Category: Obituaries

Mr. Roy Lee Brown, age 55, of Beechgrove, TN, passed from this life
suddenly on Thursday, May 28, 2020, at his residence. Funeral services will
be held on Sunday, June 7, 2020, at 2 PM in the Manchester Funeral Home
chapel. Burial will follow in the Beechgrove Presbyterian Cemetery.
Visitation with the family will be held from 12 Noon until time of service
Sunday at the funeral home.

Roy was born in Shelbyville, TN, the son of Harvey and Lou Brown.  Roy was
a simple country man, enjoying time in the garden and fishing.  He loved
having cookouts and family gatherings.  Roy was a caretaker for his mother
for many years and has always been very kind-hearted.  He was a loving
father, brother, and son.

Roy is preceded in death by his father, Harvey Brown; one brother-in-law,
Mack Sutton.  He is survived by his mother, Lou Brown; daughter, Brandi
Keele Walker (Doug); two brothers, Keith Brown (Sherri) and Billy Brown;
two sisters, Dorothy Bailey (Alan) and Phyllis Sutton; one grandson, Bryson
Walker.

Hillsboro, Tennessee – Mrs. Vernell Watson Johnson Sherrill, 82, passed
away Monday June 1, 2020 at the Unity Medical Center in Manchester,
Tennessee.  She was born in Manchester on April 4, 1938 to Carl Watson and
Evangeline Baker Watson who preceded her in death along with her first
husband, Sherman Johnson; daughter, Rita Faye Johnson; sister, Elizabeth
Jackson; grandson,  Herman Tyler Keele.

She was a member of the Beans Creek Church of Christ.

She is survived by her husband, Bobby Joe Sherrill; son, Troy (Shelly)
Johnson; step sons, Kenny (Linda) Melton and Joe (Lena) Sherrill; step
daughters, Dean Broadwell and Denise (Dennis) Watson; sister, Jean Bean;
several grandchildren, great grandchilden, nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be 11:00 AM Thursday in the Central funeral home
chapel with Ministers Billy Robison officiating with burial to follow in
the Beans Creek Church of Christ Cemetery.  Visitation: 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Wednesday at Central Funeral Home, Manchester, Tennessee.
www.centralfuneralhome.com

Funeral services for Mrs. Sandra Gail Murphy, age 71, of Manchester will be conducted at 1:00PM on Friday, June 5, 2020, at Coffee County Funeral Chapel.  Burial will follow in Jernigan Cemetery.  The family will receive friends from 11:00 AM until the time of service at the funeral home.  Mrs. Murphy passed from this life on Tuesday, June 2, 2020, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN.

Sandra was born on May 25, 1949, in Beechgrove, TN, the daughter of the late Will and Lillian Robinson.  She was a technician for General Electric for many years.  Sandra loved being outside and traveling to the beach.  She was always spending time in her garden, baking, rocking in her rocking chair, or enjoying time with her loving family.  Sandra was a loving wife, mother, sister, and grandmother.

In addition to her parents, Sandra is also preceded in death by one son, Jeff Murphy; one brother, Roger Robinson; one sister, Ruby Riggan.  She is survived by her loving husband, Robert “Bobby” Murphy; two daughters, Michelle Murphy (Christie Beaty) and Lisa Marcrom (Chris); one daughter-in-law, Stacy Murphy; one brother, Wayne Robinson; one sister, Dorothy Stacey; six grandchildren, Dillon Murphy, Leslie Losey, Chelsea Marcrom, Lance Marcrom, Megan Reilly, and Kayla Marcrom; one great-grandchild, Rylan Anderson.

Coffee County Funeral Chapel is honored to serve the Murphy family. 

You may sign the online guestbook at www.coffeecountyfuneralchapel.com.

Pelham, Tennessee – Mr. Ralph Clinton Meeks, 83, passed away Monday June 1, 2020 at the Signature Health Care in Monteagle, Tennessee.  He was born in
Paynes Cove, Tennessee on June 30, 1936 to Cheatum Clinton Meeks and Mattie James Meeks who preceded him in death along with his wife, Helen Ruth
Medley Meeks; daughter, Rhonda Pleasant; sisters, Opal Stubblefield and
Nancy Meeks; brothers, Johnny and David Meeks.

