Phyllis Epps

Phyllis Kaye (Roberts) Epps, 78, of Kingsport went home to be with the Lord on Saturday March 16, 2024 surrounded by peace, love, and family following an extended illness. Phyllis was born December 25, 1945 in Kingsport, TN to the late John A. and Zella M. (Whitaker) Roberts.

Phyllis worked at the Cotton Mill, the Tennessee Lithographing Co. in the bindery dept., was a cook for Kingsport City Schools, a bus driver for head start, and retired as a head start teacher after 20+ years of service. Phyllis was baptized and received the Holy Ghost at an early age. She was of the Apostolic faith and attended Christian Life Center and Bethel Apostolic Church over the years. Her faith in Jesus never waivered; He was her rock. Isaiah 41:10 says “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness”. You could often hear her calling out to Jesus for help, healing, strength, and deliverance, always expressing how thankful she was, and how much she loved Him. She was a very much loved and devoted wife to her husband Perley for 61 years with whom she was reunited with in Heaven on his birthday. She was also a very precious loving and caring Mom, Grammy, Mamaw, Memaw, Sister, Aunt, Friend and Neighbor. Her presence will be greatly missed by all that loved and knew her.

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years Perley A. Epps, daughter Tina Jeffers, granddaughter Whitney Jeffers, sister Wanda Hickman, and two brothers Jerry Roberts and Larry Roberts.

Phyllis is survived by her three daughters Tamara Christian (Mark), Beth Keys (Lynn), and Myra Gray (Brian); nine grandkids Abraham Roberts (Palma), Dustin Sutherland, Crissy Lynch (Brandon), Brittany Sutherland, Jacob Roberts (Brittany), Jordan Jeffers, Preston Jeffers, Miranda Harrell (Chris), and Austin Gray; seventeen great-grandkids Hannah and Haley Roberts, Arianna and Addison Sutherland, Caiden and Kaylee Lynch, Isaiah, Elijah, and Josiah Sutherland, Jayden, Jazmine, Perley and Layla Roberts, Carley and Nicholas Smith, Kelly, Aaliyah and Lexi Jeffers, Morgan, Mylee, and Maddox Harrell, and Alex Gray.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday March 19th, 2024 at 5pm at Christian Life Center of the Tri Cities (2401 John B Dennis Hwy, Kingsport, TN). A Celebration of life service will follow at 7pm with Rev. Eddie Johnson, Rev. Tim Cormier, and Rev. James Greever speaking. Music will be provided by Charles Hickman.

Committal services will be held on Wednesday March 20th, 2024 in the Garden of David at East Lawn Memorial Park. Serving as pallbearers will be Abraham Roberts, Dustin Sutherland, Jacob Roberts, Jordan Jeffers, Brandon Lynch, Jayden Roberts, Caiden Lynch, and Isaiah Sutherland; with Marion Roberts serving as honorary pallbearer.

The family would like to thank Brittany Sutherland, Todd Miller and all of our Preston Place II Family, Dr. Kevin Mischia, and the Vanderbilt Team.