Mrs. Novella Anderson "Dobie" Mayfield, 90, of South Pittsburg, TN died Sunday, August 17, 2014 at The Bridge at South Pittsburg.


Novella was born July 25, 1924 into one of the earliest Marion County families and was the youngest of five girls. She was known to most as "Dobie" from an early age because her sister pronounced her name as "Dobella." Her Papa usually called her "Sugar Baby." At age 15, she married the same boy who had dipped her blonde hair in an inkwell at Martin Springs school years earlier. She and Tommie traveled after retirement and had been married 58 years at his death in 1997.

Novella loved having her family around her. She was a wonderful cook and an accomplished seamstress, which she attributed to her mother-in-law and sister-in-law, Bertha Ladd and Frances Wileman. She completed her high school education and nursing school and retired from South Pittsburg Municipal Hospital as an ICU nurse. For many years she was a member and Sunday School teacher at Richard City Baptist Church, before becoming a member of Grace Baptist Church in South Pittsburg.


Novella was preceded in death by her husband, James Thomas "Tommie" Mayfield; her son, James Floyd Mayfield; parents, Leonard and Myrtle Decker Anderson; sisters, Lillie Mae Hargiss, Flora Patrick, Gussie Anderson and Rebecca Fults; and son-in-law, James Edward Steele.


She is survived by daughters, Myrtle Steele, Dorothy (Richard) Powell, Phyllis (Gaylen) Russell, Elaine (Wayne) Heard, Pamela Rogers and one daughter-in-law, Roberta Durham Mayfield; grandchildren, Gina Powell (Jim) Thomas, Brian (Jerri) Steele, Christy Mayfield, Jamie Mayfield, Denny Long, Brent Long, Rebecca Rogers, Emily Rogers; step-grandchildren, Rickey (Chrystal) Heard and Tonia Heard (Tony) Tinker; great-grandchildren, Eric Thomas, Jason Thomas, Heather Steele Thomas, Hunter Steele, Joshua Long, Jenna Long, Orchid Long, Drew Heard, Cole Heard and Molly Heard; four great-great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Lois Henley and Grace Coffelt; brother-in-law, Bob Mayfield; several nieces, nephews and a host of friends/caregivers at The Bridge nursing home in South Pittsburg.


Funeral services will be conducted from the South Pittsburg Chapel of Rogers Funeral Home at 11 am Central time on Wednesday, August 20, 2014 with Rev. Ronnie Case officiating. Interment will follow at Sequatchie Valley Memorial Gardens in Jasper.


The family will receive friends for visitation on Tuesday, August 19, 2014 from 5-8 pm Central time at the funeral home.


The family suggests that memorial donations be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memorial and Honor Program, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1942.