Almost 100 years ago, Tennie Cathey Chaffin was born in the Tennessee community of Cathey’s Creek, on property that was given to ancestor Alexander Cathey in the 1700’s as a Revolutionary War land grant. Tennie, her brother Hal, and her sisters, Sara and Anna, grew up on a farm in Cathey’s Creek, and attended Hampshire School.

In the eighth grade, Tennie was so skilled at basketball that she was recruited to the high school team. She later also played basketball for the YWCA in Nashville.

After high school, she worked in the Columbia hosiery mill, and decided that was not for her. She attended Columbia Business College and after graduation took a job in Raleigh, North Carolina. After a couple of years, she moved to Nashville with her two sisters, where they were all “working girls” and lived together in Ivy Lodge.

She met James Aubrey Chaffin at a Nashville YWCA dance, and they married soon after. Aubrey was in the Air Force, so they lived several places: Texas, Georgia, where their two daughters Nancy and Susan were born, Morocco, California, and Spain. Aubrey was ready to retire after that last tour of duty, but was killed in an auto accident in 1966 as they prepared to leave Spain.

Tennie and her daughters then moved to Columbia where there was lots of family for support.

In 1973, Tennie graduated with highest honors from Columbia State Community College with a degree in computer programming. Her instructor, Mike Kesler, became a lifelong friend.

Later, Tennie worked for the Farmers Home Administration, from which she retired. She really enjoyed that work and co-workers.

After retirement, she palled around with family and friends and loved to play Bridge and Rook.

She also sat with various friends and family members when they were hospitalized. She had a lifelong affiliation with the Church of Christ, both at Cathey’s Creek, and West 7th Street.

A graveside service for Tennie was held Tuesday, March 30 at Polk Memorial Gardens. Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home, Columbia, assisted the family with arrangemnets.

Tennie was preceded in death by her husband, siblings, and daughter Susan.

Survivors include daughter, Nancy (John) Cosgrove; nephews, Frank (Gail) Cathey and Scottie Spratlin; nieces, Shirley (Randy) Boshers, Elizabeth (David) Mundie, and Donna (Dave) Mulder; sister-in-law, Zeiley Williams; along with several grand nieces and nephews.