Mildred Ladd DeLaney

DeLaney, Mildred Ladd was born in Kingston, Tennessee on May 5, 1917 and passed away with her children at her bedside on March 24, 2007. Mrs. DeLaney and her brother, Hu E. Ladd, were the children of William B. Ladd and Amanda Ingram Ladd. Mrs. DeLaney and her husband of fifty-five years, Robert M. DeLaney, were the parents of two children, Robert L. DeLaney and Amanda (Jack) DeLaney Miller. Mrs. DeLaney had three grandsons, Patrick Michael Butler DeLaney, Jack Lawson ('Trey') Miller, III and John Robert Butler DeLaney. Mrs. DeLaney was a graduate of Roane County High School where she was an outstanding player on the women's basketball team. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. While at the University of Tennessee she was a member of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority. Mrs. DeLaney's family was among the early settlers in Kingston and Roane County, Tennessee. She was very proud of her family heritage and her family's involvement in the civic, legal and governmental affairs of her hometown, county and state. Upon graduation from the University of Tennessee, she returned to Roane County, taught school initially in the Midway community and later at Harriman High School. In June, 1941, she and Mr. DeLaney were married. After Mr. DeLaney completed his military service during World War II in this country and the United Kingdom, Mr. and Mrs. DeLaney started their family. In 1950, Mrs. DeLaney's son, Robert, was born and in 1951, her daughter, Amanda, was born. During the first several years of her children's lives, Mrs. DeLaney dedicated herself to their rearing, running the household in a home constructed during the early 1800s which was restored originally by her father, the management of family business affairs and counseled and aided in her husband's political career. Mrs. DeLaney was a life-long member of the First Baptist Church in Kingston and made certain her children were raised in the church as she had been and benefited from its teachings and values. Mrs. DeLaney was a gracious host and sumptuous cook who enjoyed entertaining family and friends. She gardened, sewed everything from clothes to curtains, knitted, crocheted and arranged her own flowers for parties and other occasions. As her children grew older, Mrs. DeLaney returned to teaching and taught for many years at Roane County High School. While teaching Home Economics, among other things, she proposed and obtained approval for a class called 'Bachelor Living.' This class was one of the first of its kind in this State and reflected her view that young men and young women should be educated in many of the same domestic and sartorial skills. In 1979, Mrs. DeLaney retired from teaching to spend time with her husband who had also retired. During this period she was a member and active in the Tennessee Retired Teachers Association, the Southwest Point Daughters of the American Revolution and the Roane County Heritage Commission. Donations in her memory can be made to the First Baptist Church of Kingston, 215 North Kentucky Street, Kingston, Tennessee 37763 and the Roane County Heritage Commission, P. O. Box 738, Kingston, Tennessee 37763. Funeral 3pm Saturday March 31, 2007 in the Kyker Chapel with Rev. Larry Burcham officiating. Entombment in Kingston Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 1 until 3pm Saturday at the Kyker Funeral Home in Kingston.

Mildred Ladd DeLaney

May 5, 1917 - March 24, 2007