Category: Obituaries

Martha Phinazee Kraft of Tullahoma, passed this life on Monday, August 11th, 2014 at Life Care Center at the age of 95.

Mrs. Kraft was born in Forsythe, Georgia to the late John E. and Frances Rumble Phinazee Sr.

Mrs. Kraft was a retired registered nurse and a former employee at Snoddy-Galbraith Clinic and Harton Regional Medical Center. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Tullahoma, the Order of the Eastern Star, and the Vol State Winnies Camping Club.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Roger Kraft Sr.

Mrs. Kraft is survived by one son, Roger Kraft Jr. and his wife Judy of Manchester; one brother, J.E. “Bill” Phinazee and his wife Maxine of Buford, Georgia; two granchildren, J.P. Kraft and his wife Ashley of Manchester, and Rachel Grosch and her husband Nathan of Murfreesboro; two nieces, Kim and Kathy; and two great nieces, Mallory and Erin.

Visitation for Mrs. Kraft will be held on Thursday, August 14th, 2014 from 10:00 am-1:00 pm with the funeral to immediately follow at 1:00 pm in the Kilgore Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Paul Purdue officiating.

Burial will follow at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens.

For those who wish, in lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in memory of Martha Kraft to the charity of your choice.

Kilgore Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Reefer E. Meadows, age 51 of Manchester, Tennessee, passed away on August 10, 2014 at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center after a brief illness.

He is survived by his mother, Melba Sartain Meadows Smithey of Manchester, TN; brother, Richard Meadows of Manchester, TN; sister, Brenda Kay Meadows of Manchester, TN; and a host of other relatives and friends.

VISITATION

Wednesday, August 13, 2014, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Central Funeral Home

FUNERAL

Wednesday, August 13, 2014 at 8:00 p.m. at the Central Funeral Home Chapel

CENTRAL FUNERAL HOME in Charge of Arrangements

Benjamin Alcott Smith, age 87 of Manchester, Tennessee, passed away on August 8, 2014 after a brief stay at the Medical Center of Manchester.

He was born April 15, 1927 to William and Sammie Daughtry Smith. 

Ben was employed with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) as a Materials Clerk (SB5)  for 36 years and was an avid hunter and fisherman who speny many years following his children in baseball, softball and High School band. In retirement he spent his time caring for his wife, Ruth L. Smith,  during her illness until her death in 2008. Ben was a member of the Manchester City Water Board for 17 years.

In addition to his parents and wife, Ben was preceded in death by a beloved son, Jason Smith and a sister and her husband, Ellen and Art Longstreth.

He is survived by one daughter, Sheri Prince of Shelbyville, TN; one son, Curtis Smith and his wife Treiva of Goosepond, TN; two granddaughters, Laura Hatfield of Shelbyville, TN and Tambra Clouse and her husband Travis of Manchester, TN; a great-grandson, Parker Jason Clouse of Manchester, TN; and a host of friends.

Visitation will be on Thursday, August 14, 2014 from 1:00 p.m.  –  3:00 p.m. at Central Funeral Home.

The Funeral Service will follow on Thursday at 3:00 p.m. at Central Funeral Home Chapel.

Burial will be at the Beans Creek Church of Christ Cemetery in Hillsboro, TN.

CENTRAL FUNERAL HOME in Charge of Arrangements.

Eva Karen Massey Thomas , age 73, passed away on August 10, 2014 at her home in Hillsboro, Tennessee.

Mrs. Thomas was a retired Teacher with the Cooffee County School System where she taught for over 30 years at the Hillsboro Elementary School and the Coffee County Middle School. She returned to teaching on an interim basis after her retirement. She was a member of the Manchester Cumberland Presbyterian Church and a member of the Church Choir; volunteer with the Coffee County Child Care Board and member of the Good Samaritan Board. She loved hiking, kayaking, reading, shopping, traveling and performing in the theater.

She was preceded in death by her husband, the late Richard Jimmy Thomas who passed away in 2009; parents, Charles Glenn Massey and Karen Martha Scheuer Massey  and  daughter, Tammy Melinda Thomas.

