Obituary Report for March 3, 2002

Gloria Harris Bruinsma, 70
Fosterville native Gloria Harris Bruinsma, 70, died March 1 at Adams Place in Murfreesboro.

A former employee of State Farm, Middle Tennessee Medical Center and V.A. Medical Center and a member of the Baptist Church, she was the daughter of the late Edmund (Puny) and Marie Tucker Harris.

She is survived by her husband, Johnnie Bruinsma; son, John William Bruinsma of Murfreesboro; daughters, Jeane Marie Phillips of Rock Island and Cherie Leigh Morris of Fairhaven, Mich.; four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Services will be held at 4:30 p.m. Monday at Woodfin Memorial Chapel in Murfreesboro with Rev. Archie King officiating.

Information courtesy of High Funeral Home.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) March 3, 2002

Isaac Mitchell Burks, 81
McMinnville resident and Huntsville, Ala., native Isaac Mitchell Burks, 81, died Feb. 28 at his home after an extended illness.

A retired groundman for McMinnville Electric System and a member of Central Church of Christ, he served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II.

The son of the late Horace Burks and Lucy Ward Hillis, he was preceded in death by son, Bruce Wayne Burks; daughter, Delores Jill Barnes; grandsons, Terry Lynn, Robbie and Bobby Burks; granddaughters, Rachael Lea Burks and Amy Estella Markum; and great-grandchildren, T.J. Burks and Chelsie Malia Smith.

He is survived by his wife, Stella Mai Carmack Burks; daughters, Nina Mai Green of Cookeville, Anna Sue Watson of Nunnely, Judy Carol Capshaw, Teresa Dianne Campbell and Linda Darlene McGregor, all of McMinnville; sons, Kenneth Clark Burks, Eddie Raymond Burks, Timothy Mitchell Burks and Rickey Burks, all of McMinnville, and H.V. Burks of Spencer; sisters, Grace Dean of Springfield, Mo., and Ova Phillips of McMinnville; brother, Hubert Hillis of McMinnville; 23 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Services were held Saturday at High’s Chapel with Vernon Joines, Ron Martin, Rickey Burks and Kirk Brothers officiating. Burial followed at Shockely Cemetery in Van Buren County with military graveside rites administered by VFW Post 5064 and American Legion Post 173.

High Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) March 3, 2002

Mary Grace Jones, 86
Smithville resident Mary Grace Jones, 86, died Feb. 2 at Baptist DeKalb Hospital after an extended illness.

A homemaker and a member of New Union, The Baptist Church, she was the daughter of the late Felix and Mary Luna Cantrell; and was preceded in death by children, Charles and Roger Jones.

She is survived by her husband, Cephas Jones; daughter, Billie Grace Estes of Smithville; sons, Joe, Gary and Cantrell Jones of Smithville and Troy A. Jones Sr. of McMinnville; sister, Myrtle Cope of Smithville; 20 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday at DeKalb Funeral Home Chapel with Brandsford England and Eddie Cantrell officiating. Burial will follow at New Union Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. today and 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Monday at DeKalb Funeral Home.

DeKalb Funeral Home in Smithville is in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) March, 3, 2002

Elzora Lawson, 83
Spencer resident and Walker County, Ga., native Elzora Lawson, 83, died Feb. 27 at Generation Center after an extended illness.

A homemaker and a member of the Church of God, she was the daughter of George and Thea Durham Gilreath; and was preceded in death by her husband, Ray Lawson; son, Jessie Alton Osburn; daughter, Emma Jo Daniels two sisters and two brothers.

She is survived by son, Billy Brooks of Gordon, Ga.; nine grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren; special cousins, Gwyn Youngblood and Ruth Dodson.

Services were held Friday at Love-Cantrell & Cope Funeral Home Spencer Chapel with burial following at Town Cemetery.

Love-Cantrell & Cope Funeral Home Spencer Chapel was in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) March, 3, 2002

Abslom Grant Simonds, 71
Rock Island resident and Kingston native Abslom Grant Simonds, 71, died Feb. 26 at River Park Hospital.

A retired General Motors employee and a member of the Baptist Church, he was the son of Olin W. and Ellen Kate Miller; and was preceded in death by daughter, Lawanna Gail Simonds; and brother, Donald Simonds.

He is survived by his wife, Esther Hutchings Simonds; son and daughter-in-law, Joseph Grant and Sheila Simonds of San Bernardino, Calif.; granddaughters, Michelle Barnhill of McMinnville, Sherry Lynn Morris of Rock Island, Jessica and Rachael Simonds, both of San Bernardino; grandsons, David Lee and Eric Morris, both of McMinnville and Joseph Grant Simonds of San Bernardino; great-grandsons, Logan and Blake Barnhill of McMinnville; brothers, Olan W. Simonds Jr. of Oitz, Miss., and Burkette Simonds of Anaheim, Calif.; and sisters, Radie Chandler, Rose Turner, Sarah Ferguson, Kay Simonds, Barbara Mills, Patricia Henry, Cindy Young and Mary Ann Gardner, all of California.

Memorial services were held Saturday at High’s Chapel with Cecil VanWinkle officiating.

High Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) March 3, 2002