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 Thursday, April 12
Funeral services for Mrs. Joenna Phyllis Brady Luna, age 58 of Sparta, will be conducted 2:00pm Friday, April 13, 2018 at Hensley Chapel Baptist Church with burial in Young Cemetery. Joenna passed away Tuesday, April 10, 2018 at her residence. Joenna was born June 28, 1959 in Sparta to the late James Martin & Mildred Naomi Young Brady. She had a work career that spanned from working in garment factories to driving for UCARTS as well as being a homemaker to her four children. In addition to her parents, she is also preceded in death by husband Ricky Luna; great-grandchildren Makenzie and Korbyn; sisters Velna Pollard and Ruth Young; brother Dean Brady. Surviving family members include her children Emmerson (Michelle) Luna, Jessica (Wayne) Brock, Jeremiah Luna, Carrie (Phillip) Russell; Grandchildren: Candy & Justin Griffin, Cody Brock & Cassidy Frady, Cheyenne Brock, Nova Luna, Harley Luna, Ashley Hughes, James Brady, Lilly Russell, Hayden Tittsworth, Elizabeth Winnett and Charlie Winnett; Great-grandchildren: Haiti, Haven, Korbin, Hakena, Angelina, Emmy Jo, Caleb, Hailey, Aubrey and Tyson; Sisters: Dora Pollard, Jean Overton; Brothers: James (Donna) Brady, Joe (Shirley) Brady, Garlen Brady; Sisters-in-law: Barbara (Johnny) Presley, Marlyn Eastwood; A host of nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends Thursday after 5:00pm at the church.
Funeral service for Mrs. Kathleen Adams, age 78, of Cookeville, will be at 5 p.m. Friday April 13 at the Cookeville Chapel of Hooper Huddleston and Horner Funeral Home with Bro. Buddy Johnson officiating. Interment will follow at Crest Lawn Cemetery. Mrs. Adams passed away Thursday morning April 12, 2018 at her home. The family will receive friends Friday from 3 p.m. until service time.
Memorial services for Ms. Rebecca Sue Ayers, 48, of Gainesboro, will be held at 7 P.M. on Friday, April 13, 2018, in the chapel of Anderson-Upper Cumberland Funeral Home. The family has chosen cremation. She passed away on Monday, April 9, 2018, at Cookeville Regional Medical Center in Cookeville. She was born April 5, 1970, in Gainesboro, to Charles Hawkins and the late Ola Donneta Hawkins. She was a Certified Nursing Assistant. In addition to her mother, she was preceded in death by Paternal Grandparents: Nathan E. and Nannie Lou Hawkins; and Maternal Grandparents: Willie D. and Willie E. Stacy. Survivors include 2 Daughters: Jessica Emerton of Gainesboro, and Allisa Samone of Baxter; Father: Charles Hawkins of Gainesboro; 1 Brother: David E. Hawkins of Gainesboro; and 1 Sister: Rachel Diane Hill of Cookeville. Memorial donations may be made to help with funeral expenses by contacting the funeral home.
Celebraton of Life services for Mrs. Joan Belle Morgan Allen, age 78, of Livingston will be conducted 10 a.m., Saturday, April 14, 2018 from the Grace Baptist Church in Alpine. Bro. John Copeland will officiate. Mrs. Joan Belle Morgan Allen passed away peacefully from this life on Saturday morning, April 7, 2018 from the Overton County Health & Rehab, surrounded by family and friends. Born in Cleveland Ohio, Joan moved to Tennessee at an early age and has been a resident of Livingston for 25 years. Joan enjoyed fishing, gardening, shopping & spending time with family. While a resident at Overton County Health & Rehab, Joan was active in many activities. On August 1, 2017, Joan was voted winner of the best decorated hat contest during Senior Day at the Overton County Fair. She was predeceased by sons, David & Joseph Bohorfoush & Tommy Parrish; brothers, Buddy, Tommy & Jack Morgan & sister, Doris Dickey. Joan leaves her husband, Robert “Bob” Allen of Livingston; daughters, Lisa Bell & Angela Breeding both of Livingston & Helen Vaughn & husband James of Sparta; brother, Robert “Bill” Morgan of Granvill; sisters, Pat Bierman of Lavergne, Carlene Tummins of Dickson, TN; as well as many grandchildren & great grandchildren. The family will welcome friends at the time of services. Donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association by contacting Speck Funeral Home, 931-823-1201, 300 North Church Street, Livingston, Tenn. 38570.
