Obituary Report for November 27, 2002

Etoile Joanna Hillis, 72
Rock Island resident and Van Buren County native Etoile Joanna Hillis, 72, died unexpectedly Nov. 25 at Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga.

A homemaker and a member of Cumberland Chapel Freewill Baptist Church, she was the daughter of Robert and Mary Irene Martin Yates; and was preceded in death by her husband, Otto Hillis on Oct. 28; and brother, Robert Yates Jr.

She is survived by daughters, Patricia McCormack and Valeta Dunlap of Rocky River, and Joanna Roberts of McMinnville; son, Danny Hillis of Rocky River; grandchildren, Steve McCormack, Tammy Roberts, Tina Hennessee, Ashley, Mary Beth and Adam Dunlap, Jessica and Jacob Hillis; great-grandchildren, Nikki, Mariah and Micah McCormack, Lauren and Brandon Hennessee; and sisters, Jackie Dunham of Sparta and Melba Gross of Rocky River.

Services will be held at 2:30 p.m. today at High’s Chapel with Dennis Deweese officiating. Burial will follow at Crain Hill Cemetery.

High Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) Nov. 27, 2002

Christine Keaton Hughes, 78
Lebanon resident and Warren County native Christine Keaton Hughes, 78, died Nov. 24 at University Medical Center in Lebanon after an extended illness.

A retired X-ray technician with McFarland Hospital in Lebanon and a member of Trinity Baptist Church, she was the daughter of the late Walter and Lula Mae Davenport Keaton; and was preceded in death by sisters, Willie Pedigo and Elizabeth Huskisson; and brothers, Earl, Guy, Edwin and Henry B. Keaton.

She is survived by her husband, Ray Franklin Hughes; daughter, Chris Ann Green of Lilburn, Ga.; sons, David Hughes of Smyrna and Scott Hughes of Lebanon; grandchildren, Nancy Lynn Hughes, Adam Green, Matthew Green and Hailey Marie Hughes; and sisters, Dollie Ritchey and Pat Allen, both of McMinnville and Jo Adams of Erin.

Services were held Tuesday at McMinnville Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Carl L. Scarlett officiating. Burial followed at Providence Cemetery.

McMinnville Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) Nov. 27, 2002

Mary Jo Steakley, 71
Florence, Ala., resident and Warren County native Mary Jo Steakley, 71, died Nov. 23 in Florence.

A homemaker, employee of Formfit Rogers and a member of the Church of God, she was the daughter of Hugh and Lillie Dennis Gibbs; and was preceded in death by her husband, Dillard Steakley in 1988; grandson, Willie Stembridge; great-grandson, Cameron Stembridge; and brother, Kenneth Gibbs.

She is survived by daughter and son-in-law, Pat and Bill Stembridge of Florence; grandson and his wife, Brent and Dawn Stembridge of Florence; great-grandchildren, Zach and Abbie Stembridge of Florence; brother, Ed Gibbs of Morrison; sister, Jean Daniels of Manchester and Judy Turner of McMinnville; and special family friends, Bill, June and Teddy Peters.

Services were held Tuesday at High’s Chapel with Gordon Stallings officiating. Burial followed at Mt. View Cemetery.

High Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) Nov. 27, 2002

James A. (J.T.) Tallent, 74
Murray, Ky., resident formerly of DeKalb County James A. (J.T.) Tallent, 74, died Nov. 23 at his residence after an extended illness.

A retired employee of Kuhn’s, Big K and Wal-Mart and a member of Mt. Moriah, The Baptist Church, he served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.

The son of the late Henry Hobert and Lela Chumnley Tallent, he was preceded in death by sister, Mildred Tallent Murphy.

He is survived by his wife, Sadie Taylor Tallent; daughter and son-in-law, Janie and Karl Zimmerman of Martin; grandson, William Joseph (Willie) Zimmerman of Martin; nephew and his spouse, Winfred and Elizabeth Murphy of McMinnville; niece and her spouse, Betty Sue and Ray C. Todd of Readyville; brothers-in-law, Toy R. Taylor and George Brent Taylor of Smithville; sisters-in-law, Nellie Darse Waggoner of Memphis, Mich., and Norma Jane Malone of Smithville; several nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. today at DeKalb Funeral Home Chapel with burial following at Whorton Springs Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until time of service today at DeKalb Funeral Home.

DeKalb Funeral Home of Smithville is in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) Nov. 27, 2002