Obit – Mrs. Lucette Kemp
Mrs. Lucette Kemp of the Kempville Community succumbed to a three-year battle with breast cancer and was pronounced deceased at 11:15 a.m. Tuesday morning January 14, 2025 with her family who had been at her bedside since she was admitted Saturday morning January 12th at the High Point Health – Riverview in Carthage. Mrs. Kemp was 60.
Mrs. Kemp was at the Hackett Chapel of Sanderson Funeral Home. Funeral services were conducted by her pastor, Bro. Bryan Bratcher on Friday afternoon at 1 p.m. from the Kempville Chapel Old Time Methodist Church. Burial followed in the Kemp family lot in the Duke section at the Defeated Creek Memorial Gardens.
She was born Velina Lucette Shoulders at the former Petty-Green Clinic in Carthage on October 27, 1964 and was one of two daughters of the late Draper D. Shoulders who died December 7, 1997 at the age of 71 and Naomi Frances Harp Shoulders who died October 4, 2006 at the age 78.
Before moving to Carthage in 1967, Lucette, her parents, and sister resided in the Defeated Creek Community.
On August 21, 1998 at the North Carthage Baptist Church, she was united in marriage to Kempville Community native and farmer, James Steven (Buster) Kemp. Bro. Frank Bratcher officiated the ceremony.
Lucette and Steven suffered the loss of their first-born child, daughter Taylor Grace Kemp, who died at birth on January 1, 2000.
Also preceding her in death was her father-in-law, Roger Dale Kemp who died November 13, 2021 at the age of 77 and a brother-in-law, Joey Dale Kemp who died in a work-related accident on November 13, 2010 at the age of 45.
Mrs. Kemp was a 1982 graduate of Smith County High School where she graduated third of the top ten in her senior class, majored in home economics, was a member of the Beta Club, typist of the 1982 “Owl” yearbook her senior year and also her senior year was homecoming representative, was in chorus, selected as Who’s Who among American high school students, was in the Spring Festival, and the speech and drama club her last three years.
Following high school she enrolled at Volunteer State Community College in Gallatin. She received her Bachelor Degree in business administration from Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville in 1986.
Her first career included being employed at the former Cumberland Bank in Carthage for twenty-three years and later Wilson Bank and Trust Co. in Lebanon for one year before joining the funeral home staff.
She also was employed at the office of the Smith County Commission Co. working on Saturdays since she was a teenager living down the street from the sale barn.
In February of 2011 she began employment at Sanderson Funeral Home in Carthage where she later completed her examination to become a Tennessee licensed Funeral Director and a Tennessee Licensed Insurance Agent.
She was very proficient in internet technology and maintained the main frames for the funeral home computers at both the Carthage and Kempville locations and the Algood Crematory.
A dear precious soul, who fought her illness with courage and determination, and Lucette possessed a positive outlook for a cure with every varied treatment she endured after the initial surgery.
She quickly adjusted to the Carver family after her employment at Sanderson and was always full of laughter, joy and concern in the workplace and brought a measure of enjoyment to all the employees.
For all of the hundreds of families she assisted with insurance claims, and other concerns they had after the death of one of their family members, she instantly earned their respect and trust.
Surviving in addition to her husband Steven, of just twenty-six years is their son, Adam Kemp of the Kempville Community; sister, Sally Jane Shoulders Whitefield of Cystal Springs, Mississippi; mother-in-law, Kay Conditt Kemp of the Kempville Community, sister-in-law Lisa Wilmore Kemp Huff and husband Alan of the Granville Community, and her children, Kayla and Justin Kemp; nephew, Scott Whitefield; great-niece, Hayley Whitefield Davies.
Mrs. Kemp was saved as a young girl at the North Carthage Baptist Church and after marrying and moving to Kempville she joined and became a dedicated member of the Kempville Chapel Old Time Methodist Church where she taught Sunday School and participated in the food share program and especially loved the Angel Tree at Christmas, which the church prepared for those in need.
The family has requested memorials to the Joey Kemp Scholarship Fund or the Kempville Chapel Old Time Methodist Church.
Lucette, it is with faith, that for you, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit will rest and abide with you for now, and evermore.
SANDERSON of KEMPVILLE
