Category: Obituaries

Hazel Frances Smith Bailey, of Tullahoma, peacefully passed this life on
January 3rd, 2022 at the age of 96.  She was born on July 12th, 1925 to the
late, Carl and Flossie Smith. Frances was a loving daughter, sister, wife,
mother, aunt, grandmother and great grandmother.

After being born and raised in Turkey Creek in Moore County, she moved to
Tullahoma and worked at Sterlings before meeting her late husband Joseph
Willard Bailey, Jr.

She volunteered much of her time to helping others.  She was a member of
the American Legion Auxiliary Post 43 since 1973 and held various
positions. She was also a member of the Willing Workers Homemakers Club
volunteering her time to various local non-profits and schools.

She attended the First Christian Church for decades, was an active member,
and treasured her Sunday school class – Bob’s Bible Bunch.

She leaves a wonderful legacy of family and tradition. She made deliberate
efforts to be involved in the lives of her grandchildren from teaching them
how to cook, to birthdays, holidays, school events, baptisms, graduations,
and weddings.  As a result, their lives are tightly bound both in life and
in death.  You could not ask for better Granny.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband,
Joseph Willard Bailey, Jr.; daughter, Patricia Bailey; sister, Mary Helen
McBee; brother, James Albert Smith; nephew, Mike Smith and many close
friends.

She is survived by son, Larry Bailey of Tullahoma; daughter, Nancy
(William) Irby of Tullahoma, TN; grandson, Clay (Susan) Irby of Knoxville,
TN; granddaughter, Blair (Jason) Lewis of Atlanta, GA and three great
grandchildren John Clayton Irby, Reagan Lewis, and Kinsley Lewis.

She is also survived by one sister-in-law Anna Smith Jones and five nephews.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at
Brookdale for their compassionate care and support over the past five years
and to Hospice Compassus for their care and support.

She will be laid to rest at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens with Rev Thomas
Murdock officiating on Saturday, January 8, 2022 at 2 PM. The family has
requested attendees to wear masks in accordance to COVID guidelines.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Frances’s memory to American
Diabetes Association, First Christian Church, or American Legion Auxiliary
Post 43.

Online condolences may be made at www.davesculbertsonfuneralhome.com.
Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Anesia Jo Watkins of Tullahoma passed this life on Monday, January 3, 2022
surrounded by her loving family. She was 45 years old.  No services are
scheduled.

Mrs. Watkins, a native of Blue Island, IL was the daughter of the late
Michael D. Sweeton and Susie Sweeton, who survives.  She loved life and
lived it to the fullest.  She was very artistic and enjoyed sewing and
doing arts and crafts projects.  She also loved music, shopping and going
to the beach.

She is survived by her mother, Susie Swann Sweeton of Tullahoma; son,
Doneil Watkins of Smyrna; daughter, Olivia Watkins of Louisville; brother,
Chris Burgess of Tullahoma; sisters, C J Sweeton of Tullahoma, L A
Alexander of Tullahoma and Amy Lovingood (Aamil Haleem) of Louisville and
three grandchildren, Nevaeh, Amarianna and Jayden.

Online condolences may be made at www.davesculbertsonfuneralhome.com.
Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

John Gilbert McCoin, age 64 of Manchester, was born on December 27, 1957, to Lt. Col. and Mrs. James Grayson McCoin in Bellville, IL. He was baptized in the episcopal faith. John graduated high school in Myrtle Beach, SC then later attended the University of TN. He was born into a military family and lived 7 years in Hawaii. John enjoyed all sports and being out in nature. He was employed at College St. Elementary School in Manchester as an inclusion teacher.

In addition to his father, John is preceded in death by his stepdaughter, Lisa Keasling. In addition to his mother, Barbara, he is survived by his loving wife of 15 years, Yvonne McCoin; daughter Samantha McCoin; son, Daniel McCoin; grandchildren, Chase and Lexi Keasling, Willow Skinner, and Joseph Mandeville; three great grandchildren; sisters, Nancy Breeding (David) and Sarah McCoin (Dennis Cook); nephew, Matthew Breeding (Katie); nieces, Sarah Breeding (Lake) and Kate Dreiling (Ryan); and a host of friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, January 30, 2022, from 2 – 4 PM, at the Ada Wright Center in Manchester.

