Tibitha Jacqueline (McCoy) Farris

Tibitha Jacqueline (McCoy) Farris of Unionville, passed away on February 22, 2016 at the age of 77, at home, where she always wanted to be. Born May 24, 1938, Jackie was the daughter of William Bert McCoy and Dorothy Edell (Ferguson, Richardson) McCoy and sister of Barbara Jean (Richardson) Wolfe (Robert). She was preceded in death by her parents, sister and brother-in-law, her husband William A. Farris, two nieces; Cheryl A. and Susan K. Wolfe. Tibitha graduated from Unionville High School in 1956. She was employed by Sarkes Tarzalan and retired from Agency for Instructional Technology where she was an executive assistant. She was a member of New Unionville Baptist Church and enjoyed the fellowship there when she was able to attend. She is survived by nieces: Deborah Y. Wolfe, Charlotte L. Clevenger (Cheryl) and Roberta J. Puckett (Larry). Great nieces/nephews: Stephenie M. Courter, Matthew S. Courter, Melissa A. Puckett (Allen), Tammy L. Turner, Michael A. (Tony) Pass (Heather), Craig E. Latta (Brandi), Nellie G. Clevenger, Barbara P. Morgan (Cary). Great great nieces/nephews: Devin M., Emanuel J., Rylee Y. Courter, Noble L. Courter-Macy; Alexia B. Courter; Billy Jr., Sheldon Turner, Cody Bunch; Timmy, Abi Latta; Jonathan Clevenger, Jordan Honeycutt; Samson, Imagin and Melonie Morgan and many great great greats, too numerous to list. She is also survived by three step-grandchildren, Amy Stewart, Jessica Shields and Ryan Jacobs as well as several great grandchildren. Jackie is also survived by many friends from many years of work and growing up in Unionville. Among them are: Sandy Sanders, Eugenia Baker, Sharon Masters, Mary Jane Wininger, Vanessa Parker (Star), Charlene Cox, Kathy Phelan and Don (Ellen) McGlothlin. There are others that somehow escape me at this time but you know you were a big joy and comfort for Jackie throughout her life. A eulogy was written by Jackie's roommate at Golden Living that we would like to include here. Tina Blythe was a good friend to Jackie the 6 months she was at "the joint" as she called it. Tina got to know her as much of us knew her, feisty and speaking her mind. Here is her piece: "You know, they say if you are around your pet long enough, that you start taking on their characteristics-I believe that is what happened during the time I shared a room with Jackie at Golden Living Center. I first met Jackie as she would go by my door which was two doors from hers at the time. I don't think I had ever met anyone who could talk as much as her-and all in one breath. Just shortly after I met Jackie, my former roommate was able to go home, so it was decided that Jackie would move in with me. The first few weeks were quite trying since she did not watch T.V. and I did and I slept with either the T.V. or radio on and she didn't. There was even a point where I wanted a new roommate because I didn't think Jackie and I could get along. Not long after that day, Jackie fell in the bathroom and bummed up her head. As she was falling, she cried out for me. And because of adrenaline, I felt my foot slide off the side of the bed to try to get to her. It was then I realized I cared more for Jackie than I would let myself admit. We started to gain each others trust and friendship and I quickly learned all about the life of Tibitha Jacqueline Farris. Jackie talked a lot about her parents and growing up in the little burg of Unionville as she called it. She spoke of growing spring, summer and fall gardens...and her mother-in-laws chicken noodles. She used to say that if you grew up in Unionville, you are either a Richardson, Young or Chitwood and you would more than likely be a Baptist or from the Church of Christ. Jackie told me off the cuff one day, how she met her husband for the first time-in a bar (which I never let her live down). You just didn't expect that to come from her mouth! We talked about how she used to work for the Agency for Instructional Technology and the fact that she never had to give the receptionist a break, which I believe she thoroughly enjoyed. But some of the funniest and most memorable things about Jackie took place in Room #119. Jackie was a talker as we all know. Sometimes she never stopped. She used to tell the aides what pretty skin they had and they should use Pond's Cold Cream to keep their skin soft. She would get mad at me for not cold creaming my skin. Jackie was always cold, even in 80 degree weather. One day, I woke up to find her sitting on the side of her bed with a towel wrapped around her head like a turban. I told her she looked like Ahmed the Dead Terrorist (a ventriloquist dummy). Luckily, she didn't know who that was! When it came to doing her therapy, that was another whole ball of wax. One day in particular, Jackie had gone to therapy and completed her session when her therapist told her she had to wheel her wheelchair by herself back to the room, which amounted to approximately 25-30 feet. You would have thought Moses was trying to part the waters. She absolutely didn't want to! I used to tell her that I was going to tie a rope to my wheelchair and pull her down the hall. A few other memorable things that come to my mind about Jackie was her love for yogurt (NOT) and watching WWE wrestling with me on Mondays and Thursdays. Jackie usually got a yogurt for her snacks because of being a diabetic and also being on antibiotics. She would always tell me she sort of liked yogurt but she didn't want to have to eat it all day long. Well, we managed to get her snacks changed and she was a happy camper. As far as the wrestling goes, I could write a whole new book on that. I've watched WWE wrestling since I was in grade school. As a matter of fact, I am pretty hardcore about it. Jackie, on the other hand, was not too in tune. For three hours every Monday night and two hours every Thursday night, I religiously watched Roman Reigns, Randy Orton and Sting go at it. Jackie would always say, "That's so fake!" But yet, she would watch bits and pieces with me in the midst of trying to go to bed. I told her, I would have her converted before she went back home. Other things that aggravated Jackie, were not having what she considered a "Sam's Club" supply of toilet paper in the bathroom and plenty of tissues at her bedside. To be frank, I cried for what seemed an eternity the day Jackie left to go home. For someone whom I didn't think I was going to get along with, the strong-willed woman grew on me. I didn't last 24 hours and I had to call and check on her. I also cried for hours the afternoon of Jackie's death when her niece Jean had called to tell me my friend and her aunt had passed away. Jackie always wanted to be in her own bed in the little burg of Unionville when she passed away. Well my friend, you got your wish. God rest your soul Tibitha Jacqueline Farris." If you would like to contribute to the Go Fund Me account established for Jackie's final expenses, it would be greatly appreciated. There will be a graveside memorial service on May 20, 2016 at 3 p.m. at Little Union Baptist Church Cemetery to inter her cremains and have a time of remembrance and reflection of the life of Tibitha "Jackie" Farris.

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Tibitha Jacqueline (McCoy) Farris

May 24, 1938 - February 22, 2016