He was a member of the Pelham United Methodist Church and lifelong farmer
in the Pelham Valley.

He is survived by his daughter, Cindy (Tom) McCord, Austin, Texas; son,
Richard (Preston) Meeks, Murfreesboro, Tennessee; grandchildren, Patrick
Meeks and Alexus Pleasant; several nieces and nephews.

Graveside funeral services will be 10:00 AM Thursday at the Church of
Christ Cemetery at Pelham with Minister De Hennessy officiating.
Arrangements by: Cumberland Funeral Home, Monteagle, Tennessee.
www.cumberlandfuneralhome.net

Mrs. Betty Theresa Bramblett, age 89 of Manchester, passed away on Monday,
June 1, 2020, at her home after an extended illness. A graveside service
will be held on Thursday, June 4 at 11 AM in Rose Hill Memorial Gardens
with Deacon Joe Roy officiating.

Mrs. Betty was born on January 30, 1931, to the late Edward Joseph and Lena
Boquet Chauvin in Bourg, Louisiana. Mrs. Betty served her country in the
United States Air Force as a nurse. After her honorable discharge from the
military, she continued her nursing career for many years. Later in life,
she was a teacher in the nursing program for the state of TN at the
vocational school in McMinnville. Mrs. Betty loved reading, crossword
puzzles, coloring, and spending time with her family, especially her
grandchildren and her great-grandson.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Betty is preceded in death by her husband,
John Paul Bramblett, who passed in 1993, and by her brothers, Edward and
Anthony Chauvin, and her sister, Nettie Chauvin Button. She is survived by
her four sons, John Paul Bramblett, Jr. and his wife, Peggy, Eric
Bramblett, Edward Bramblett and his wife, Kim, and Adrian Bramblett, and
his wife, Michelle; daughter, Michelle Miller; grandchildren, Teresa
Vaughn, Lauren Miller, Alyvia Bramblett, Shelby Bramblett, Ethan Bramblett,
Nikolas Bramblett, Emma Bramblett, and John Bramblett; great-grandson, Colt
Vaughn. Her surviving family members include Billie Jean Chauvin, Leroy
Button, Carolyn Powers, Birdie Bramblett Elam, and James Lacey Bramblett
and treasured nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank Hospice Compasus for the care given to their
mother during her illness.

Manchester Funeral Home is honored to serve the Bramblett family.

www.manchesterfuneralhome.com

Mr. Ernie Van Spence, Sr, age 58, of Manchester, passed from this life on Tuesday, May 26, 2020, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN.

Ernie was born in Littleton, NC, the son of Julian Spence and Jo Ann Batie. Ernie was an avid reader, and he was compassionate and kind. He loved playing video games, and he could easily talk to you about anything and would always keep your secret. Ernie was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and brother.

Ernie is preceded in death by his father, Julian Spence; mother, Jo Ann Batie; step-father, Waymond “Shadow” Batie. He is survived by his loving wife, Lynn Spence; three sons, Ernie V. Spence, Jr., Jeremy Spence, and David Spence; three daughters, Terasa Brown, Rebecca Simpson (Daniel), and Krystalle Spence; one brother, Lee Watson; one sister, Ellen Maxey; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Coffee County Funeral Chapel is honored to serve the Spence family.

You may sign the online guestbook at www.coffeecountyfuneralchapel.com.

A celebration of life for Mrs. Valdena Lee Mears, age 78, of Hillsboro, will be conducted at 1:00 PM on Sunday, June 7, 2020, at Coffee County Funeral Chapel. Mrs. Mears passed from this life on Sunday, May 24, 2020, at NHC in Murfreesboro, TN.

Valdena was born in Southgate, CA, the daughter of Wayne and Geraldine Watson. Valdena loved reading her Bible. She enjoyed spending time with her dogs, watching mysteries on TV, and being outside in the fresh air.

