Vanda Joyce Young

Vanda Young, 88, was called home to be with her Lord and Savior the night of November 9, 2024. She was a resident of Athens, TN where she resided with her husband of 67 years, Corbin Young. 

Vanda was born in Vonore, TN on September 25, 1936 to the late John and Bertha (Williams) Niles and was one of five children. 

Following her marriage to Corbin, they soon moved to Athens and became faithful servant members of North Athens Baptist Church (previously) and were currently members of East Athens Baptist Church. A love language of hers was preparing home cooked meals for church gatherings and visiting the shut-in with a warm casserole dish and baked dessert in hand. 

Vanda loved to work at home where she could always be found outside quietly toiling the days away in the garden breaking beans, shucking corn, and picking blackberries or burning brush in the woods to manicure the homeplace; her green thumb never went unnoticed. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner she was in the kitchen cooking and baking. Nearly every single meal was home-made as her and Corbin made quite the culinary duo! She was an avid bird watcher and could readily recount species of all her regular visitors. Hummingbirds were her favorite, but she also cherished her chickens, too. Vanda loved many things, but only second to the Lord was her family. She was a second mother to her grandchildren and was actively involved with their endeavors. Vanda hardly met a stranger and thoroughly enjoyed telling stories of her pastime. Corbin and Vanda were a constant source of support and created a firm foundation for their family’s faith to flourish for generations to come. 

She is survived by her son Mark Young (and daughter-in-law Kim Young), her daughter Beverley Rose (and son-in-law David Rose), her grandchildren: Laura Smith, Caleb Young, and Laceica Turner, her great grandson Corbin “Luke” Carver, her brother Jack Niles, sister Linda Summitt, and several nieces and nephews. 

Vanda was preceded in death by her parents and siblings: Charles Edward Niles, and Anna Lea Niles Steele.

 The family would like to extend a special thank you to the nurses, chaplain, and social worker of Adoration Hospice of Sweetwater for the attention and care provided over the last several weeks.

 The family will receive friends from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. Thursday, November 14, 2024 at Laycock-Hobbs Funeral Home with funeral services immediately following at 1:00 P.M. in the Chapel with pastor Jason Robertson and Chaplain Adam Jones officiating. Interment will follow in McMinn Memory Gardens. Active pallbearers will be Deacons of East Athens Baptist Church. 

Those unable to attend may leave condolences for the family at https://www.laycock-hobbs.com/obituaries/vanda-young

Laycock-Hobbs Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.