Manchester Funeral Home is honored to serve the McCoin family.

William Roger Jetton, age 61 of Manchester, was born on December 28, 1960,
in Woodbury, TN, to the late James and Zora Bogle Jetton. He was a
construction worker and owned his own construction business.

There will be a memorial visitation for Mr. Jetton on January 29, 2022,
from 12 Noon until 4 PM at Manchester Funeral Home. Mr. Jetton passed away
at his home on December 25, 2021.

Manchester Funeral Home is honored to serve the Jetton family.

Mr. Willard C. Henderson, age 84, of Manchester, TN, passed from this life on Saturday, January 1, 2022, at his residence
with his family by his side.

Mr. Henderson was born in Viola, TN, to his late parents Charlie Gilbert
Henderson and Annie Lee Hobbs Henderson. He was an employee of the city of
Manchester for 37 years, 7 years with the Police Department and 30 years
with the Fire Department. Mr. Henderson was the best husband, father,
grandfather, and friend anyone could ask for. He and his wife, Brenda, were
members of Lonely Stand Church of Christ. Mr. Henderson also served his
country in the United States Army. In addition to his parents, he was
preceded in death by a brother, Eugene Henderson; 2 sisters, Vennie
Henderson and Roberta Henderson Carden.

Mr. Henderson is survived by his wife of 58 years, Brenda Sherrill
Henderson; sons, Keith (Lisa) Henderson and Timmy (Tina) Henderson;
brothers, Charles G. Henderson, Royce (Ann) Henderson, Randolph (Virginia)
Henderson; grandchildren, Brittany Henderson, Kristen (Drew) Stacy, and
Trever Henderson; great grandchildren, Bradley Henderson and Azalea Stacy.

Visitation with the family will be on Friday, January 7, 2022, from 4:00pm
until 8:00pm at Central Funeral Home in Manchester, TN. Funeral services
will be conducted on Saturday, January 8, 2022 at 1:00pm from the chapel of
Central Funeral Home with Bro. Paul Sullivan and Bro. Ralph Hart
officiating. Burial will follow at Concord Cemetery in Tullahoma, TN.

Central Funeral Home is serving the family, 931-723-7774,
centralfuneralhome.com

Central Funeral Home is serving the family, 931-723-7774,
Mrs. Anita Good Turner, age 86, of Manchester, TN,
passed from this life on Friday, December 31, 2021, in Murfreesboro, TN.
Anita was born in Center, Alabama on June 8, 1935 to her parents, Homer D.
Good and Mary Elizabeth Johnson Good. She was a teacher for Coffee County
High School for many years. Anita loved arranging flowers along with
gardening and was a member of the Dig’n Dream Garden Club. She was a member
of the Upper Room Sunday School Class and was involved with many
organizations, including the Wesley Wanderers, the United Methodist Women,
Girl Scouts, Gideons Auxiliary, Good Samaritan and Contact Lifeline. She
also coordinated the Operation Christmas Child Program at her church. She
and her husband, Ed, are both members of First United Methodist Church in
Manchester. Anita is survived by her husband of 64 years, Ed Turner; son,
Jeffery Turner; daughters, Laura L. Turner and Mary Melinda (David) Sealy;
brother, Alfred N. Good; 4 grandchildren, Jennifer Turner, Hannah Sealy,
Haley Sealy, and Justin Sealy. A visitation will be held on Wednesday,
January 5, 2022, from 12:00 noon until 2:00pm at Blount County Cleveland
Funeral Home in Cleveland, Alabama. Burial will follow at 2:30pm Wednesday
at Bethlehem Cemetery in Trafford, Alabama. A Celebration of Life service
will be held Sunday, January 9, 2022. Visitation will be from 1:00pm
until 2:00pm, service will begin at 2. Central Funeral Home is serving the family, 931-723-7774,
centralfuneralhome.com

