Category: Obituaries

Mrs. Carita Powell Newsom 66, of Tullahoma passed Sunday, May 24, 2015 at her residence.

She was the daughter of the late Ruth Tecora Powell.  She was preceded in death by her mother and brother, Arthur Thomas Powell.

She is survived by her husband, James Newsom of Tullahoma, TN;

Three daughters, Maria Pittman of Murfreesboro, TN; Francesca Newsom and Tove Christmon both of Tullahoma, TN;

Step-son– Anthony Newsom of Shelbyville, TN

Six grandchildren- Tiffany Roseboro, Quentin Pittman, Lamar Pittman, Jocelyn Wells, Ryan Scott and Payton Newsom

Three great grandchildren– Zaccarah Roseboro, J.J. Pittman and Kira Roseboro

Four sisters of the heart– Linda Bell, Loretta Tankersley, Barbara Smith and Wilma Thomas.

Visitation Friday, May 29, 2015 at 10:00 am at The Church of Jesus Christ at Latter Day Saints with Funeral Services to follow at 11:00amat The Church of Jesus Christ at Latter Day Saints.

Interment Evergreen Cemetery.

The Church of Jesus Christ at Latter Day Saints
112 Old Shelbyville Hwy
Tullahoma, TN  37388

J.A. Welton & Son Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Emery Wells, age 67 of Bradyville, Tennessee, passed from this life on Sunday, May 24, 2015 surrounded by his loving family.

Mr. Wells was preceded in death by his parents, Martin Wells and Virginia Combs McCloud, two sisters, Virgie May Wells and Betty Jo Rice.

He is survived by his loving wife Tina Wells, two daughters, Pricilla Turrentine and Jessica Nichols of Bradyville, Tennessee, three sons Darrell Wells and wife Tammy of Norfolk, Virginia, Terry Lee Wells of Beechgrove, Tennessee, Jimmy Wells and wife Savannah of Beechgrove, Tennessee, Jeffrey Christy of Bradyville, Tennessee, two sisters, Anna Moffett of Ypsilanti, Michigan, Reva Sue Grimm of Louisa, Kentucky, thirteen grandchildren and one great grandson.

Mr. Wells was an over the road truck driver for forty years. He enjoyed remodeling things and carpentry work. Emery liked to cook and he enjoyed spending time with family and friends. He treasured time with his family. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

Memorial Services for Mr. Emery Wells will be conducted on Thursday, May 28, 2015 at 2:00 PM at the Coffee County Funeral Chapel with Elder Virgil Alford officiating.

Visitation with the Wells family will be held on Thursday, May 28, 2015 from 12 Noon until the time of the service at 2:00 PM at the Coffee County Funeral Chapel, Manchester, Tennessee.

COFFEE COUNTY FUNERAL CHAPEL IS HONORED TO SERVE THE FAMILY OF MR. EMERY WELLS

Funeral services for Mr. Jack Lee Thomas, age 75, of Manchester, will be conducted at 1:00 PM on Thursday, May 28, 2015 at Manchester Funeral Home Chapel with with Bro. Donald Gregory officiating.

Burial will follow in Hurricane Grove Cemetery.

Visitation with the family will be from 4:00 PM until 9:00 PM on Wednesday evening at the funeral home.

Mr. Thomas passed away Sunday evening at his residence, following an extended illness.

Jack was born in Coffee County, TN, the son of the late Samuel Clyde “Jim” and Katie Mai Gregory Thomas.

He began his life long career in the construction business in 1965, as co-owner of G & T Steel Erectors with his brother-in-law, Bob Gilley and his brother, Claude Thomas. He began his family construction businesses, Waco Steel Erectors and Cen-Ten Steel Erectors. These companies helped to erect buildings all over the southeastern United States. Jack had many business ventures during his life, including ownership in Holiday Marina in Franklin County, Cowboy’s in Tullahoma, and was also involved in the walking horse industry. Jack was an avid sportsman, enjoying fishing, hunting, archery and followed all Tennessee sports.

In addition to his parents, Jack was also preceded in death by his wife, Juanita Thomas; one daughter, Malinda Thomas; one granddaughter, Chrystal Good; three brothers, Claude, James “Bub” and Michael Thomas; and two sisters, Mary Lou Deal Smith and Thelma Jean Thomas.

He is survived by one son, Billy (Gina) Thomas of Manchester; two grandchildren, Joe Lee (Crystal) Good and Hope (Ryan) Barker, both of Manchester; seven grandchildren, Dustin and Hunter Good, Eli and Katie Gill, and Liam, Reid, and Kane Barker; two sisters, Virginia Lewis of LaVergne and Vicki Gilley of Manchester; two special caregivers, Willis Good and Greg Crowe; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins Manchester Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Manchester Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Mr. James Roy Stewart, age 47 of Manchester, Tennessee passed away, Monday, May 25, 2015 at United Regional Medical Center in Manchester.

Visitation with the family will be Wednesday, May 27 from 4:30 – 6:30 PM at Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home.

Mr. Stewart, a native of Winchester was the son of the late Bunn Wilson and Fannie Cook Stewart. He had worked as a Tree Trimmer for many years. Mr. Stewart loved spending time with his family and enjoyed watching Nascar Racing.

