Mrs. Cornelia Heath, age 101, formerly of Elizabethton, passed away Saturday, January 03, 2009 at the Holston Manor Nursing Home in Kingsport. A native of Rome, GA, she was a daughter of the late Rev. Samuel Byrd Ledbetter and Mrs. Emma Napier Ledbetter.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, W.E. Heath, Sr., two sons, William Heath, Jr. and John Heath, and three sisters, Elizabeth Brannan, Caroline Herbig, and Katherine Doyle Pettit. Survivors include her daughter, Roslyn LaDuke and husband, Rev. Kenneth LaDuke; two daughters-in-law, Diana Heath and Beverly Heath; one brother, Samuel Ledbetter; and six grandchildren, William Heath III and wife, Sharon, Susan Eaker and husband, Jim, Michael Morris and wife, Ginnie, Jon Morris, Andy Heath, and Ryan Heath. Fourteen great-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren also survive.

Mrs. Heath graduated from Columbia University in New York City and studied at the Sorbonne in Paris. She was a retired teacher. She loved her church, First Presbyterian of Elizabethton, and was involved in many of its activities. Mrs. Heath served as a hospital volunteer for 20 years until age 98.

The funeral service for Mrs. Cornelia Heath will be conducted at 7:00 PM Tuesday, January 6, 2009 in the Sunset Chapel of Hathaway-Percy Funeral Home with Rev. John Shuck officiating. Music will be under the direction of Mr. David Arney. The family will receive friends Tuesday from 6:00 to 7:00 PM prior to the service in the funeral home chapel. The graveside service and interment will be conducted at 11:00 AM Wednesday, January 7, 2009 in the Happy Valley Memorial Park. Active pallbearers will be Gary Barrigar, Joe Alexander, Jim Wilson, Charles Faust, Kyle Hart, and Jim Miller. Honorary pallbearers are her many special friends. Friends and family are asked to meet at the funeral home at 10:15 AM Wednesday to travel together in procession to the cemetery.

For those who desire, memorials may be made in lieu-of-flowers to the First Presbyterian Church, 119 West F Street, Elizabethton, TN 37643.

On-line condolences and memories may be shared with the family and viewed by visiting www.hathawaypercy.com. Arrangements for the Heath family have been entrusted to Hathaway-Percy Funeral Home.