Janice Bryan Gleason , 77, passed this life on Thursday, December 30, 2021. Her life mission is over, but her eternal journey has begun. Janice was born on June 27, 1944, in West Palm Beach, FL to the late David and Phyllis Bryan. She was an active member of First Baptist Church in Tullahoma for over 30 years. She was a Sunday School teacher, VBS teacher, loved singing in the choir, and was on numerous church committees. Janice was a teaching leader in Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) and also started a women’s Bible Study at FBC called Morning Glories that drew countless women into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. Janice also served her community through Life Choices Pregnancy Center and the Tullahoma Women’s Club. Janice loved her family and friends with her whole heart, but she loved serving her savior, Jesus Christ, most of all. The light of Christ shown through Janice and she sought to serve her Lord every day. Janice found the love of her lifetime with Ed, her husband of 59 years, and they were the picture of a godly marriage to everyone who knew them. Janice was predeceased by her mother and father, step-mother Evaleen Bryan, and sister Marcia Crouch. Janice is survived by her loving husband, Ed, and sons, Steve (Katie) of Tullahoma, TN, Jeff (Melissa) of Birmingham, AL, and Scott (Bekah) of New Bern, NC. Janice adored her grandchildren: Emily, Grant (Sarah), Ben, Daniel, Micah, Elise, and Eli. She also had a wonderful relationship with her brother, Dave (Karen) Bryan of Oklahoma and sister, Susie (Don) Gilliland of El Dorado. Visitation will be held at Kilgore Funeral Home on Tuesday, January 4th from 5:00 to 8:00pm. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, January 5th at 11:30am at First Baptist Church, Tullahoma with Dr. Scott Gleason and Dr. Andy Stallings officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens. The family has requested that those attending the visitation and funeral to please wear a mask. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to First Baptist Church, Tullahoma. Kilgore Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Donald Joe Darden

Born April 5, 1943, along with twin brother, Ronald Jack Darden, to Jack
Darden and Lucille Coop Darden; Paternal grandparents, Silas Edward Darden,
Sr. and Eva Bigger Darden; Maternal grandparents, Elijah Warner Coop and
Manerva Lynch Coop; survived by brothers, Roy Alan Darden, Thomas Ray
Darden (Jo Ann), Ronald Jack Darden (Judy), Glenn H. Darden (Peggy),
Richard Boyd Darden (Carol), John Oliver Darden (Vina), and Dan Keith
Darden (Teresa).

Don is also survived by his wife of 53 years, Dianna Hall Darden and their
five children, LTC Greg Darden (Rosina) of Fayetteville, NC, Jack Avery
Darden (Manicia) of Nolensville, Emily Gail Darden-Kerr (Neil) of
Russellville, Kentucky, David Edward Darden (Rebecca) of Murfreesboro,
Steven Darden of Manhattan, NY and grandchildren, Harrison Paul Kerr,
Tendai Darden and Lucy Darden.

Don served in the United States Army, most notably during the Vietnam war,
and along with other awards received a Joint Service Commendation Medal as
well as an honorable discharge.

Don received a Bachelor of Science from Middle Tennessee State University
and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Tennessee.

His professional career included becoming the first Executive Director and
organizer of the South Central Tennessee Development District; he wrote the
charter forming the South Central Agency and served as its Chairman while
County Executive of Coffee County. He also served as City Manager of
Jefferson City; City Administrator of LaFollette; and Municipal Management
Consultant for the University of Tennessee {MTAS}, from which he retired in
2010. He provided technical assistance to Tennessee cities and taught
courses in municipal management, health insurance, and economic development
for the university. Don received the highest award given by the Institute
of Public Service of the University of Tennessee.

Don was a member of Harmony Baptist Church in Tullahoma. He taught Sunday
School for 50 Years in churches in Columbia, Tullahoma, and Jefferson City
and was a Deacon of Lincoln Heights, Grace Baptist, and Harmony Baptist
Church in Tullahoma.

