Sallie Mae Tedford Harper, 84, was born on November 11, 1939, in Lambert, Mississippi, in Quitman County. Sallie departed this life on December 25, 2023.
Sallie lived a long and happy life. Sallie was a true blessing from God. She was a perfect example of a Godly woman. She worked as a beautician in Mississippi upon graduating high school. She met the love of her life, Dale, while working, and after a whirlwind romance, they were married on December 21, 1958. Dale brought Sallie to Tennessee to live. She continued working as a beautician in Collinwood. She met and worked with her life-long best friend, Patsy Risner. She and Dale eventually moved to their farm in Cypress Inn in 1969. She retired as a beautician so she could help Dale grow crops, and raise hogs, cattle, and horses. She was a homemaker and carried her children to many camps, activities, games, etc. She was the secretary to Dale’s trucking company, Harper Valley Trucking. She was a youth leader at Scott’s Chapel Freewill Baptist Church. She was a Sunday School teacher. She wrote many Christmas plays and all who participated better have known their lines. She was a manager of The Young Christians. She worked at Collinwood High School in the 1970’s and she and Dale were two of the founding members of the Collinwood QB Club. She then kept her grandchildren. Eventually she would work at Collinwood Middle School after Dale passed in 2004 until she retired to keep her great-grandbabies.
Sallie attended White’s Creek Freewill Baptist to support her grandson, Luke. Prayers could be heard while he was preaching. She prayed continuously for all of her family.
Sallie was a Godly woman, mentor, a “doctor” to her family, and advisor. She was full of wisdom and grace. She was strong, beautiful, independent, and a “little” stubborn. She loved to hunt rocks, collect Redbirds, read books, play games, especially rummy and qwirkle, and go to the mountains with her family.
Sallie raised her children in a Christian home. She was a mother to so many. She thought everyone needed a little love and made many people feel very special.
She loved her husband. When Dale became sick with PSP, she never left his side and was the best caretaker to him. What an example of love she showed. Dale and Sallie are now reunited in Heaven.
Sallie is going to be missed by her family. She had answers to everything they asked. Her children, her grandchildren, her great-grandchildren were her world, and they made her life complete. She was so proud of all of them. She was their biggest cheerleader. She has left them a legacy of love.
Sallie was preceded in death by her husband, Waylon Odell Harper, her father, James Claude Tedford, her mother, Necy Louise Turner Tedford Edwards, her brother, James Ray Tedford, and her sisters, Martha L. Tedford, and Miriam Ruth Stroup.
Sallie is survived by her son, Michael Odell Harper, daughters, Jennifer Michele Haddock (Robert), and Sherri Cyle Collie (Jason). Grandsons, Michael Lee Harper (Kristen), Jake Scott Calton (Alyssa), and Luke Brannon Calton (Kaylan). Granddaughters, Kera Nicole Lopp (Wayne), Ryan Smith (Brian), and Abree Brown (Ben). Great-grandsons, Jakob Dale Calton, Dakota Wayne Lopp, Weston Roper Lopp, Tyler Brown, Carter Smith, and Corbin Smith. Great-granddaughters, Karleigh Grace Calton, Maezie Kay Calton, Anna Kate Lopp, Emmy Reece Brown, and Neely Rion Brown. Best friend, Patsy Risner and special friends, Sarah and Hadley Brewer.
Sallie’s home is in Heaven now. As one of the family members said, “Sallie got the best Christmas present because she got to reunite with Pa Harper and to see Jesus.”
Funeral services were held on Thursday, December 28, 2023 at 11:00 am at Shackelford Funeral Directors in Collinwood, TN with Ben Hanback, Blake Quillen, and Luke Calton officiating. Burial followed in Memorial Gardens in Collinwood, TN. Shackelford Funeral Directors assisted the family.
Pallbearers were Dennis Daniel, Heath Daniel, Matt Retherford, Nick Retherford, Wayne Stults, and Darrell West.
Honorary were nephews, grandsons, and great-grandsons.