Eva is survived by her daughter, Kamilla L. Wright and her husband John of Hillsboro, TN; son, Charles Richard Thomas of Manchester, TN; sister, Dianne Cote of Manchester, TN; brothers, Charles G. Massey of Hillsboro, TN,  Bill Massey of Shelbyville, TN,  Tom Massey of Soddy Daisy, TN,  David Massey of Tampa, FL  and  Lance Massey of San Franciso, CA;  two grandchildren, Malia Wright Oldham (Ben) of Oklahoma City, OK and Eve Wright of Murfreesboro, TN; an unborn baby “Oldham”;   special friend, Sherman “Skip” George; traveling companion, Terri Willis; precious caregiver, Shelley Davidson; and host of other relatives and friends.

Visitation, Tuesday, August 12, 2014 from 4:00 p.m.  –  8:00 p.m. at Central Funeral Home.

The Funeral Service will be conducted on Wednesday, August 13, 2014 at 3:00 p.m. at Central Funeral Home with John Wright and the Reverend Mark Barron officiating.

Burial will follow at the Hillsboro Memorial Cemetery.

CENTRAL FUNERAL HOME in Charge of Arrangements. 

Mrs. Linda Sue Pearce Eslick Suiter, age 68 of Manchester, passed away Friday, August 8 at the Manchester Health Care Center.

Memorial Services will be held on Thursday, August 21, 2014 at 4 PM at Canvas Community Church, 1900 McArthur Street, Manchester, TN. 37388.

A native of Okmulgee, OK, she was the daughter of the late Ray and Eula Pearce.

She had worked as a serger for Tennessee Apparel in Tullahoma and had driven a Head Start bus in Lynchburg. She enjoyed crocheting, playing the piano and singing and spending time with grandchildren and great children.

In addition to her parent, she was preceded in death by her first husband, H R “Bubba” Eslick III and her second husband, George C. Suiter.

Mrs. Suiter is survived by one son, Jesse Raymond Eslick and his fiancé, Bonnie McCormick of Altamont; two daughters, Mary Grace Eslick of Gallatin and Margy Beaty and her husband, Ed of Manchester; two step-sons, Carl Suiter and his wife, Debbie of Shelbyville and Alex Suiter and his wife, Stephanie of Clarksville; four grandchildren, Joshua Eslick, Renee Poe, Derek Northcutt and Mia Eslick and three great grandchildren, Kiivon, Alan and Jaqualynn.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested Memorial Donations may be made to Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home.

Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Kristen Marie Rector Monroe, age 30 of Hillsboro, Tennessee, passed away on August 7, 2014.

She was preceded in death by her grandmother, Eloise Henderson Barber and a cousin, James David Henderson.

Kristen is survived by her children, Nevaeh Monroe, Blake Raynor, Dalton Monroe and Kelsey Williams; parents, with whom she resided, David and Susan Henderson of Hillsboro, TN; her paternal father and his wife, Michael and Tammy Rector of Kniman, IN; siblings, Brandon Henderson and Shelby Henderson Allbert of Manchester, TN,   Michelle Rector of Hudson, IN,   Ashley Rector of Lafayette, IN,    Chase Rector of Rensselaer, IN and Matt Toosley of Medaryville, IN; grandparents, Norma Ferrell of Westville, IN and Louise Rector of Fair Oaks, IN; aunts, and uncles include Randy and Nancy Raynor of Portage, IN,  Donald Ferrell of Westville, IN,  Robert (Robie) Ferrell of LaPorte, IN,  Gary Henderson of Panama City, FL,   Susan Barfield of Blountstown, FL,   John and Gaylan Henson Blountstown, FL,  Dewayne and Darlene Tolbert of Altha, FL,  Joanne Thatcher, Merritt Island, FL,  Debi and Henry Smith of Blountstown, FL, Kathy Lynch of Kouts, IN,  Tami and Mike Spencer of Altha, FL,  Jody and Tony Lloyd of Rensselaer, IN,  Jenna and Jose Avina of DeMotte, IN,  Kalee Rector of Rensselaer, IN,  Ronald Rector, Doug Rector, Scott Rector all of Fair Oaks, IN  and  Tim and Becky Rector of Rensselaer, IN;  cousins, Allen Henderson, Belinda (Matt) Thompson, Freddy Barfield, Blaine (Nichole) Barfield, Evan Henson, Caleb (Cara) Tolbert and Jacob Tolbert; special friend, David Roberts; uncle, Jeff Rector; close friends, Larry and JoAnn Johnson of Hillsboro, TN,  Logan Simons and Jeff Jones of Manchester, TN  and Eddie Tea of Murfreesboro, TN; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Kristen will be greatly missed by all.

