Velma "Grandma" Grace (Sleight) Hendrix

Velma Grace Sleight Hendrix, the most loving and caring woman to ever walk the earth, passed away on February 10, 2018 at her home in Powell, Tennessee. Velma, or “Grandma”, was born December 21, 1933 to her parents Robert Herschel and Eva Dean Sleight in Griggsville, Illinois where she grew up on a farm with her brother Norman. She was crowned queen of the Apple Festival in high school and graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in Home Economics. She retired from ORNL in 1994 after 30 years of service

She married her husband Ralph Hendrix on May 10, 1974 at St. John’s Lutheran Church and they were happily married for 44 years. She was a joy and delight to anyone who met her and gave unconditionally to her friends and family. Her greatest pleasure was cooking, knitting, painting and crafting, always as a gift for someone else. She is survived by her husband Ralph Hendrix, her sons Gary and wife Theresa Buchanan and Rick Buchanan, daughter Terry and husband Jerry Key, her seven grandchildren, Joshua, Daniel, and Seth Buchanan, Grant, Paige, Emily, and Chip McCormick, and her eight great-grandchildren. Velma’s gracious and charitable heart endures in all who knew her.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association (www.diabetes.org) or a charity of your choice.

A receiving of friends will be held from 6 – 8 pm on Wednesday February 14, 2018 at Berry Lynnhurst Funeral Home, 2300 Adair Drive with the funeral service to follow with Dr. Thomas Sweet officiating. Entombment will be Thursday, February 15, 2018 at 1 pm at Lynnhurst Cemetery. Condolences may be offered at www.berrylynnhurst.com