Obituary Report for January 15, 2003

Sallie Malinda Lorance Jordan, 92
Centertown resident and Warren County native Sallie Malinda Lorance Jordan, 92, died Jan. 11 at River Park Hospital.

A homemaker and retired merchant with J.A. Jordan Grocery Store, she was the daughter of the late W.C. and Mary Elizabeth DeBerry Lorance; and was preceded in death by her husband, Jesse Aubrey Jordan; daughter, Nancy Crouch; sisters, Ora Hillis and Lucille Smith; and brothers, J.C., Harry and Woodrow Lorance.

She is survived by daughter and son-in-law, Patricia and Lowell Morris of McMinnville; brothers, Arthur Lorance of McMinnville and Morgan Lorance of Shelbyville; son-in-law, Hoyt Crouch of McMinnville; grandchildren and their spouses, Anthony and Bernie Morris of Morrison, Kreta and Mike Slatton, Russell and Beverly Crouch, and Mark Crouch, all of McMinnville; great-grandchildren, Sallie and Isaac Slatton, Desiree and Chris Hobbs, Heath Morris, Jonathan Morris, Derek Crouch and Ryan Crouch; and great-great-grandchild, Chance Hobbs.

Services were held Monday at McMinnville Funeral Home Chapel with Kirk Brothers officiating. Burial followed at Centertown Cemetery.

McMinnville Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) Jan. 15, 2003

Florence Irene Raya, 91
Chillicothe, Ill., resident and Altus, Okla., native Florence Irene Raya, 91, died Jan. 11 at Heartland Health Care Center in Henry, Ill.

A first-grade teacher in Rome from 1955-57, she taught school in Madison, Iowa for 20 years before retiring in 1977. She was a graduate of Bradley University in Peoria, Ill., and earned a master’s degree from the University of Iowa.

She was the founder of the Pepper Family & Allied Lines re-union in 1972 and was an enthusiastic family researcher. She was the great-granddaughter of Eilsha Pepper and Margaret Morrow, who are noted in history as the first settlers of the McMinnville area.

The daughter of Anderson Randolph and Rosa Emma Rogers Pepper, she was preceded in death by her husband, Keleel Harry Raya in 1993; and two brothers.

She is survived by daughter and son-in-law, Miranda and Jim Volk of Chillicothe; three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

She was a former member of the Daughters of American Revolution, the PTA of Iowa, and the Jean ESPY Chapter Delta Kappa Gamma. She was an artist and a published genealogist. She attended Plymouth Congregational Church in Chillicothe.

Services were held Monday at Davidson-Fulton Anderson Chapel in Chillicothe with Rev. John Tupper officiating. Burial followed at Chillicothe City Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Rescue 33.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) Jan. 15, 2003

Robert Lee Dennis, 81
Woodbury resident and Cannon County native Robert Lee Dennis, 81, died Jan. 13 at Centennial Medical Center after an extended illness.

A retired employee of Alvin C. York Medical Center, a member of the Masonic Lodge and Center Hill Baptist Church, he served his county in the U.S. Army during World War II.

The son of the late John Robertson and Mary Etta Parker Dennis, he is survived by his wife of 55 years, Christine Bell Dennis; sons and daughters-in-law, Bobby and Evon Dennis, Larry and Pat Dennis, all of McMinnville; granddaughter and her husband, LeAnn and Michael Cartwright of McMinnville; grandson and his wife, Chad and Renea Jones of McMinnville; great-grandchildren, Zachary and Ethan Cartwright, Caleb and Darrick Jones of McMinnville; stepbrother, Lloyd Burks of Morrison; stepsisters, Audrey Mae Davenport of Viola, Iris Casey of Doyle and Eva Pistole of Sparta; several nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Woodbury Funeral Home with Cleo Moon and Eric Durham officiating. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and until time of service Thursday at Woodbury Funeral Home.

Woodbury Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) Jan. 15, 2003

Holly Kaye Drake Lawson, 37
McMinnville resident and Davidson County native Holly Kaye Drake Lawson, 37, died unexpectedly Jan. 12 at her home.

A secretary for Supreme Building Products and a member of the Church of Christ, she was the daughter of George W. and Yvonne Dodson Drake of McMinnville; and is also survived by daughter, Chelsea Lawson of McMinnville; son, Nickalos Lawson of McMinnville; maternal grandparents, Willie and Ivory Rhea of McMinnville; brothers, Dennis, Danny and George Drake Jr. all of McMinnville and Dustin Drake of Huntsville, Ala.; several nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at 1 p.m. today at High’s Chapel with Dustin Drake officiating. Burial will follow at Salem Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until time of service today at High’s.

High Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) Jan. 15, 2003

Wayne Roberts, 83
Summitville resident and native Wayne Roberts, 83, died Jan. 11 at Centennial Medical Center.

The owner of Roberts Co-op and Pallet Company and a member of Summitville Church of Christ, he was a member of the Coffee County School Board for 19 years.

The son of the late Putt and Sarah Greenwalt Roberts, he was preceded in death by his wife, Nora Mae Rogers Roberts; brother, Simon Roberts; sisters, Carrie and Ruby Freeze, Mildred Hawkins and Eula Roberts; and son-in-law, Roy Medley.

He is survived by son, Billy Joe Roberts of Summitville; daughter, Betty Medley of Memphis; grandchildren, Terry Medley, Tricia Medley and Dewayne Roberts; several nieces and nephews.

Services were held Tuesday at Coffee County Funeral Home Chapel with Nestor Stewart officiating. Burial followed at Summitville Cemetery.

Coffee County Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) Jan. 15, 2003

Nora Durham Gillis, 83
McMinnville resident and DeKalb County native Nora Durham Gillis, 83, died unexpectedly Jan. 13 at her home.

A retired cook with the Warren County School System and a member of Locust Street Church of God, she was the daughter of Ed and Lillie Williams Young Sr.; and was preceded in death by her first husband, A.J. (Jack) Durham in 1976; and her second husband, Herman Gillis in 1993.

She is survived by son, Joel Durham Sr. of Fairport, N.Y.; daughter, Ann Geneva Clark of Muscle Shoals, Ala.; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; brother, Willis Young of Nashville; sisters, Pauline Yates and Thelma Lucille Green of McMinnville; stepsons, Bo Gillis of McMinnville and Veston Gillis; and stepdaughter, Virginia Stiles of McMinnville.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Locust Street Church of God with Roland Sharp officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. View Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 1 to 9 p.m. today at High’s.

High Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) Jan. 15, 2003

Sgt. John Gentry Waller, 87
Manchester resident Sgt. John Gentry Waller, 87, died Jan. 13 at his home.

He served with the Tennessee Highway Patrol for 25 years and worked at Batesvile Casket Company as chief of security for 15 years following his retirement from the state. He was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church.

The son of the late Henry Hall and Lula Kate Godwin Waller, he was preceded in death by his wife, Hazel Waller in 1991.

He is survived by children, Lt. Col. John Gentry Waller III of Japan, Donna Harmon and Douglas Waller, both of Manchester; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Manchester Funeral Home Chapel with burial following at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at Manchester Funeral Home. Memorial donations may be made to the Hospice for the Highland Rim at 110 East Lauderdale Street, Tullahoma, Tenn., 37388.

Manchester Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) Jan. 15, 2003