for Mrs. Esther Denson Upchurch, age 101, of Bartlett, TN., formerly of Lineville and Columbiana, will be held Tuesday, September 3, 2019 at 11:00 A.M. at Lineville Baptist Church with the Reverend Ben Curlee officiating. Burial will follow in the Clay County Memory Gardens.
Mrs. Upchurch was born September 13, 1917, and passed away August 30, 2019 at Kings’ Daughters and Sons Home in Bartlett, TN. She was born in Clay County and, after graduating from Lineville High School, went on to complete her education at Jacksonville State University and Montevallo University, receiving her degree in education. Mrs. Upchurch began her teaching career in 1940 and taught for over 27 years in Clay County and Shelby County. She was a member of Alpha NU Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma for many years, Clay County Retired Teachers, and the Lineville Baptist Church.
Survivors include two daughters and their husbands, Beverly and Rick McDow of Leland, NC, and Judy and Jim Knight of Bartlett, TN, one sister, Willene Upchurch (Charles) of Barfield. She is also survived by four grandchildren, Laura Engbretson and husband John of Memphis, TN, Lisa Elizondo and husband Robert of Villanova, PA, Jay Knight and wife Janna of Bartlett, TN, and Emily Knight of Bartlett, TN, and 9 great-grandchildren, Evan, Eli, and Elliot Engbretson, Henry, Tommy, and Zeke Elizondo, Miriam, Edmund, and Callum Knight, plus a large extended family. She was preceded in death by her parents William E. and Ursula Hendrix Denson, husband Jack Upchurch, granddaughter Kelly McDow, two sisters, Lucille Dickinson and Martha Moncus, five brothers, Lindsay Denson, Elvert Denson, Robert Denson, J.W. Denson, and Olen Denson.
Pallbearers will be Gary Denson, Jerrold Denson, David Upchurch, Larry Upchurch, Christopher Upchurch and Ben Character.
The family will receive friends at Lineville Baptist Church Tuesday September 3, from 10:00 A.M. until service time.
