News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Here are the latest obituaries and notices as provided by the funeral homes serving Cookeville, Baxter, Monterey, Sparta, Gainesboro and Livingston.
News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 brings you the daily obituaries each morning, Monday through Saturday, at 7:25am, during The Upper Cumberland This Morning and afternoons at 5:25pm during The Upper Cumberland At 5.
Local news, weather and sports on your way to and from work from News Talk 94.1/AM 1600.
Obituaries are presented by Gunnels Florist. Gunnels Florist has been helping families and friends to say goodbye for more than 70 years. When you want to send a message of sympathy with beautiful flowers and arrangements, trust Gunnels Florist. Call (931) 526-7149 or stop by Gunnels Florist at 104 North Washington Avenue, Cookeville. The Gunnels Family will take care of your expression with compassion, accuracy and timeliness. Gunnels Florist.
Obituaries For Friday, May 15
Lela Mai Stephens Campbell, age 84, passed from this life to her heavenly home on May 15 , 2020 at Signature Healthcare in Algood. Mrs. Campbell was a member of First Baptist Church of Sparta, an Independent Mary Kay Beauty Consultant for many years, a homemaker, and an avid gardener. Throughout her life, she volunteered for a variety of church responsibilities and later for the White Co. Election Commission and White Co. Hospital. She is survived by 4 children: Evon Campbell Heady of Cookeville; Mark (Jo Ann) Campbell of Sparta; Ellen Campbell Beene of North Carolina; and Michael (Trudy) Campbell of Sparta. Four grandchildren: Angela (Richard) Boone of Rickman; Steven (Mandy) Heady of Sparta; and Erik and Miranda Beene of North Carolina. Two great-grandchildren: Richmond and Mahalah Boone of Rickman. She is preceded in death by her husband, Jessie Floyd Campbell, and son-in-law, Keith D. Beene. Due to Covid-19 measures, a private family graveside service will be conducted at Highland Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or the Sparta First Baptist Church 39’ers.
Mrs. Bonita Colleen Cunningham Knowles, age 60, gained her Angel Wings May 13, 2020 surrounded by loved ones. Bonita was born March 25, 1960 in Sparta, Tennessee to the late Lucille Cunningham. She was raised by the late Herbert and Gustia Randolph. She loved to play UNO and have all of her family over to cook for them and have UNO night. Bonita was a regular at the auction houses, so much that she worked in the kitchen and could be seen waving her paddle out the window if it were an item she wanted. She was #81 at H&H Auction and #56 at Ronnie Jolley’s. When she wasn’t auctioning or playing UNO she was on the river banks fishing. In addition to her mother, she is also preceded in death by her brother Delmar Ray Anderson, Jr. She is survived by her husband of 41 years Thomas Ervin Knowles; Son: Ray Knowles; Daughter: Sherri (Gary) Mabe. Private family services will be conducted at Hunter Funeral Home with burial in Old Zion Cemetery. Dewey Young will officiate. Kevin Ward, James Mabe, Gary Mabe, Derek Barrett, Joe Reed, Craig Steele, Troy Wenger and Albert Hutson will serve the family as pallbearers.
Gary Ezell “Tiny” Thomas, age 69, of Cookeville passed away on Wednesday, May 13, 2020. He was born Monday, October 16, 1950 in Cookeville, Tennessee, to Enoch Ezell and Glaydis Eula (Cole) Thomas. Gary worked as a Draftsman and was an avid golfer and Girls softball coach before being disabled. Gary is survived by his two sisters, Jeannie (Ray) Julian and Susan (Jim) Slife of Cookeville, TN, three nephews, Nathan (Kim) Julian, Andy (Amber) Julian and Scott (Erica) Julian and a host of great nieces and nephews. Gary was proceeded in death by his brother Kenny Thomas, niece Ashley Mills and his parents. Burial will follow in Cookeville City Cemetery at a later date.
Funeral services for Charlene Zeoli Davis, age 67, of Cookeville, will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 16 with limited seating for friends and family. She passed away Sunday May 10, 2020 at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. She was born April 15, 1953 in Petersburg, VA to the late Mario and Ruth Zeoli. Charlene is survived by sons, David Zeoli of Moss, DJ (Libby) Leetch of Hampton, VA, Gary (Jennifer) Davis of Cookeville, Barry (Shelby) Davis of Cookeville, Kurt (Teena) Davis of Springfield, MO; sisters, Nancy Zeoli of Los Alamitos, CA, and Gwenn Zeoli (Michelle Baney) of Costa Mesa, CA; brothers, Mario (Ellen) Zeoli of Phoenix, AZ, and Steven (Teri) Zeoli of Grover Beach, CA; special cousins, David (Bobbie) Harris; grandchildren, Emily, Katelynn, Kylie, Christian, Catherine, Josie, Wyatt, Alexa, Bella, and Shaylynn. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Gary Davis. Due to Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, friends are invited to come by the Hooper Huddleston and Horner Funeral Home to sign the guestbook and pay their respects on Saturday May 16 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.
