Obituary for Deborah "Lynn" Twitty (Flottman)
Loving family member and educator Deborah Lynn (Flottman) Twitty, 73, of Cookeville, Tennessee passed away on March 3, 2023, Lynn died while surrounded by her devoted family after a valiant fight with cancer.
Lynn was born on June 1, 1949, in Washington, District of Columbia, and grew up exploring the nation’s capital with her parents and three younger siblings. As a youth, she was active in Girl Scouting and the Green Valley Presbyterian Church. She received her primary education in the Prince George’s County, Maryland public schools, graduating from Crossland Senior High School where she was involved in the Future Teachers of America student organization. This foundation led to her passion in education and pursuit of sharing knowledge with her children, grandchildren, and others throughout her life. Lynn obtained her Associate of Arts at Prince George’s Community College and Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Arkansas. Shortly after graduating Lynn accepted a teaching position in rural Warren County, North Carolina where she taught Social Studies and worked with children in the Special Education program.
Lynn met the love of her life, Boyd Twitty, through a mutual friend in mid October and after a whirlwind romance they wed a little over two months later on December 23, 1971, in Macon, Warren County, North Carolina. Boyd proposed with the sweet sounds of David Cassidy’s “Cherish” playing in the background and noted in their diary, “I will always cherish Lynn and this night.” Early in their marriage, Lynn was a stay at home parent as she and Boyd raised their three children. Traveling frequently to Maryland to visit family, Lynn shared many of the same experiences with her children exploring the nation’s capital as she had in her youth. Ever the educator, Lynn worked as a substitute teacher and volunteered as a Girl Scout leader while the children were young.
Lynn and her family lived in Eastern and Western North Carolina before moving to Cookeville, Tennessee in 1987. On arriving to Cookeville, they became members of the Cookeville First Cumberland Presbyterian Church It was in the Cumberland Presbyterian Nursery School where Lynn returned to her calling as a teacher working with different age groups in Early Childhood Development. She eventually became the assistant director of the program and the primary teacher for the preschool group of 4 year olds taking pride in preparing children for a successful transition to Kindergarten. Lynn then served with the Upper Cumberland Child Resource and Referral (CCR & R) where she enjoyed training and supporting child care educators of young children.
In retirement, Lynn enjoyed spending more time with family and doting on her four grandchildren, two great grandchildren, and nieces. You could always find her doing arts and crafts with the kids, sewing outfits for the girls and their doll babies, sitting around the family table playing cards, and feeding her loved ones fabulous meals. Researching genealogy became another passion for Lynn. She became an active member of the Old Walton Road Chapter of the Daughter’s of the American Revolution, Cookeville, Tennessee and discovered through research that she is the direct descendant of numerous passengers on the Mayflower.
Lynn is preceded in death by her parents Marilyn (Miller) and Arnold L. Flottman, Jr.; in-laws Frank and Mary Twitty; her husband, Boyd W. Twitty of 43 years; her brother, John W. Flottman; and sister-in-law Rebecca Ellen (Twitty) Lynch. She is survived by her son Nathaniel B. (Robin) Twitty; daughter Brenon L. Twitty; son Matthew D. (Sondra) Twitty; grandchildren, Sara E. (Peyton) Ellis, Hannah A. Twitty, C. Ryan Twitty, Adelaide E. Twitty; and great-grandchildren Audrey E. Ellis, Grayson R. Ellis. Also surviving is her brother Arnold “Skip” L. (Marilyn) Flottman, sister Irma J. (Robin) Flottman-Mullen, sister-in-law Diane (Larry) Lynch; nieces Cora (Drew) Laurens, Mary (Alex) Andres, Emily K. Flottman-Mullen, Ella M. Flottman-Mullen; nephews Richard (Lee Ann) Lynch, James (Nicole) Lynch, and Adam (Alma) Lynch. She leaves a large extended family and friends to cherish their memories with her.
The family will receive friends on Saturday, April 1, 2023, beginning at 9:00 a.m. with the Celebration of Life following at 11:00 a.m. at the Cookeville First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 565 E 10th Street, Cookeville, TN 38501. Interment to follow at Crest Lawn Memorial Cemetery, 800 W. Jackson Street, Cookeville, TN 38501.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Lynn’s honor can be made to Cumberland Presbyterian Nursery School, 565 E 10th Street, Cookeville, TN 38501.
