Obituary Report for May 16, 2003
Newtown community resident and Warren County native Edith Emma Laws Simpson, 82, died May 14 at River Park Hospital after an extended illness.
A retired Genesco employee and a member of Oakland Church of Christ, she was the daughter of the late Kenneth W. and Bessie Almeda Clark Laws; and was preceded in death by her husband, James Leo Simpson; sisters, Frances Duncan, Myrl Campbell, Edna Leech and Beulah Gann; and brothers, Omer Laws and Harold Laws.
She is survived by sisters and brothers-in-law, Zelis and J.M. Burks, Mildred and James Northcutt, all of McMinnville; brother and sister-in-law, Ernest and Billie Laws of McMinnville; several nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. today at McMinnville Funeral Home Chapel with Ronnie Fults and Doug Bost officiating. Burial will follow at Bethany Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until time of service today at McMinnville Funeral Home.
McMinnville Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) May 16, 2003
Bessie Mae Dodson, 87
McMinnville resident and White County native Bessie Mae Dodson, 87, died May 15 at NHC Healthcare.
The owner of Dodson Jewelry and a member of the Church of Christ, she was the daughter of Albert Lee and Vesta Wright Witt; and was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Lester Dodson in 2002; three infant children, brother, Joe and Jack Witt; and special niece, Vesta Richerson.
She is survived by sister, Ernestine Grissom of Baxter; sister-in-law, Bernice Simmons of Oak Ridge; several nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at High’s Chapel with Titus Ward and Jimmy Dodson officiating. Burial will follow at Friendship Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. today and 10 a.m. until time of service Saturday at High’s.
High Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) May 16, 2003
Gracie Mae Hillis, 61
Rock Island resident and Warren County native Gracie Mae Hillis, 61, died May 13 at NHC Healthcare after an extended illness.
A homemaker and a member of Campaign First Baptist Church, she was the daughter of Frank Cheatham and Tennie Mae David Hillis; and was preceded in death by sisters, Georgia Garmon and Enzie George; brothers, James F.C. (Buddy) and Marlin Hillis.
She is survived by sisters and brothers-in-law, Mary Etta and Franklin Hines of Smartt Station, Sarah Southard of McMinnville, Shirley and George Manus of Shady Rest, Betty and Billy Minton of Campaign, and Edna Ledbetter of Rock Island; brother, Lewis Hillis of McMinnville; several nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles.
Services were held Thursday at High’s Chapel with Garvin Haley officiating. Burial followed at Eureka Cemetery.
High Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) May 16, 2003
John David Schlamb, 72
Viola resident and Ohio native John David Schlamb, 72, died May 12 at his home after an extended illness.
A retired farmer, he attended White Hall Bible Church and was the son of Urban David and Velma Hall Schlamb. He is survived by cousin, Erma Kinchen of Thomasville, Ga.
Graveside services will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at Schlamb Family Cemetery with Kevin Deason and Ronnie Powell officiating. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at High’s.
High Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) May 16, 2003
Charles Douglas Thaxton, 72
Colon, Mich., resident and Warren County native Charles Douglas Thaxton, 72, died May 13 at his home following an extended illness.
A high school teacher in Battle Creek and Colon and an instructor in Biology at Kellogg Community College in Battle Creek, he retired in 1991 and enjoyed raising cattle, bird watching and traveling.
He lived in the Colon area for the past 40 years and attended high school at Columbia Military Academy in Columbia. He received his bachelor’s degree from Asbury College in Wimore, Ky., and a master’s from MTSU and a specialist degree from Notre Dame.
The son of the late J.L. and Sara Lannom Thaxton, he is survived by his wife, Ramona; sons and daughters-in-law, Douglas Thaxton, Jeffery and Pam Thaxton, all of Colon, J. and Anne Thaxton of Gainesboro; daughters and sons-in-law, Debra and David O’Connell of Sturgis, Lisa and Larry Swartz of Yorktown, Va.; sister, Jean Thaxton of McMinnville; grandchildren, Jamie Thaxton and his wife Lacy, Trenton Thaxton, Clay, Andrew, Luke, and Millie Thaxton, Sonia Grandstaff and husband, Scott, Amy Coker and husband Jason, Ben and Shelby Swartz; and five great-grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Schipper Funeral Home in Colon, Mich., with David J. Farrell officiating. Burial will follow at Matteson Township Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization, 17430 Durrance Road, Ft. Myers, Fla., 33917.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) May 16, 2003
Elsie Reeves Sell, 89
Johnson City resident and native Elsie Reeves Sell, 89, died May 14 at Middle Tennessee Medical Center in Murfreesboro.
Relocating to live with her daughter in McMinnville six months ago, she was a homemaker and a life-time member of Snow Memorial Baptist Church where she was active in the children’s department.
The daughter of the late James and Ola Boyd Reeves; she was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, William E. (Bill) Sell in 1987; son, John R. Sell in 1990 and sister, Mildred King.
She is survived by son, Wiliam G. (Bill) Sell of Kingsport; daughter, Patty Bradberry and her husband, Jerry Bradberry of McMinnville; daughter-in-law, Earlene Sell Scott of Kingsport; granddaughters, Tonya McMurray of Kingsport and Sherry Strickland of Birmingham, Ala.; three great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews.
Memorial services will be held at 8 p.m. tonight at Snow Memorial Baptist Church with Dr. Ted Williams officiating. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight at the church. A committal service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Monte Vista Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Snow Memorial Baptist Church, 2201 Knob Creek Road, Johnson City, Tenn., 37604. Online condolences may be sent to www.morrisbarker.com. Morris Baker Funeral Home of Johnson City is in charge of arrangements.
Information courtesy of High Funeral Home.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) May 16, 2003
Jerry Kenneth Casteel, 64
McMinnville resident and Lawrence County native Jerry Kenneth Casteel died May 9 at his home in Altamont.
A vice-president with Burroughs-Ross-Colville, he formerly worked for Caney Fork & Western Railroad. He served his country in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying fishing and hunting.
The son of Walter H. and Irine Litrell Casteel, he was preceded in death by sister, Martha S. Nolan.
He is survived by niece, Rebecca Preston of Leighton, Ala.; nephews, Kevin Farley of Tuscaloosa, Ala., Ricky Rhodes of Huntsville, Ala., and Robbin Rhodes of Iron City; uncle, Clarence Litrell of Nashville; several nieces and nephews; and longtime friends, Carl Stanley, Maiverine Romans, Joey and Brandi Humphrey, Joshua Morrison, Donald Roberts and Clyde Malone, Paul and Carl Mason of Iron City, and Abe Gable of Iron City.
There will be no services.
High Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) May 16, 2003