Reba Campbell

1931 - 2025

Reba Fay Proffitt Campbell died on September 19, 2025 in Dayton, Tennessee at The Veranda at the Life Care of Tennessee.

Reba Fay was born on September 2, 1931 in Sevierville, Tennessee to Mollie and Eugene Proffitt. She went by the name Fay until her husband's death in 1998 when the funeral director saw her name and exclaimed, "A Reba!" Thereafter, she was known as Reba.

Fay and her two sisters, Mary Jean and Wilma grew up in a two-room log cabin on a small farm in South Knoxville commonly referred to as, "The Holler". The girls made pets of the farm animals and Fay fondly remembered playing with her cats, swinging on ropes and riding horses. She graduated high school and briefly attended business school before marrying Leon (Shorty) Campbell from Lawrenceburg, TN, an officer in the Air Force. Their honeymoon was spent driving to George Air Force Base in Victorville, California and 38 years passed before she returned to live in Knoxville. Over the course of those intervening years, Fay had four children, Steve, Susan, Scott and Stacie. During her husband's military career, she and her family lived in California, France, Arkansas, Florida, Japan and Hawaii before coming home to Tennessee.

Fay loved to read, dance, play cards and bowl. She was an avid Bridge and Rook player, was on various bowling leagues and enjoyed putting together jigsaw puzzles. When Fay wasn't winning Scrabble games, she kept busy solving word search and Sudoku puzzles and ordering from home shopping channels. She had a special fondness for the latest gadgets. Her wicked sense of humor was legendary.

Dogs and cats were always an important part of life and one Veterinarian remarked that when he died, he wanted to come back as her dog. That's why when her beloved rescue dog, Joeffe walked up to the front door, we all asked if the Vet had died. In later years, Reba moved to Birchwood, Tennessee to be closer to her daughters.

Reba Fay is survived by her children: Steven (Denise), Susan Hassler (Shawn), Scott and Stacie Campbell Eckhoff (Tim). Grandchildren: Andrew, Christopher, Nick (Lacee) and Alexa. Bonus grandchildren: Brittany Wilson (TJ) and Megan Sanders (Chris). Great grandchildren: Brooklyn, Liam, Mason and Myles. Bonus great grandchildren: Aiden Strange and Jayden Davenport. Sister: Wilma Julian and numerous loving nieces and nephews in Seymour, Lawrenceburg and Columbia, Tennessee. She will be remembered by family; as well as, many friends of the family.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Leon (Shorty) Campbell, parents Mollie Lowe and Eugene Proffitt and sister, Mary Jean Whitaker.

The family would like to express their appreciation to Reba's sitter, Judy Earles, to her caregivers at The Veranda at the Life Care Center of Rhea County and to Hearth Hospice.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Berry Highland South Funeral Home. There will be a private ceremony for immediate family. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to your local animal shelter or The Alzheimer's Association. To share you heartfelt condolences please visit www.BerryHighlandSouth.com.