A graveside service for Sandra Lynn Silcox Braun Carter, 62 of Sparta, will be held at 12pm on Saturday, April 14, 2018 in the Oak Lawn Memorial Cemetery with Derek Wilson officiating. Ms. Carter received her wings as one of gods Angels on April 6th, 2018. After nearly two years of fighting with cancer she was able to finally rest peacefully in the warmth of heaven. Ms. Carter was a loving, active, and devout, grandmother, mother, wife, sister, and daughter. She was an accomplished beautician, butcher’s assistant, and food service manager. Sandy was a beacon of light throughout her community and within her family; always there to lean on for help no matter who needed it, why, or when. She loved spending time with her children and grandchildren most of all. From her younger days in Michigan where she enjoyed spending time at the lake with family to her later years in Tennessee where she lovingly provided shelter for stray dogs simply looking for a stable home, she was always more concerned with the happiness of others above her own. She enjoyed gardening, walking on the beaches of Florida, providing support to numerous four legged friends seeking comfort, doing cross word puzzles, and the delightful pitter patter of little grandchildren feet scattering about. Sandy is preceded in heaven by her brother John Michael Silcox, her father Robert Thomas Silcox, her mother Emma Bolt Thomas Silcox Sikes, and her second husband Thomas James Carter. She is survived by her children Michele Renee Braun Ashley (Josh) of Sparta, Robert Duane Braun (Tricia) of Vass, North Carolina, John Michael Braun (Jenny) of Nashville, Travis James Carter (Chevy) of Sparta, and 7 grandchildren. The family will welcome friends from 10am until the time of the service on Saturday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Caring Hearts Home Healthcare, LLC., 920 Blue Springs Rd, Sparta, TN (http://www.caringheartshomehealthcarellc.org/) or Friends of White County Animals animal shelter of Sparta, TN (https://www.friendsofwhitecountyanimals.org/).
Memorial services with Military Honors for James “Buddy” Tillman Spence, age 79, of Cookeville, will held Saturday April 14 at 1:00 p.m. at the Cookeville Chapel of Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home. Bro. Joe Williams and Randy Porter will officiate. Mr. Spence died Tuesday morning, April 10, 2018 at his home. He was born February 27, 1939 in Murfreesboro, TN to the late Jessie Tillman Spence and Sarah Mae Lamb Spence Endsley. He was a 1957 graduate of Central High and attended MTSU. He was a member of the National Guard for six years and was a US Army Veteran, serving from 1958-60. Buddy’s career in insurance spanned 37 years. He was employed with National Life when he moved to Cookeville in 1980. He retired in 2001 while working as General Manager of American General Life Insurance Company. He earned designations that included LUTCF, GMAC, ChFC, Past President of NALU and CLU. Buddy was a family man and people person. His integrity and outgoing and gregarious nature endeared him to his family and many friends. He was of the Church of Christ faith. He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Pat Love Spence; daughters, Rhonda Spence Curley of Dover, DE, Sara Spence of Charlotte, NC and Kim Ashburn of Smithville; son, Dr. Tim Ashburn of Chickamauga, GA; grandchildren, Justin Curley, Corey Curley and Kristin (Brian) Collison, Amber (Jeremiah) Keisling, Elizabeth Spence, Jaime Spence, Emily Spence, Spencer Williams, Chloe Williams, Hope Hesse, Paige Garrett, Anna Grace Ashburn, Jeremy Ashburn and Tess Ashburn; 17 great grandchildren; brothers, Edward (Connie) Spence of Jackson, and Gary (Susan) Endsley of Ocala, FL; special friend, Carlton Taylor and by his beloved dog, Bruiser. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by son, James Tillman Spencer, II and sister, Doris Faye Neely. His family will receive friends Saturday from 11 a.m. until service time at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Putnam Co. Animal Shelter, 2650 Gainesboro Grade, Cookeville, TN 38501.
Funeral services for James Verlon Brown, age 76 of Cookeville, will be held Saturday, April 14, 2018 beginning at 3:00 pm from the Chapel of Crest Lawn Funeral Home. Entombment will follow in Crest Lawn Memorial Cemetery Mausoleum. James passed from this life Wednesday, April 11, 2018. He was born Tuesday, January 20, 1942 in Gainesboro, the son of Mildred Burgess Brown and the late Bob Brown. James was a loving husband and father who loved spending time with his family especially fishing. He loved his job as an Electrician and taking care of his dog Pepper. James is survived by his wife of 56 years Mabel Stewart Brown of Cookeville; 2 Sons and 1 Daughter-in-law: James and Belinda Brown, Bruce Anthony Brown; 1 Granddaughter: Tiffanye Clarice Brown; 1 Grandson: Justin Frank Ward; 1 Great Granddaughter: Marlie Chevelle Ward; 2 Sisters and 1 Brother-in-law: Peggy Crabtree, Robbie and Daryl Jackson; 1 Brother: Ronald “Butch” Brown; And a host of Nieces and Nephews. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Friday, April 13, from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm and again on Saturday from 2:00 until the time of service at 3:00 pm.
Celebration of Life Memrorial for Mrs. Luella Branson, age 75 of Livingston, will be held at the First Christian Church in Livingston, Sunday, April 15, 2018 at 6 p.m. At the request of Mrs. Branson, the family has chosen cremation. Mrs. Branson passed from this life on Sunday April 8, 2018 at the Overton County Health & Rehab in Livingston. Mrs. Luella Branson was born in San Francisco, CA on Thursday March 11, 1943 to the late Charles and Elizabeth (Carmer) Todhunter. Survivors include: Husband; Raymond Branson and 1 Son; David (Lisa) Branson, 1 Daughter; Betty (Bill) Blake, Grandchildren: Aaron, William, Jennifer, Jolene, Christina and Elizabeth. Mrs. Luella Branson was preceded in death by her parents: Charles and Elizabeth (Carmer) Todhunter and 1 Son: Jerry Branson.