Edith Tolliver, age 101, of LaFollette

Edith Tolliver, age 101, of LaFollette passed away on Tuesday, August 1, 2023.

Edith Sumner was born a coal miner’s daughter in Creech mining camp in Twila Kentucky. Her father Mack was run out of Harlan County because he was a Union organizer in Bloody Harlan County.

The family moved to LaFollette Tennessee and settled on Beech Street where her

Brother- in -law Gilbert Broyles owned a corner store.

During WWII Edith was proudly a Rosie the Riveter where she worked building airplanes at the Glen L Martin airplane plant in Baltimore, where I was born. Her brothers Claude and Jack both served in the Navy in the Pacific.

She moved back to Tennessee when her father became ill from Black Lung disease in the early 1950’s. 

She stood on the bridge in front of her house and cried and said it was the day she had dreaded all her life when I left for Ft Jackson during the Vietnam War.

Edith could remember seeing her first electric light, her first car, and her first airplane.

She was very happily married to Loyd Tolliver for many years and they loved staying at his cabin on the lake and going together to the Oak Ridge Playhouse where they had front row seasons tickets for years.

Edith and her sister Evelyn attended the LaFollette Church of Christ for many years.  She was able to drive herself there until she was 92 years old.

She has out lived all her brothers and sisters Evelyn, Pauline, Ruth, Claude, Jack, Hugh and Ernest.

Her closest family member Irene Ivey and her son Joe Fleury still live in LaFollette.

Family and friends will meet 2 PM Friday, August 4^th at Cross-Smith Funeral Home and proceed to Bakers Forge Cemetery for 3 PM Graveside Service and Interment.

Arrangements by Cross-Smith Funeral Home

Condolences may be given online at www.cross-smithfuneralhome.com