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Here are the latest obituaries and notices as provided by the funeral homes serving Cookeville, Baxter, Monterey, Sparta, Gainesboro and Livingston.
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Obituaries For Monday, October 23
Russell Eugene Tallent, 68 of Doyle, passed away on October 21, 2023 at his home. Russell was born on December 18, 1954 in Painesville, Ohio. He is preceded in death by his mother, Sue Katherine Hampton; father, Richard Eugene Tallent; sister, Pandora Turner. He is survived by his daughter, Carla Tallent; brothers, Kenneth Roberts, Gary Tallent, and David Tallent; grandchildren, Cheyenne Perkins and Kyla Tallent; along with a host of nieces, nephews, and loved ones. The family would like to give a special thank you to Gentiva Hospice for the love and care from their staff. Following Russell’s wishes, a cremation service has been elected with a Memorial Service to be announced at a later date.
Ms. Willie Jo Roberts Wright, age 77 of Sparta, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 21, 2023 at her residence. Ms. Willie Jo was born June 14, 1946 in Sparta to the late Hubert H. and Maude Shuster Roberts. She was a home health technician. She loved traveling with family or going to visit family. She enjoyed watching softball and supporting the University of Tennessee Volunteers. In addition to her parents, she is also preceded in death by daughters Karen Ann Young and Mary Sue Norris; a granddaughter Kayla Anderson; sister Geneva Taylor. Surviving family members include her daughter Denice Carr and husband Doug of Sparta; Grandchildren: Barbara (Darrell) Anderson, Crystal (Dustin) Hopkins, Donnie Anderson, Kris Anderson, Brandy (Jeremy) Whitehead and Karris Norris; Several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; Sisters: Louise Howard of Sparta, Betty Ann (Wayne) Sexton of Henderson, TN and Marie Hill of Peoria, IL; Brother: Leaton Roberts of Jupiter, Florida. In honor of Willie Jo’s wishes, she will be cremated and no public services are planned.
Funeral services for Jeff Goodwin, 55 of Cookeville, will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday October 25 at the Cookeville Chapel of Hooper Huddleston and Horner Funeral Home. Rev. David Sharp will officiate. Interment will follow Judd Cemetery in the Holladay Community. Jeff passed away Saturday October 21 at his home. His family will receive friends Wednesday from 11 a.m. until service time.
Funeral services for Michelle Huddleston, 42 of Cookeville, will be at 11 a.m. Thursday October 26 at the Cookeville Chapel of Hooper Huddleston and Horner Funeral Home. Michelle passed away suddenly Saturday October 21. Her family will receive friends Tuesday from 4 – 8 p.m., Wednesday from 3 – 8 p.m. and Thursday from 10 a.m. until service time.
Funeral services for Mr. Sammy Edward Brown, age 75 of Shelbyville, a native of Sparta, will be conducted 3:00pm Friday, October 27, 2023 from the Chapel of Hunter Funeral Home with full military honors by the Veterans’ Honor Guard. He passed away at 3:50pm Friday, October 20, 2023 at Vanderbilty University Medical Center in Nashville. Sammy was born December 17, 1947 in Sparta to late James Harvey and Edith Elizabeth Clemons Brown. He was a retired construction superintendent with a career of overseeing many large projects. Sammy was an avid fisherman, hunter and an Atlanta Braves fan; however his sports passion was on full display every fall when his blood would run Big Orange. Sammy served his country as a member of the United States Army in Vietnam. In addition to his parents, he is also preceded in death by his wife and mother of his children Wanda Jeanette Stacy Brown who died January 17, 2010; sister Sherry Morgan and brother David “Gene” Brown. Surviving family members left to cherish his memory include his wife Connie Sisco Brown of Shelbyville; Two children: Chris (Dena) Brown of Gallatin, and Seidina Brown of Murfreesboro; Step-children: Chris (Melanie) Sisco of Rockvale, TN and Troy (Rachel) Sisco of Woodbury; Grandchildren: Ciera (Justin) Conner, Cirsten Brown, Alexia Eubanks; Step-grandchildren: Chase, Hunter, Layla and Brantley Sisco; Great-grandchild: Stetson Conner. The family will receive friends after 1:00pm Friday at Hunter Funeral Home. Stephen McCollum will officiate. In honor of Sammy’s wishes he will be cremated following his funeral service. Family and friends are encouraged to wear UT orange in honor of Sammy’s love of the Vols.
Memorial Services for Sarah Ann Childress, age 80 of Sparta, will be held at 6:00 PM on Friday, October 27, 2023, at Oak Lawn Funeral Home. She passed away on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. She was born December 6, 1942 in Dunlap, and she was the daughter of the late Hubert Bowman and the late Edna Hatfield Bowman. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Childress, daughter, Jamie Childress, sister, Olena Shoulders, and brother, Thomas Bowman. Survivors include: Sons- Scotty Childress (Kristy) of Sparta, and Jason Childress (Tracy) of Cookeville; Grandchildren- Joseph, Tiffany, Rachel, Renae, Rebekah, Randy, Daniela, Mirandy, Shaylee, Shayna, Nevaeh, Geoffory, and Gage; 26 Great-Grandchildren; Brother- Kelly Sam Bowman of Pikeville. The family will welcome friends from 4:30 PM until time of the service at the funeral home.
Funeral services for Mr. Thomas Edward “Tom” Prime, age 65 of the Hickory Valley community, will be conducted 1:00pm Saturday, October 28, 2023 from the Chapel of Hunter Funeral Home with burial in Davis Cemetery. He passed away on Saturday morning October 21, 2023 at St. Thomas Highlands Hospital. Tom was born November 4, 1957 in Sparta. He was a life long automobile detailer and had been in business for 50 years. He loved cleaning vehicles with his favorite part to clean being the windows. Tom enjoyed his toys, his ’06 Corvette, Camaro and his Fat Boy Harley Davidson, he loved gardening but most of all he loved spending time with his family especially his grandchildren. He was a faithful member of Doyle Nazarene Church. Tom is preceded in death by his mother Zelda Lillian Henderson Prime and a sister Judy Henderson. Survivors include his wife of 25 years Noretta Prime of Sparta; Sister: Norma Jean Leftwich of Sparta; Brother: Steve Robert Prime; Daughter: Amanda Keith and husband Daniel; Grandchildren: Destinie, Jay-Lynn and Benton Keith; Special friend: Eric Lewis; A host of nieces, nephews and extended family members also survive. The family will receive friends after 10:00am Saturday at Hunter Funeral Home.
A memorial service for Rosina “Rose” Fields, 85 of Cookeville, is being planned, tentatively set for Saturday, November 11 at 1 PM at Cookeville First Baptist Church. She died Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at her home. Her wishes of cremation are being honored. She was born August 1, 1938 in Sicily, Italy to the late Basil and Rose Natoli Aragona. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, James Erwin Fields on February 16, 2019 and a sister, Anna Kowalczyk. She was a homemaker. Rose was a member of Cookeville First Baptist Church and very active in her Sunday School Class. She enjoyed sewing, quilting, gardening and spending time with family and friends. Survivors include sons David (Anh-Phuong) Fields of Burke, VA, Douglas (Gabriele) Fields of Albuquerque, New Mexico, sister Gracie Brooks of Michigan, brother Joe Aragona of Wisconsin, grandchildren: Andrew Fields, George Fields, Anne Catherine “Kitty” Fields, James Monroe Fields, Lukas Samuel Fields, great-grandchildren: Elysia Noel Fields and Seraphina Ophelia Fields. The family will receive friends from 12 Noon until service at the church.
