Mr. Austin Peay Stubblefield

Austin Peay Stubblefield of Sevierville, Tennessee, passed away on April 3, 2022 at home, surrounded by family. Austin was born September 27, 1926 in Sinking Cove, near Sherwood, Tennessee (Franklin County). He graduated from Stevenson High School in Stevenson, Alabama. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and then attended the University of Tennessee, graduating in 1951. While attending the University, Austin served as president of the Independent Students Organization, was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa honorary leadership fraternity, the National Society of Scabbard and Blade, the Scarabbean Senior Society, and was named to Who's Who. He served as a platoon leader in the First Cavalry Division in Korea during the Korean War and, at the end of his service, held the rank of Captain of Infantry. In 1953, Austin began a 38-year career with Cherokee Textile Mills, initially in Knoxville and then in Sevierville, serving in various capacities from laboratory technician to plant manager before retiring at the end of 1991. Austin met his wife, the former Ann Robinson, at the Laurel Church of Christ while she was a student at University of Tennessee and they were married in Knoxville on June 4, 1956, making their home in Sevierville for more than 65 years. Through the years Austin was involved in numerous civic and charitable activities, including PTA (awarded a lifetime membership), director of the East Tennessee Heart Association, Boy Scouts of America, Alzheimer's Association, and the Sevierville Rotary Club (which he served as President). In 1970, he was named "Outstanding Citizen of Sevier County" by the Sevierville Lions Club. He served as an Elder of the Sevierville Church of Christ for several years and more recently attended the Laurel Church of Christ in Knoxville. Austin was preceded in death by his parents, Charlie Stubblefield, Sr. and Nellie Burks Stubblefield, by his brother, Charlie Stubblefield, Jr., and by his sister, Ruby Garner. Austin is survived by his wife, Ann; sons Neal (Jo Anne) and Brian (Farhana) and daughter, Sarah; grandchildren Erin Lanier, Kent Stubblefield, Andrea Mercer and Zoe Brown; 3 great granddaughters; and sisters Pauline Hawes, Evelyn Morris, and Parie Lee Whitely. The family is also deeply indebted for the compassionate care provided by CARIS Healthcare, Cornerstone Caregiving, and Vivian Pate, all of whom made the burden of support much lighter. The family will receive friends at Atchley Funeral Home in Sevierville from 10:00 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 16, 2022, with a memorial service beginning at noon. Interment will be in the Cumberland Cemetery near Stevenson, Alabama on Easter Sunday, April 17, 2022, following a visitation at Rudder Funeral Home, Stevenson Chapel, at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Christian Student Center at the University of Tennessee, 1821 Melrose Avenue, Knoxville, Tennessee 37916 (https://cscutk.org/donate), or to the "JustLead" ministry of the Laurel Church of Christ, 3457 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, Tennessee 37919 (https://www.laurelcc.org/justlead).

Mr. Austin Peay Stubblefield

September 27, 1926 - April 3, 2022