Visitation will be on Monday, August 11, 2014 from 6:00 p.m.  –  8:00 p.m. at Central Funeral Home in Manchester, TN.

The Funeral service will be conducted on Tuesday, August 12, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. at Central Funeral Home with Pastor Dewayne Tolbert of Altha, FL officiating.

Interment will follow at the Hillsboro Memorial Cemetery.

CENTRAL FUNERAL HOME in Charge of Arrangements.

Philip Dale Benner, 77, a resident of Manchester, TN passed away on Tuesday, August 5, 2014 after a brief illness.

 A memorial for Phil will be conducted on Friday, August 15, 2014 at 7pm at Central Funeral Home in Manchester, Tn.  

Interment will be conducted at the Leland family cemetery in Perry, Maine (a date yet to be determined).

Phil was born in Perry Maine to the late Cecil Benner and Annie Laura Leach Benner.

He will be forever remembered as a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Phil was a veteran of the 101st  Airborne Screaming Eagles and a 30 year Chief Master Sgt of the United States Air Force. He was also a Master Mason and a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason.  His love of God and Country was comparable to none. He served his country in Japan, Korea, Guam, Thailand, Hawaii and Germany to name a few.  Wherever the military sent him, he and  Marilyn, his wife of 55 years made it home to their children, Belynda and Mark.  Phil retired from the Armed Forces in 1985 and moved to Manchester, TN.  He worked as a government contractor in the position of Transportation Manager until 1997 at Arnold Engineering Developing Center in Tullahoma, TN.

Phil is preceded in death by his parents, Cecil (Lubec, Me) and Annie Leach (Perry, Me) his brothers, Cecil, William, and Robert Benner and his sister, Helen Hawkins (all from Perry, Me).

Survivors include, his wife, Marilyn Connick Benner of St Stephen, NB Canada, his daughter, Belynda (Ken) Wilson (Manchester, TN). Grandsons, Jack Wilson (Murfreesboro, TN) and Marc Wilson (Moody AFB, GA). His son, Mark Benner (Manchester), granddaughters, Lani Benner (San Antonio, TX), Rachel Cortinas (Matt) (Bandera, TX), Sarah Benner (Tullahoma, TN), Jacob (Cynthia)  (Manchester, TN).  Great-grandfather to Skylar, Kannyn, Xander, Thompson and Lucy. Siblings, Margaret Galvez (Mineral Wells, TX) and Eugene Benner (Evelyn) (Berwick, ME.). Numerous nieces and nephews, his best friends James and Joyce Lambert and other devoted friends.

Dads presence was as big as his heart was and at the center of that heart was his family.  We were his world and each year when he was in Maine, he would tell my mother that it was time to go, he missed his kids (children and grandchildren)…As his daughter, I speak for my mother, brother and all the ones he loved…We will miss his comforting hugs and the soft whispers he would say as he held us close in his arms.  My father, Phil, was the mightiest oak tree, standing tall and strong.  He was our hero and our patriarch and his absence will be felt forever….

In lieu of flowers, my father and mothers request is that donations be made to CASAWORKS, Inc.  224 West Fort St, Manchester, TN  37355.

CENTRAL FUNERAL HOME in Charge of Arrangements. 

MAX F. GOFF, age 73, of Cowan, Tenn. departed this life on Friday, August 08, 2014, at STRHS Winchester, following a brief illness.

Mr. Goff was born on November 21, 1940, in Cowan, Tenn. to the late Henry and Bertha Wilson Goff.