To sign the online guestbook and to send the family a message please visit www.crestlawnmemorial.com
Arrangements entrusted to Crest Lawn Funeral Home - Cremation Center.
Lynn was born on June 1, 1949, in Washington, District of Columbia, and grew up exploring the nation’s capital with her parents and three younger siblings. As a youth, she was active in Girl Scouting and the Green Valley Presbyterian Church. She received her primary education in the Prince George’s County, Maryland public schools, graduating from Crossland Senior High School where she was involved in the Future Teachers of America student organization. This foundation led to her passion in education and pursuit of sharing knowledge with her children, grandchildren, and others throughout her life. Lynn obtained her Associate of Arts at Prince George’s Community College and Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Arkansas. Shortly after graduating Lynn accepted a teaching position in rural Warren County, North Carolina where she taught Social Studies and worked with children in the Special Education program.
Lynn met the love of her life, Boyd Twitty, through a mutual friend in mid October and after a whirlwind romance they wed a little over two months later on December 23, 1971, in Macon, Warren County, North Carolina. Boyd proposed with the sweet sounds of David Cassidy’s “Cherish” playing in the background and noted in their diary, “I will always cherish Lynn and this night.” Early in their marriage, Lynn was a stay at home parent as she and Boyd raised their three children. Traveling frequently to Maryland to visit family, Lynn shared many of the same experiences with her children exploring the nation’s capital as she had in her youth. Ever the educator, Lynn worked as a substitute teacher and volunteered as a Girl Scout leader while the children were young.
Lynn and her family lived in Eastern and Western North Carolina before moving to Cookeville, Tennessee in 1987. On arriving to Cookeville, they became members of the Cookeville First Cumberland Presbyterian Church It was in the Cumberland Presbyterian Nursery School where Lynn returned to her calling as a teacher working with different age groups in Early Childhood Development. She eventually became the assistant director of the program and the primary teacher for the preschool group of 4 year olds taking pride in preparing children for a successful transition to Kindergarten. Lynn then served with the Upper Cumberland Child Resource and Referral (CCR & R) where she enjoyed training and supporting child care educators of young children.
In retirement, Lynn enjoyed spending more time with family and doting on her four grandchildren, two great grandchildren, and nieces. You could always find her doing arts and crafts with the kids, sewing outfits for the girls and their doll babies, sitting around the family table playing cards, and feeding her loved ones fabulous meals. Researching genealogy became another passion for Lynn. She became an active member of the Old Walton Road Chapter of the Daughter’s of the American Revolution, Cookeville, Tennessee and discovered through research that she is the direct descendant of numerous passengers on the Mayflower.
Lynn is preceded in death by her parents Marilyn (Miller) and Arnold L. Flottman, Jr.; in-laws Frank and Mary Twitty; her husband, Boyd W. Twitty of 43 years; her brother, John W. Flottman; and sister-in-law Rebecca Ellen (Twitty) Lynch. She is survived by her son Nathaniel B. (Robin) Twitty; daughter Brenon L. Twitty; son Matthew D. (Sondra) Twitty; grandchildren, Sara E. (Peyton) Ellis, Hannah A. Twitty, C. Ryan Twitty, Adelaide E. Twitty; and great-grandchildren Audrey E. Ellis, Grayson R. Ellis. Also surviving is her brother Arnold “Skip” L. (Marilyn) Flottman, sister Irma J. (Robin) Flottman-Mullen, sister-in-law Diane (Larry) Lynch; nieces Cora (Drew) Laurens, Mary (Alex) Andres, Emily K. Flottman-Mullen, Ella M. Flottman-Mullen; nephews Richard (Lee Ann) Lynch, James (Nicole) Lynch, and Adam (Alma) Lynch. She leaves a large extended family and friends to cherish their memories with her.
The family will receive friends on Saturday, April 1, 2023, beginning at 9:00 a.m. with the Celebration of Life following at 11:00 a.m. at the Cookeville First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 565 E 10th Street, Cookeville, TN 38501. Interment to follow at Crest Lawn Memorial Cemetery, 800 W. Jackson Street, Cookeville, TN 38501.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Lynn’s honor can be made to Cumberland Presbyterian Nursery School, 565 E 10th Street, Cookeville, TN 38501.
To sign the online guestbook and to send the family a message please visit www.crestlawnmemorial.com
Arrangements entrusted to Crest Lawn Funeral Home - Cremation Center.