Chris Lea Chandler Brantley, age 72, of Knoxville, Tennessee, passed away on Saturday, April 4, 2026, after a four-year battle with breast cancer.

She graduated from Bearden High School in 1971. A devout Christian, in her childhood years she attended Bearden Christian Church and later was a longtime member of Farragut Christian Church before worshipping with her family at Middlebrook Pike United Methodist Church.

Chris was a talented interior designer and worked at Ethan Allen, while also doing private design work for many years. She later made a career change and became a substitute teacher in the Knox County School System, where she served for 17 years, primarily at Bearden, Rocky Hill, Bluegrass, A.L. Lotts, and Westview Elementary Schools. She was loved by both students and teachers and was often the first choice when a substitute was needed. She always made students feel loved and respected and was always ready to give or receive a hug.

She also loved to sew, cook, and garden. Above all, she was a loving wife, mother, sister, and aunt who cared deeply for all of her family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Jeanne Chandler, and sister, Choice Chandler Burkhart.

She is survived by her husband of 39 years, John French Brantley, III; son, J. French Brantley, IV, who is familiar to many in the Tennessee Walking Horse industry as the organist at horse shows throughout the year; sister, Cam Webb (Bill); nieces and nephews, Will Burkhart (Krystal), Whitney Overbay (Jeff), John Webb (Jessica); and great-nieces and nephews Harley, Madden, Scott, Oliver, Tenley, and Brooks, all of Knoxville.

The Brantley family would like to extend special thanks to the nurses, doctors, and staff at Thompson Cancer Survival Center, Fort Sanders Medical Center, and NHC Fort Sanders for the great care, joy, happiness, and love they provided throughout her treatments and in her final years and days.

The family will receive friends in the sanctuary of Middlebrook Pike United Methodist Church from 5:00–6:15 p.m. on Monday, April 20, with a Celebration of Life service to follow at 6:30 p.m. with the Rev. Troy Forrester officiating. Interment will be held Tuesday, April 21, at 11:00 a.m. at Lynnhurst Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions in Chris’s name be made to Middlebrook Pike United Methodist Church, designated to the Choir Fund, 7234 Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville, TN 37909.