Mr. Goff was disabled from birth.  He was a member of the Hope Baptist Church in Cowan.  He was an avid UT football fan.  If Mr. Goff could have chosen a profession for himself it would have been in Law Enforcement.  He was given a badge to wear and Sheriff Tim Fuller gave him a deputies cap to wear that he cherished.  At Christmas time officer Allen Edwards went to Golden Living Center, where Mr. Goff was a resident at the time, picked him up and let him ride in the Cowan Christmas parade with him. A memory he always cherished.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by brothers; William Henry Goff, Roy Wilson and Bobby Allen Goff, a sister, May Wanda Goff.

He is survived by brothers; Alton Goff of Goldsboro, NC, Billy (Clara) Goff of Cowan, sisters; Greta Goff of Sparta, TN, Lynda Smith of Estill Springs, Bonnie(Floyd) Sweeton of Cowan, Gail Goff of Winchester, aunt, Lois Ashley of Cowan, numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation for Mr. Goff will be held from 4:00-9:00 P.M. Sunday evening, August 10, at the Hope Baptist Church in Cowan.

Services are scheduled for 2:00 P.M. Monday afternoon, August 11, at Hope Baptist Church. Bro. Bill Owens and Bro. Johnny Carr officiating.

Serving as pallbearers are family and friends.

Interment will follow in the Cowan Montgomery Cemetery.

Grant Funeral Services in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Anastasios Constantaras, age 50 of Manchester, Tennessee passed from this life on Friday, August 8, 2014 at the Medical Center of Manchester surrounded by his loving family.

He is survived by his loving wife of twenty-three years, Kim Constantaras, parents, Steve and Angela Constantaras of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, three sons, Terry Constantaras, Alex Constantaras, Joshua Constantaras all of Manchester, Tennessee, one sister, Dora Hough and husband John of Manchester, Tennessee, one brother Peter Constantaras and wife Mariana of Manchester, Tennessee, and one grandson Xander Constantaras.

Mr. Stas was a member of St. Demitrios Greek Orthodox Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Anastasios worked at Nissan in Smyrna, Tennessee He enjoyed spending time at the gym, working out, movies, concerts, gaming, and family time. Stas earned a Master’s Degree in Education and enjoyed concerts and old rock and roll music. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

Funeral Services for Mr. Stas will be conducted on Wednesday, August 13, 2014 at 1:00 PM at the Coffee County Funeral Chapel with Father John Oliver officiating.

Burial will follow at the Rose Hill Memorial Gardens.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, August 12, 2014 from 5:00 PM until 9:00 PM at the Coffee County Funeral Chapel, Manchester, Tennessee.

COFFEE COUNTY FUNERAL CHAPEL IS HONORED TO SERVE THE FAMILY OF STAS CONSTANTARAS. 

Lorene Gilliam Bryan, age 89 of Manchester, Tennessee, peacefully passed away on August 8, 2014 surrounded by her loving family.

Mrs. Bryan was of the Baptist faith and will be fondly remembered for her love for her family, grandchildren and great- grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husbands Lancen Gilliam and Thomas M. Bryan, Jr.; daughter, Wanda Lee Gilliam Monroe; parents, James William Gilliam and Mattie May Hill Gilliam; sister, Leoma Henley; and brothers, Cordell, James W. Jr., Alton, Charles and Eugene Gilliam.

She is survived by her two sons, Thomas M. Bryan, III and his wife Martha and James A. Bryan and his wife Lisa of Manchester, TN; two daughters, Dorothy J. Keele and her husband Marvin and Beverly A. Keele and her husband Don of Manchester, TN; two sisters,  Jo Ann “Barb” Willoughby of Hillsboro, TN and Betty Jo Perry of Kenton, GA; fourteen grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; several great-great-grandchildren; one step great-granddaughter; one step great-great-grandson; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Visitation, Saturday, August 9, 2014 from 5:00 p.m.  –  9:00 p.m. 

Funeral Service Sunday, August 10, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at Central Funeral Home with Reverend Jim Rolen officiating. Burial at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens.

CENTRAL FUNERAL HOME in Charge of Arrangements.