Welcome to our new web site!

To give our readers a chance to experience all that our new website has to offer, we have made all content freely avaiable, through October 1, 2018.

During this time, print and digital subscribers will not need to log in to view our stories or e-editions.

Frances Jean Bateman Thomas

1935-2019

Posted

Frances Jean Bateman Thomas died March 16, 2019 in Chattanooga at Standifer Place Skilled Nursing facility. She was born June 13, 1935 in Trezevant Tenn. She grew up in McKenzie Tenn. attending school there at MHS and Bethel College. In her youth she was a West Tennessee Strawberry Queen, Miss Bethel, and competed in other beauty pageants, often alongside Dixie Carter. She also attended Freed Hardman University and David Lipscomb for a semester. She was a member of the McKenzie Church of Christ.

Jean, her husband, Jeff, and their children settled in Chattanooga in 1965. Jean was well known as the long-time hostess at Michaels on Brainerd Rd. She also worked the UTC box office for many years. Late in life she was proud to be an extra in the movie “42” which was filmed in Chattanooga.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Jeff David Thomas, her father Odell Bateman, and mother, Rubye Bateman. She is survived by her brother, Mike Bateman and sister-in-law, Laura Hazelwood Bateman (McKenzie), her son, Jeff David Thomas Jr. and daughter-in-law, Sharon Hutsell Thomas, her daughter, Cheri Lynn Thomas, her granddaughter, Elizabeth Thomas Janeway and grandson-in-law, Nathan Janeway (all of Chattanooga). She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Visitation is 10 to 12 CDT on Tuesday March 19 with funeral following at 2 p.m. CDT.

Arrangements are by Brummitt-McKenzie Funeral Home McKenzie Tenn. A Celebration of Life for Chattanooga friends and extended family is Sunday, March 24, 3 to 5 p.m. EDT in the Ridgedale Room Ridgedale Baptist Church.

Brummitt-McKenzie Funeral Home
1740 E. Cedar Ave
McKenzie, TN 38201
Phone: 731-352-4848
Fax: 731-352-4801 +

  Virus-free. www.avast.com