Freda Mae Buckbee Greer passed away of natural causes at home in Kingsport, TN, on Monday, June 28, 2021. Born May 4, 1933, in Maysville, WV, she moved to east Tennessee in 1947, to live with her brother and his family following the death of their mother. She met Wallace L. (“Bluebeard”) Greer in 1950 at the 4th of July carnival and they married that November.
As their family grew with the arrival of three children (1953, 1956, 1965), she was kept busy with Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts, the PTA, as an elementary-school-clinic nurse volunteer, a DB Band booster, and a volunteer first aid instructor for the Red Cross. Freda became one of the first licensed “CNAs” in TN and was among the first employees at Indian Path Hospital, working the overnight shift for many years, first as a nurse’s aide and then a medical floor secretary. In the early 1980s, Freda earned her GED, an accomplishment of which we are all proud.
Freda enjoyed reading, country music, class reunion lunches, her weekly hair appointments with Yvonne, and travel. She managed to visit most of the U.S. (including Alaska, where she camped her one and only night in a tent). Her love of history took her to old cemeteries and historical monuments, and she spent untold hours searching records to complete her family tree. She was proud of her ancestors, even the slightly less savory ones (or maybe especially those). Her success in finding documentation allowed her to collect two unclaimed WV Civil War medals (Union) meant for her grand-uncles who died in that War.
She had few (voiced) regrets: never owned a motorcycle; never became a police officer; never drove an 18-wheeler; and never visited a nudist camp.
Freda was preceded in death by her husband Wallace; her parents, Samuel and Nellie Gilson Buckbee; her sister, Betty Jane Buckbee; her brother James (and wife Lassie Beverly) Buckbee; and two half-siblings, Macil Buckbee Wratchford and Opha Buckbee.
She leaves behind:
Three above-average children: daughter Debra Greer (and Allen) Haas, Brevard, NC; son Michael (and Susan) Greer, Kingsport, TN; and daughter Cindy Greer Matera (and Tracy King), Riverdale, MD;
Five brilliant grandchildren: Karen Greer (and James) Leatherwood, Heather Matera (and James Butler), Thomas Matera (and Nicole Carlson), Angelica Matera (and Joseph Wilson), and Joshua Babb (and Shelby Gorsky); and
Nine adorable great-grandchildren: twins Mark and John (18); TJ (4); Joe, Chawny, Adam (7), Jo’Elle (6), and Layla (0); and Noah (11).
Survivors also include her honorary grandson Rob (and Emily) Thomas, and their sons, Rajeal and Javon; her cousins and friends, sisters Vendetta (Boop) Evans and Nelda (Net) Tasker (née Solomon); her sister-in-law and friend Georgia Housewright Greer; and numerous much-loved nieces and nephews and their families.
Freda will be missed by all who knew her and she was dearly loved by everyone who had managed to stay on her good side, which wasn’t always easy.
The family will receive friends on Saturday, July 10, 2021 from 6:00 to 8:00pm at East Lawn Funeral Home.
Freda will be laid to rest with her husband on Sunday, July 11, 2021 at 3:00pm at East Lawn Memorial Park, Mausoleum II.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, Processing Center, P.O. Box 863765, Orlando FL 32886.