He is survived by longtime partner, Debbie Copestick of Manchester, one brother, Bunn Stewart of Manchester; step son, Billy Copestick and his wife, Misty of Estill Springs; step daughter, Rhonda Havelin and her husband, Chris of Decherd; two sister-in-laws, Cheryl Bates and her husband, Rodney of Manchester and Ruthelma Jones and her husband, John of Manchester; six grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to the memorial fund at Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home.

DAVES-CULBERSTON FUNERAL HOME IS IN CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS

During 86 years of living, Leslie Thomas Sweeney never tired of serving or working.

He was born in Shelbyville, Tennessee, but moved to Tullahoma as a small boy. By the age of 6, Mr. Sweeney already had his first job. His father had died, and although he had older siblings, Mr. Sweeney wanted to help his family. He took a job delivering the Tullahoma News, and for almost the next 80 years, the Tennessee native with an entrepreneurial spirit served his God, country and family.

His commitment to Christ was evident by his faithful attendance at Grundy Street Church of Christ until his illness, his loving devotion as a God-fearing husband to his wife of 62 years, Sadie Sanders Sweeney, and his decision to educate his children, Keith and Sandra, in Christian schools and colleges.

Mr. Sweeney graduated from Tullahoma High School where classmates called him “Baby” because he was the youngest of the sons in his family. It was clearly an endearment that fit his birth order and nothing else. As a patriotic man, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and served his country during the Korean War. After his military career, Mr. Sweeney attended Middle Tennessee State College before starting his career as a State Farm Insurance agent in Nashville. Later, he owned an insurance agency. His work ethic, entrepreneurial spirit and sharp acumen with numbers led Mr. Sweeney to launch a new career as a property owner in Nashville, before later opening a nursery in Tullahoma. The fighting spirit he’d demonstrated throughout his life served Mr. Sweeney well in his recovery from a serious tractor accident and when he beat both lung and colon cancer.

Since 2012, Mr. Sweeney had lived at Bailey Manor in Manchester wrestling with dementia and the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease. On May 25, this servant, veteran, husband, father, fighter, entrepreneur, salesman and faithful Christian died peacefully. His work had been done.

Mr. Sweeney is preceded in death by his parents, Grady Jones Sweeney and Lena Bell Tankersley Sweeney; two brothers, Theo and James Sweeney; and one sister, Juanita Caskey.

He’s missed and loved by wife Sadie Sanders Sweeney of Tullahoma; son Keith (Elaine) Sweeney; daughter Sandra Sweeney Bemis (Rick) and grandchildren Christopher, Adam and Slater.

Visitation will be held on Friday, May 29th, 2015 from 1:00-3:00 pm at Kilgore Funeral Home with the funeral service to immediately follow at 3:00 pm in the Kilgore Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Philip Davis officiating.

Burial will follow at Maplewood Cemetery in Tullahoma.

For those who wish, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 201 West Lincoln Street, Tullahoma, Tennessee 37388.

Kilgore Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Donald Hunter Bills, was born on December 5th, 1931 and died at his home in Normandy, Tennessee on May 25th, 2015.

He was preceded in death by his parents Newton Hunter Bills and Ruby Lee Crutcher Bills; and one grandchild, Samuel McKibben Bills; and his wife, Ellen Ledford Bills, who died on January 8th, 2014.

He is survived by three children, Stephen Hunter and Margaret Proffitt Bills of Tullahoma, Tennessee, Norman Kyle and Nadine Graves Bills of Franklin, Tennessee and Lee Anne and Jerry Potts of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; 10 grandchildren, Patrick Hunter Bills (Deborah) of Dallas, Texas, Nathaniel Ledford Bills (Jenni) of Tullahoma, Tennessee, Margaret Ellen McKinzie (Greg) of Pasadena, California, Collin Crutcher Bills (Kristin) of Memphis, Tennessee, Kathryn Frances Bills of Memphis, Tennessee, Matthew Kyle Bills (Jane) of Franklin, Tennessee, Anthony Collin Bills (Kelci) of Franklin, Tennessee, Leah Nadine Murphree (Luke) of Atlanta, Georgia, Lesley Kara Dye of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and Joseph  Clint Daniel of Chattanooga, Tennessee; 19 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Ann Hardison of Franklin, Tennessee; and multiple nieces and nephews.

Don retired from AEDC and then, with his wife, sold antiques at Ellen’s Antiques and Things. He was a member of the church of Christ at Cedar Lane. In his early years, he was an avid hunter and fisherman. In his later years, he was a sports enthusiast. Throughout his life, he supported his children and was also a supportive husband to a chronically ill wife and gave his own health for her.

Visitation will be Thursday, May 28th, 2015 from 4:00-6:00 pm at the church of Christ at Cedar Lane with the funeral service to immediately follow.

Service officiates will be Pat and Nathan Bills.

A private interment will be following on Friday, May 29th, 2015.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to C.U.D.A., which funds children’s libraries for the poor in Arequipa, Peru or the missions fund of the church of Christ at Cedar Lane.

