Sally Essin Obituary

Sally Katherine Goodman Essin

March 10, 2026

JOHNSON CITY - Sally Essin of Johnson City passed away at Johnson City Medical Center on Tuesday, March 10.

She was born in 1941 in Dallas, Texas, the daughter of Henry and Allie Goodman. Sally received her B.A. from Austin College in 1963, where she met Emmett M. Essin and married him a year after. They moved to Johnson City in 1967. Once her children, Matthew and Christin, began school, she returned to graduate school, earning a M.A. in Guidance and Counseling from East Tennessee State University in 1979.

In 1982, Sally became a counselor at Tri-Cities State Technical Institute, now Northeast State, and in 1989 became the Dean of Intuitional Advancement where she led projects in fundraising, public relations, alumni affairs, and scholarships. In the beginning of her tenure, the school's foundations had less than $100,000; when she retired in 2004, she had increased the net assets to $3 million. The hundreds of scholarships her fundraising produced for this community is part of her professional legacy, as is being the fourth woman member and first woman elected President of the Kingsport Civitan Club in 1990. In 1996, she joined the Johnson City Kiwanis Club, served on its Board of Directors, and chaired the 1998 World-Wide Service Project. Sally took great pride in her year as president of the Virgil Anderson Sunday School class as well as her service on the Board of Directors for the United Way, chairing the allocations committee. In all her charitable endeavors, she advocated for women's professional advancement.

Sally loved life and lived it well. She loved gardening, growing tomatoes, frying green tomatoes, and eating tomato sandwiches; she loved going to the beach but loved coming home just as much; she loved animals, especially cats, and only pretended not to like Emmett's dogs; she loved her friends and laughing with them over meals and drinks. She loved her family and cared for them fiercely.

Those left to cherish her memory include her son, Emmett Matthew Essin (Cathy Reynolds Essin); her grandson, Evan Matthew Essin; her daughter, Elizabeth Christin Essin (Jeffrey Michael Copeland); and her loving husband Emmett M. Essin III.

The family of Sally Essin will receive friends from 10:00 am to 11:00 am Saturday, March 14, 2026, at Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church. The funeral service will follow at 11:00 am Saturday in the church sanctuary with Rev. Michael Lester officiating. Due to a special event at the church, guests are asked to please park on the Market Street side of the church for both the visitation and funeral service.

For those who wish, memorials may be made to the Virgil Anderson Sunday School Class, Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 1336, Johnson City, TN 37605

Memories and condolences can be shared at www.morrisbaker.com.

Morris-Baker Funeral Home, 2001 E. Oakland Ave., Johnson City, is honored to serve Essin family. (423) 282-1521