Graveside services for Reba Louise Roberts Hertzfeldt Gentry, 89, of Cookeville will be held Saturday, May 16, 2020 at 1:00 PM at Crest Lawn Cemetery with Bro. Tim Frank officiating. Mrs. Gentry passed away Thursday, May 14, 2020 at her home, due to natural causes. She was born January 9, 1931 in Jackson County to the late Lonnie Roberts and Emma Mayberry Roberts. Reba was a member of Stevens Street Baptist Church. She was a retired supervisor with Tutco and owned and operated M & R Dairy Mart in Cookeville. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husbands, Vernon Charles Hertzfeldt and Melvin Lee Gentry; sisters, Agnes Grdinic, Vivet Tribble, Linda Gaines, Patricia Jones; brothers, Cotton Roberts and James Roberts. Reba is survived by a son, Steven and wife Ann Hertzfeldt of Cookeville; four daughters, Judy Hertzfeldt Kestner of Nashville, Tina Gentry Dickerson and husband Darrell, Carla Gentry Thompson and husband Tony, Sandra Hertzfeldt Jarvis and husband Cortis all of Cookeville; brothers, Paul Roberts of Cookeville and Kenneth Roberts of Baxter; nine grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren. The family appreciates the care provided by the caregivers, Dianne Brown, Linda Whittaker, Jennifer Sells and Cayla Garrison. Reba’s family request memorial contributions be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Graveside services for Vernon O’Dell LaFever, age 77, of Cookeville, will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, May 16, 2020 at LaFever Cemetery with Mike Madden officiating. Burial to follow services. He passed away on Thursday, May 14, 2020 at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. He was born Thursday, August 13, 1942 in White County, to Clarence and Pearl (Cunningham) LaFever. He was a furniture builder and loved spending time with his family and friends. He is survived by his wife Ruth LaFever of Cookeville, son, Kevin (Prella) LaFever of Gainesboro, daughter, Karen (Larry) Buck of Allons, two grandchildren, Whitley and Wyatt LaFever, brother, Leslie LaFever and sister, Jean Randolph. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother and four sisters. There will be no public visitation. Please keep social distancing rules, while attending the Graveside Services for Mr. LaFever.
A Celebration of Life for Donnie Dale Harville, age 32, of Cookeville, Tennessee will be held Sunday, May 17, 2020 at 2:00pm at Cornerstone Church with Darrell Garrett officiating. Donnie Dale Harville was born on September 28, 1987 in Cookeville, Tennessee to Teresa Trendella (Harville) and the late Donnie Wade West. He passed away on Wednesday, May 13, 2020. He is survived by his Mother: Teresa Trendella (Harville)-Cookeville, TN; 2 Daughters: Alexys Harville and Rylynn Harville-Both of Cookeville, TN; 1 Sister: Trendella Harville-Cookeville, TN. In Lieu of Flowers, Memorial Donations may be made to Cornerstone Church.
Graveside service and interment for Rosa Lee Goff, 88, of Cookeville will be Sunday, May 17 at 3 PM at Cookeville City Cemetery. Family members will officiate. Mrs. Goff died Friday, May 15, 2020 at Life Care Center in Sparta. She was born May 30, 1931 in the Austin Bottom Community near Baxter, TN to the late John and Mary Dunn Ashburn. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husbands, Fred Ervin and Orby Alvin Goff, sisters, Melba Allison, Mildred Gammill, Nell Thomas, Betty Sue Ashburn; brothers, Albert and Roosevelt Ashburn. She was a homemaker and of the Christian faith. She loved her family and enjoyed spending time with them. Survivors include daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Tom Dyer of Cookeville; granddaughter, Jennifer Leigh Dyer; brother and sister-in-law, Alfred and Faye Ashburn of Cookeville; brother-in-law, Carlyn Thomas of Baxter; many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Mr. Charles Suil Mitchell, 87, of Bloomington Springs, will be held at 2 P.M. on Sunday, May 17, 2020, at Anderson Upper Cumberland Funeral Home in Gainesboro. Burial will follow in the Byers Cemetery in the Center Grove community of Jackson County. He passed away on Wednesday, May 13, 2020, at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. He was born November 19, 1932, in Gainesboro, to the late Harline Mitchell and Avie Angeline Mitchell. On March 27, 1953, he was married to Edith Opal Mitchell, who survives. He was a retired farmer, and a member of the Center Grove Church of Christ. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by 1 Brother: Bobby Mitchell; and 4 Sisters: Helen Miller, Katherine Stewart, Hattie Carlile, and Judy Mitchell. Survivors include his Wife: Edith Opal Mitchell of Bloomington Springs; 2 Sons: Tim Mitchell of Rickman, and Mike Mitchell of Cookeville; 3 Grandchildren: Amanda Mitchell Burton, Koby Mitchell, and Lisa Bailey; 4 Great Grandchildren; 1 Brother: Billy Mitchell of Bloomington Springs; and 2 Sisters: Toyetta Hensley of Bloomington Springs, and Sally Foster of Smyrna. Other relatives and friends also survive. The family will receive friends on Sunday from 12 Noon until time of services.
Funeral services for Mrs. Mildred Faye Morgan, age 73 of Cookeville, will begin at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 17 with limited seating for friends and family at the Cookeville Chapel of Hooper-Huddleston and Horner Funeral Home. Social distance measures will be in place for the wellbeing of all guests. Interment will follow at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. She died Tuesday May 12, 2020 at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, friends are invited to come by the Cookeville Chapel of Hooper-Huddleston and Horner Funeral Home to sign the guest book and pay their respects on Sunday, May 17 from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. as Mildred’s family will be present.
