Melba Estep Julian, 80, of Hampton, suddenly went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, September 4, 2011, at Sycamore Shoals Hospital. She was a native of Avery County, N.C., but made her home in Carter County. She was the daughter of the late Conley Ray and Beulah McGuire Estep. Mrs. Julian attended Hampton Christian Church. Mrs. Julian was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother to her family. She enjoyed gardening and working with flowers. Mrs. Julian was also active in the church and enjoyed helping with the children’s programs. She will be greatly missed by her family and all who knew her. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Hazel Presnell; her brothers, Bud Estep and Conley Ray Jr. Estep; and her step-mother, Bertie Estep.
Survivors include her husband, Norman M. Julian; two daughters and sons-in-law, Wanda and Dan Akers and Norma Sue and Melvin Gwyn; one son and daughter-in-law, Tim and Teresa Julian, all of Hampton; two granddaughters, Amanda Giles and her husband, Jesse K., Knoxville, and Autumn Julian, Hampton; a great-granddaughter, Charlotte Clara Giles, Knoxville; a sister and brother-in-law, Shelby Jean and Robert Oaks; Newland, N.C.; her best friend, Hazel Davis; and a special cousin, Bernice Mitchell. Several nieces and nephews also survive.
The funeral service for Mrs. Julian will be conducted at 7 p.m. Wednesday, September 7, in the Chapel of Peace of Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, with Mr. Dwayne Calhoun officiating. Music will be under the direction of Anna Hurley and Greg Odom. The family will receive friends in the funeral home chapel from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, prior to the service, and at the home at other times. The graveside service and interment will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, September 8, at Happy Valley Memorial Park. Active pallbearers will be Robert Oaks, Bobby Silver, Melvin Gwyn, Dan Akers, Jesse K. Giles, Greg Giles and Philip Giles. Honorary pallbearers will be Dee Mitchell, Tony Slagle, Jordan Silver, Howard Julian and Richard Birchfield. Those wishing to attend are asked to meet at the funeral home at 10:15 a.m. Friday to go in procession to the cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Hampton Christian Church, 810 Deerfield Lane, Hampton, TN 37658. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.tetrickfuneralhome.com and signing the guestbook or by fax to (423) 542-9499. Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, is serving the Julian family. Office: (423) 542-2232. Obituary Line: (423) 543-4917
