Laura Maxine Sparkman

Laura Maxine Ellis Sparkman passed away peacefully at Life Care of Collegedale on Tuesday, January 20, 2026. She was born in Sparta, Tn on December 4, 1932. She grew up in the White County community and in 1949 married her high school sweetheart, Carroll Sparkman. They started their family and after a few years relocated to Hixson, Tn. There they raised four children where Maxine was a wonderful stay at home wife and mom, later becoming a beloved Grammie to nine grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren. She enjoyed being a member of Falling Water Baptist Church and loved her Sunday School class. She was an avid Vols fan, took great pride and joy in being a Red Cross volunteer for 35 years at Northpark Hospital.

Maxine was preceded in death by her husband, Carroll; her parents, Olive and Ernest Ellis; sisters, Jewell Jones and Marie Ellis; and brothers, Bill Ellis and Bud Ellis. She leaves behind four children: Sue (Steve) Oaks, Theresa (Rick) Sharpe, Laura Horner Combs, and Chris (Maria) Sparkman; brother, Lon (Nancy) Ellis; grandchildren: Bob (Jeanniee), Evin (Dennis), Jennifer (Jeff), Ryan (Esther), Sarah, Jared (Ashleigh), Cody, Amber (Jacob), and Eric; great-grandchildren: Jake (Fair), Chase (Abby), Austin (Olivia), Cayman, Nolan, Walker, Shelby, Madison, Thijs and Noa; great-great-grandchildren: Brecken, Presley, and Miller.

A Celebration of Life service will be held 1:00 pm Saturday, January 31, 2026 in the Coulter Chapel of Lane Funeral Home, Ashland Terrace, with Pastor Brandon Carder officiating. Visitation will be 11:00 am to 1:00 pm Saturday before the service. Burial will be at 2:00 in Hamilton Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made in Maxine's name to Falling Water Baptist Church.

Arrangements entrusted to Lane Funeral Home, 601 Ashland Terrace, Chattanooga, Tn 37415, (423) 877-3524, lanefh.com.