Drue Balderson

Drue Atwood Balderson, age 92, of 118 Airport Rd. Mountain City, TN passed away on Wednesday, December 10, 2025 at Johnston Memorial Hospital in Abingdon, VA of a short bout with pneumonia. This was her first stay in a hospital. Drue was born on May 3, 1933, the first child of the late Ron Atwood and Nell Vaught Atwood.

Drue was preceded in death by her soulmate and the Love of her life, Lambert Wood, her sister, Shirley A. Potter, brother, Ronald V. Atwood, sister-in-law, Kaye Atwood and Ben Simcox.

Drue was a 1952 graduate of Johnson County High School. She worked at Maymead and at Farmers State Bank before moving to Bristol, where she worked at Bristol Virginia Utilities Board until her retirement, after which she moved back to Mountain City. She attended Butler Baptist Church. Drue was famous for her soup beans, cornbread and ham biscuits that were enjoyed by so many of her friends and family. She liked to travel, loved people and had a passion for helping others. She had and shared a lot of wisdom; we will miss her dearly.

She is survived by her daughter, Sheila L. Fenner, brothers, Blake Atwood (Joann), Steve Atwood (Anita), niece, Tanya Atwood (Tim Payne), great niece, Shea Snyder (Dawson), great-great niece, Callie Snyder, son-in-love, John Wood (Dixie), daughter-in-love, Pat Wood ( Mike Hooker), grandchildren, Emily Wood Hylton (Dustin), Lauren Hooker Travaglini (Nick), Peyton Hooker, great grandson, James Luke Hylton. She was also Granny Drue to many and others who loved her.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m.to 2:00 p.m. at Mountain City Funeral Home on Saturday, December 13, 2025 with the funeral service following at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Dan Wood officiating. Graveside service and burial will follow from Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Jeff Price, Tim Fenner, Sean Kleine, Joe Simcox, Jimmy Davis and Leo Melissaris. Honorary pallbearers are Jim Gilley, J.B. Fletcher, Brenden Shay, Don Rankins and Danny Cullop.

In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made to the Johnson County Cancer Support Group in care of Flo Bellamy, 3510 Highway 421 N., Mountain City, TN 37683 or to the Dog and End of Life Sanctuary, 977 Harbin Hill Rd., Mountain City, TN 37683, 423- 956- 2564.

The family will receive friends at the home 118 Airport Rd., Mountain City, TN 37683.

Condolences may be sent to the family through our website at www.mountaincityfh.com.