Georgia “Pauline” Free, 88, died peacefully at her home on Saturday, April 23, 2022. She was born on October 27, 1933 in Scott County, Virginia to parents John Alexander and Monnie Lane Pierson. Pauline resided in Kingsport, Tennessee and continued her education in the nursing field. She became an LPN and worked for Holston Valley Medical Center. Pauline was known as a strong-willed, independent and perceptive woman. She enjoyed a variety of hobbies including quilting, crossword puzzles, gardening, and bird watching. Pauline loved watching the Atlanta Braves play baseball on TV. She was the mother of five children and eventually became a grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother of several grandchildren. Pauline will be greatly missed by all who knew her, especially her loving family.
Her parents, John Alexander and Monnie Lane Pierson, precede her in death; husband, James Donald Free Sr.; son, James Donald Free Jr.; a little daughter; brother, John Henry Pierson; sisters, Mildred Pierson-Grills, Frankie Pierson-Sharpe and Ruth Pierson Hyder; grandchildren, Gretchen Fritz and Ian Fritz and son-in-law, Steve Griffith.
She is survived by her daughters Susan Griffith, Robin Fritz (Erik), Melanie Pendleton (Steve) and April Kennedy (Roger); son Donny Free (Angela); sisters, Sue Walters, Mary Anne Gibson and Margaret Tipton; brothers Buck Pierson and David Pierson; grandchildren, Krista Sword, Mistri Griffith, Heidi Fritz, Petra Fritz, Danielle Miller, Steve Pendleton, Erin Kennedy-Sayo, Alex Kennedy, Lindsay Kennedy, Jeremy Free and Camryn Free; several great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews and one great-great-grandson.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, April 28, 2022 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the chapel of the East Tennessee Funeral Home at 2630 Hwy 75 Blountville, Tennessee 37617. A funeral service will be held at the Garden of Solomon in East Tennessee Cemetery on Friday, April 29, 2022 at 11:00 a.m.
Pallbearers will be friends and family members.
East Tennessee Funeral Home and Cemetery is honored to serve the family of Georgia “Pauline” Free.