Kilgore Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

MARY BELL ASHLEY KELLEY, age 80, of Belvidere, Tenn. departed this life on Sunday, May 24, 2015, at her residence following an extended illness.

She was surrounded by her loving and devoted family and, friends.

Ms. Kelley was a homemaker.  She loved working crossword puzzles and watching old Looney Tunes cartoons.  Most importantly, she was a loving and devoted mother, grandmother and sister.

She is survived by her sons; Jerry Kelley of Estill Springs, Jimmy Kelley of Winchester and Michael Kelley also of Estill Springs.  Daughters; Rita Hodges and husband Charles of Belvidere, Brenda Hicks and husband Daniel of Dickson, Tenn., and Juanita Malone of Winchester, sisters; Louvenia Sims of Winchester, Hazel Gilliam of Tullahoma and brother, Please Dewayne Ashley of Decherd.

Visitation with the family will be held from 4:00-8:00 P.M. Tuesday Evening, May 26, 2015, in the chapel of Grant Funeral Services.

Services are scheduled for 2:00 P.M. Wednesday, May 27, 2015, in the chapel of Grant Funeral Services with Bro. Johnny Lightner, officiating.

Interment will follow in the Winchester Memorial Park.

Grant Funeral Services in charge of arrangements.

Hershel Rayburn Adcock, age 72, of White House, passed away Sunday, May 24, 2015.

Born in Goodlettsville Sunday, July 19, 1942 he is preceded in death by his parents, John and Gladys Adcock.

Mr. Adcock is survived by his wife of 53 years, Janis; daughters, Teresa (Chris) Boyce, Laura (Clay) Culwell; son, Thomas R. Adcock; brother, John M. Adcock, Jr.; five grandchildren.

Mr. Adcock was Inventory Manager for Oscar-Meyer Foods for 23 years. He was a member of the Church of Christ of Joelton, Ivy Point, White House and also served as Deacon at Goodlettsville.

He enjoyed gardening, story telling, and art; he was a story teller and just a clown at heart.

A Celebration of Life will be conducted at 2:00 Thursday, May 28, 2015 in the chapel of Forest Lawn with Chris Boyce officiating.

Burial will follow in Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens.

Family and friends will gather to remember Mr. Adcock at a visitation Thursday, May 28, 2015 from 12:00 until the service at 2:00 at Forest Lawn Funeral Home 1150 S. Dickerson Rd. Goodlettsville, TN 37072.

Forest Lawn Funeral Home of Goodlettsville in charge of arrangements.

Tracy S. Taylor Kilgore, age 52 of Beech Grove, Tennessee, passed away on May 23, 2015 at the Medical Center of Manchester.

Tracy had worked as a seamstress and enjoyed oil painting, gardening and the internet.

She was a member of the Shepherd’s Chapel Church in Gravette, Arkansas.

She was preceded in death by her son, Brett Michael Davis; parents, Richard Raymond Taylor and Nel Jo Childs Taylor; and grandmother, Icy Childs.

Tracy is survived by her husband, James A. Kilgore of Beech Grove, TN; three children, Christopher Davis of Mobile, AL, Cherise Graves of Manchester, TN and Andrea Kilgore of Manchester, TN; two sisters, Tammy Taylor of Gadsden, AL and Kristie Ledbetter of Huntsville, AL; one brother, James Richard Taylor of Birmingham, AL; seven grandchildren, Ashley Estes, Brittany Mauldin, Corey Kainer, Rachel Estes, Devin Kainer, Emily Graves and Robert Graves; four great-grandchildren, Allyssa Estes, Sophia Walden, Destiany Harrison and Maddix Vest; loving dog, Shelby; and a host of other relatives and friends.

VISITATION

Wednesday, May 27, 2015 from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. at Central Funeral Home in Manchester, Tennessee

CENTRAL FUNERAL HOME in Charge of Arrangements.

SONNY BOY STEELE, age 76, of Decherd, Tenn., departed this life on Friday, May 22, 2015 at Southern Tennessee Regional Health Systems in Winchester.

He was born on January 3, 1939 in Franklin County to the late Henry and Lillie (Sisk) Steele.

Mr. Steele was employed at Lannom’s Tannery in Tullahoma before coming disabled. He was of the Pentecostal faith and at one time served as a minister. Mr Steele’s hobbies were antique model cars, guitars and building model churches and houses from matches and Popsicle sticks.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife, Juanita Herrin Steele. son, Rusaw Steele and 7 brothers and sisters.

He is survived by daughters; Elwanda Master of Estill Springs, Tenn., Frances Bennett of Bell Buckle, Tenn., son, Rodney Baker of Tullahoma, Tenn., brother, Kenneth Steele and his wife, Crystal of Illinois, sister, Dorothy Pinion and her husband, David of Keith Springs Community, six grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 – 8:00 P.M. on Saturday, May 23, 2015, at Grant Funeral Services.

Services are scheduled for 2:00 P.M. Sunday, May 24, 2015, from the chapel of Grant Funeral Services with Bro. James Riddle and Bro. Bell, officiating.

Interment will follow at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens in Tullahoma.

Grant Funeral Services in charge of arrangements.