Valdena is preceded in death by her parents, Wayne and Gladys Watson; loving husband of 47 years, Robert Mears; one son, Jonathan Mears; one daughter, Geri Ann Mears. She is survived by her grandson, Michael Bratcher and great-granddaughter, Addison Bratcher.

Coffee County Funeral Chapel is honored to serve the Mears family.

You may sign the online guestbook at www.coffeecountyfuneralchapel.com.

Burlan Monroe Ferrell, of Lynchburg, passed this life on Saturday, May 30th, 2020 at Lynchburg Nursing Center at the age of 83. Mr. Ferrell was born in Lawrenceburg to the late Floyd and Gertrude Comer Ferrell. During his life he worked as a Forklift Operator at B.F. Goodrich and was of the Pentecostal faith. Mr. Ferrell was also a member of the Steelworkers Union. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Martha Ferrell; one sister, Eva Doris Adams; and two brothers, Jessie Edward Ferrell and Morris Ferrell. Mr. Ferrell is survived by two sons, Dean Ferrell and Dale (Anna) Ferrell; one grandson, Shane Wiser; one great-grandson, Christopher Dale Wiser; and two step-grandchildren, C.J. Kurth and Missy Reese. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 3rd, 2020 at Kilgore Funeral Home from 5:00-8:00pm. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, June 4th, 2020 at 11:00am in the Kilgore Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Paul Hill officiating. Burial will follow at Bethany Cemetery in Normady. Kilgore Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

John Payne (November 22nd,1933- May 30th,2020) passed away at the age of 86 in Tullahoma, Tennessee. He was born in Jasper, Alabama and grew up in Gadsden, Alabama, the son of a gospel preacher. As a young man, he loved caddying at the local golf course and trips to Guntersville Lake in his model A. He married Rita Jean Pigg of Gadsden Alabama in 1953. He sang tenor with the Rhythm Aires gospel quartet performing for live audiences and radio in 1953-54. He then served in the Korean War as Supply Sergeant for the U.S. Army at Presidio Military Post in San Francisco. Following military service, he attended Lipscomb College where he received a BA in Biblical Studies. His ministry included preaching for various churches of Christ in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama and he held many gospel meetings throughout the country. In 1962, he moved his family to Tullahoma, Tennessee accepting the first preacher position for the newly formed Bel-Aire, now Cedar Lane, Church of Christ. During this time he completed a Masters of Divinity degree at Harding Graduate School. After eight years, he and his family were sponsored by Bel-Aire, traveling as missionaries to Christchurch, New Zealand until 1972. He received his private pilot’s license. while in NZ. A fellow missionary (Jim Woodruff) and John co-authored Struggles of the Kingdom, a book detailing the NZ mission work. It has been used as a college-level missions text book for many years. John returned to Bel-Aire in 1979 a second time as pulpit minister. He taught at Lipscomb University as an Associate Professor of Bible and Missions from 1985 to 1995 and often led mission campaigns all over the world. Most recently, he served as Pulpit Minister and Elder with the Wilson Avenue church of Christ. He loved His family, teaching the gospel, and serving the Lord, and was often seen visiting hospitals and nursing homes into his mid-80’s. Rita and John were married 66 years. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Donald and Joe Payne. John is survived by his wife, Rita Payne; two daughters, Carol Lowrance (Jon), and Laura Herbert; two sons, Tom Payne (Meg), and Jim Payne (Kathy); one sister, Gail Pigg; ten grandchildren, Jon Ryan and Daniel Lowrance, Nathan and Emily Payne, David, Jonathan, Abigail, and Caleb Payne, and Emalyn and Ava Herbert; and eight great-grandchildren, Finley, Grayson, Cooper, Sophia, Will, Lillian, Heidi, and Miller. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 2nd, 2020 at Kilgore Funeral Home from 4:00-8:00pm. A private graveside service will be held at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens with Bro. Randy Davis officiating and his grandsons serving as pallbearers. For those who wish, in lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the World Bible School, 16110 Anderson Mill Road, Cedar Park, Texas 78613. When attending visitation, out of respect to the family, please remember to maintain social distancing guidelines. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, we not allowing food to be brought to our lounge at this time. Kilgore Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.