Chrissi Callaghan Rhea, who passed away on November 8, 2024, co-founded a Knoxville-based business that has set the standard for mortgage lending in the Southeastern United States.
In 1989, Chrissi Rhea co-founded Mortgage Investors Group with Charles E. “Chuck” Tonkin II, who continues to work at MIG. According to the website, MIG started with just seven employees. Today, there are more than 300 professionals across 26 branches in 11 states.
MIG has closed over $30 billion in home loans and has been the top lender for the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA) since 2003.
“As one of the few women in mortgage banking at the time, Chrissi shattered barriers and set a powerful example for women in a male-dominated industry,” her obituary says. “Known for her bold leadership and unwavering dedication, she built a legacy of innovation, compassionate service and a commitment to affordable housing.”
The Frank Callaghan Towers in Oak Ridge was named for her father. Read more about her family and her career in her obituary here.
Funeral services are under the direction of Weatherford Mortuary in Oak Ridge. Her life will be celebrated Tuesday, November 26, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 327 Vermont Avenue, Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m., followed by a funeral mass at 11 a.m., with a private family burial afterward.
