Surrounded by love in her home, Mrs. Betty Lou Swint Slagle, age 87, Jonesborough, peacefully left this ole world on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, moving on to her forever home in Heaven with Jesus.
Mrs. Slagle was born May 10, 1939, in Kehoe, Kentucky, to the late Raymond Elmo & Ruth Ida Williams Swint. She was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, John Nelson Slagle, son-in-law Jerry McCurry, sister Donna and brother Elbie.
She was a member of Boones Creek Christian Church Union Campus.
1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.
Whether Betty was teaching Sunday School, welcoming people to church, or meeting people on the street in community gatherings, she was often sharing the Love of Jesus and the miracles she had witnessed. Many people who knew her have shared that she was one of the first people who greeted them at church, welcoming them and sharing the testimony of her life. Betty believed it was her responsibility to share the message of Jesus with those she met. She often mentioned that she would have liked to be a preacher, but that was not possible for her. So instead, she was always quick to share that she was called out from the darkness into the light. She grew up in a home that she often described as like living in a bar with an alcoholic father. She went on to raise her eight children in the church, taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and served as a youth sponsor for many years, influencing other youth who came to know her as ‘Momma Betty’ along with her children.
Survivors include her children: Ruth Wells (Dwayne), Dixie McCurry, Penny Holley (Ric), Johnny Slagle (Becky), Ray Slagle (Tina), Cheryl Slagle, Roy Slagle (Dawn), Bobby Slagle; grandchildren: Bobby Carr, Sarah Dugger (Andy), Thomas McCurry (Cassie) Bruce Holley (Audrey), Emily Turpin (Ryan), Jonathan Slagle (Kassee), Amanda Davis (Arron), Nicolle Wells, Karina Slagle, Ty Slagle; great-grandchildren: Devin, Tiffany, Lindsey, Lucas, Malachi, Elizabeth, Brooklyn, Sophia, Caroline, Pauline, Everly, Maddie, Natalie, Kayce, Landon, Greyson, Eliza; great-great-grandchildren: Destiny and Mia.
The family of Mrs. Slagle wishes to extend our deepest gratitude to Tracey Kendall Wilson, Certified Dementia Practitioner and the team at Alzheimer’s Tennessee for their unwavering compassion, guidance, and support throughout Betty’s journey. Your kindness brought comfort and dignity to our loved one’s final years. We wish to thank the extraordinary hospice staff (Jessica, Kat, Morgan and Billie) and private caregivers (Aleesha, Rebecca and Amanda) whose gentle hands and open hearts cared for our mom with love and respect. Your presence was a blessing, and your compassion will forever be remembered by our family.
A celebration of life will be held at 7:00 PM, Saturday, September 26, 2026, at Boones Creek Christian Church, 2684 Boones Creek Rd, Johnson City, TN 37615. The family will receive friends from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM prior to the service.