The family is requesting that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the
St. Jude’s Children Hospital, Don Darden Memorial Gift Fund
<https://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR/GiftFunds/GiftFunds?px=7336589&pg=personal&fr_id=39300>.
https://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR/GiftFunds/GiftFunds?px=7336589&pg=personal&fr_id=39300

Online condolences may be made at www.davesculbertsonfuneralhome.com.
Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

William Maurice Anderson, beloved husband, father and grandfather passed
away on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021, at the Unity Medical Center in Manchester,
TN. In his last days, Maurice was still living at home and had celebrated
both his 96th birthday and his 74th wedding anniversary with his devoted
wife, Zalah, who was by his side when he passed suddenly. He had just
celebrated Christmas with his family a few days earlier and was in good
spirits. Maurice was born June 4, 1925 and raised in the Noah community of
Coffee County and graduated from Manchester Central High. He served in the
US Navy for 2 years on the USS Cumberland Sound in the Pacific theater
during WWII. After the war, Maurice participated in the decommissioning of
Camp Forrest. Following that, he was contracted to repair and maintain
aging smokestacks in the Northeast US. After his travels, he returned to
Manchester, where he owned and operated service stations at two locations
for several years. In 1968 he began a career at the Manchester Water
Department, retiring as office manager in 1988. Maurice was a longstanding
member of the First Baptist Church in Manchester where he enjoyed worship,
gospel music, and his close-knit Sunday school class. Maurice was devoted
to his family and was known as the definitive fix-it man for the immediate
and extended family. Maurice was a very active person who did not like
sitting in one place for very long. He loved tinkering in his workshop,
caring for his lawn, and growing vegetables­, taking special pride in his
summer tomatoes—while always sharing his abundant harvest with others.
Maurice is survived by his wife, Zalah Anderson, Coffee County native;
daughter, Sherry Anderson Simons of Coffee County; grandson, Ryan Matthew
Mason of Nashville, and granddaughter Logan Maurisa Henderson (Brandon) of
Manchester; and, great-grandson, Timothy Lee Henderson. Maurice was
preceded in death by his mother, Earline Thomas; father, Lonnie Harrell
Anderson; his sister, Margaret Ann Bass; and son, Larry Maurice Anderson.
Visitation with the family will be on Sunday, January 2, 2022, from 4:00pm
until 7:00pm at Central Funeral Home in Manchester, TN. Funeral services
will be conducted on Monday, January 3, 2022 at 2:00pm in the chapel of
Central Funeral Home with Dr. Brenton Cox officiating. Burial will follow
at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens in Tullahoma, TN.

Funeral services for Mrs. Hazel Geneva Willford, age 84 of Morrison, will be conducted on Saturday, January 1, 2022, at 1 PM in the Manchester Funeral Home chapel. Burial will follow in Ragsdale cemetery. Visitation with the family will be held on Saturday from 11 AM until time of service, at the funeral home.
Mrs. Hazel was born on June 2, 1937, to the late Raymond and Effie Pendergrass Callahan, in Arkansas. She married Robert Daniel Willford on May 8th, 1951. They were blessed with 9 children Danny Willford (Cheryl) of LaPorte, IN, the late Rosie (survived by Larry) of LaPorte, IN, Pat (Rick) Bryant, LaPorte IN, Malinda (Duane) Kniola Holiday, FL, Jackie (Joe) Briseno, Morrison, TN. Robin (Rich) Pletcher, LaPorte, IN, Robert Willford (Sadie) of Orange Park, FL, David Willford (Kim) of Inman, SC, James Willford (Amber) of Eclectic, AL. She was of the Church of God faith and was one of the founding members of the Church of God in New Buffalo, MI, where she was a Sunday school teacher, song leader, and a youth counselor. Mrs. Hazel was very active in the local senior citizen center, where she played guitar, sang, and served in the kitchen. She loved camping, fishing, gardening, especially her flowers, quilting, and embroidering. Mrs. Hazel enjoyed cooking, her children’s favorites were her biscuits and fried pies. She was her husband’s caregiver for many years before his passing in 2009.
In addition to her parents, husband and daughter, Mrs. Hazel is preceded in death by her brother Jerrell ( Shirley) Callahan. She is survived by her 30 grandchildren, 51 great grandchildren, 8 great-great grandchildren. Her 2 brothers Earl (Carol) Callahan, Eugene (Patti) Callahan and 1 sister Alma Jean (Gary) Ferrell.

Manchester Funeral Home is honored to serve the Willford