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.
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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 Monday, May 3
Rite Of Committal Services For Betty Briggs, Age 95, Of Monterey, Will Be Conducted On Tuesday, May 4, 2021, At 11:00 AM At Goff Funeral Home. Father Christiano Nunes da Silva Will Officiate. Mrs. Briggs Was Born On Thursday, March 11, 1926, In Bridgeport, Connecticut, To The Late David A. And Mary A. Kidney Cronin. Mrs. Briggs Passed Away On Tuesday, April 27, 2021, At The Cookeville Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Briggs Was A Registered Nurse. She Was The First Female Graduate At University Of Connecticut With A Bachelor’s Degree In Nursing. She Was A Member Of St. Thomas Aquinas Church. She Is Survived By Her Daughter And Son-In-Law, Bette And David “Moon” Simpson Of Monterey. The Family Will Receive Friends At Goff Funeral Home On Tuesday, May 4, 2021, For Rite Of Committal.
Funeral services for Mrs. Ruth V. Houser, age 72 of Livingston, Overton Co., will be held on Tuesday, May 4 at 11 AM from the Hall Funeral Home of Livingston with burial to follow in the Overton Co. Memorial Gardens. Officiating with the service will be her Grandson Derek Houser. Mrs. Houser passed away Thursday morning, April 29 at her residence after living a long loving and fulfilling life. Ruth loved her family and friends more than anything. She enjoyed beating and cheating at playing board games, yantzee and cards; she had a huge soft spot in her heart for people in uniform. She left behind a hell of a lot of stuff for her daughter and son who have no idea what to do with it. She is survived be her loving husband of 56 years, Fred Houser; and children, Tina (James) Qualls, and Butch (Violet) Houser. Family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday evening, May 3rd starting at 5 PM until 9 PM.
Funeral services for Connie Jean Maxwell, 63 of Baxter, will be Tuesday, May 4 at 11 AM at Baxter Chapel of Hooper Huddleston Horner Funeral Home. Interment will follow in the Maxwell South Cemetery. Bro. Tim Sharp will officiate. Mrs. Maxwell died Friday, April 30, 2021 at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. She was born March 8, 1958 in Detroit, Michigan to the Beulah Baird Julian of Baxter and the late Herman Ray Julian. Connie was a 1976 graduate of Upperman High School in Baxter. She was a retired secretary with the Putnam County Schools, serving at Baxter Elementary and later at Cane Creek Elementary. She also worked at Cookeville Regional Medical Center in the Admissions Dept. Connie was a member of Boma First Church of God. She enjoyed spending time with family and friends, making blankets, camping, playing games on her phone and playing rook. In addition to her mother, she is survived by husband Dennis Maxwell of Baxter, sons Dino (Rebecca) Koffas of Dodson Branch, Michael (Chassity) Koffas of Baxter, Christopher (Carrie) Koffas of Cookeville, step-daughters Audrey Brown and fiancée Mike Robichaud of Silver Point. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends from Monday from 2 to 8 PM and after 9 AM Tuesday until service time at the funeral home.
Funeral services for Mr. James “Preacher” Harris will be held on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 at 1 PM from the chapel of the Hall Funeral Home of Livingston with burial to follow in Lynn Cemetery in Jackson Co., TN. Mr. James “Preacher” Harris was born in Lebanon, Wilson Co., TN on Friday, June 15, 1951 to the late William Amos and Ruby (Burks) Harris. He worked at construction as a bricklayer. He will be greatly missed by his children and all that knew him. Survivors include 3 Daughters: Ammie Matthews and her husband Bruce, Tevina Cheatwood, Joylene Harris; 2 Sons: Willie Watts and his wife Cheryl, Jessie Keen and his wife Darlene. Family will welcome friends at the funeral home on Monday evening, May 3rd starting at 5 PM until 8 PM. Officiating with the service will be Bro. Justin Moody.
Memorial services for Ms. Bonnie Jo Kaczynski Vest, age 44 of Sparta, will be conducted 6:00pm Tuesday, May 4, 2021 from the Chapel of Hunter Funeral Home. She passed away Wednesday, April 28, 2021. Bonnie was born February 11, 1977 in Detroit, Michigan. She was a homemaker. Survivors include her daughter Lela Ann Vest and Eric Peek; Son: Aidan Daniel Vest; Mother: Debbie Reynolds; Father: Joe Kidd Kaczynski. The family will receive friends after 4:00pm Tuesday at Hunter Funeral Home. Bear Vinson will officiate.
A Celebration Of Life Service for Roy Adam Henry, Age 50, Of Monterey, Will Be Held On Wednesday, May, 5, 2021, At 11:00 AM From The Chapel Of Goff Funeral Home In Monterey. Rev Tony Phipps Will Officiate And Burial Will Follow In The Welch Memorial Cemetery. He passed Away In The Night Peacefully In His Home With His Sons After A Day Of Visiting And Sharing Memories With His Family. Adam Was Born January 23, 1971, In Monterey, Tennessee, To The Late Harlan And Patty Welch Henry. Adam First Learned His Trade As A Brick Mason From Family Members, Gary Welch And Donald “Duck” Tinch. He Was An Exciting, Fun, And Fearless Man With A Long List Of Adventures That Make The Dukes Of Hazzard Look Like Taxi Drivers. He Loved All Animals, With A Special Fondness Of Dogs. He Was An Avid Fan Of Rock Music And MOPAR Cars. He Enjoyed Spending His Time Most In The Presence Of His Family And Friends. Adam Will Be Remembered As A Loyal, Loving, Selfless Person. He Will Be Greatly Missed By All Who Truly Knew Him. The Family Will Receive Friends For Visitation On Tuesday, May 4, 2021, From 5:00 PM Until 7:00 PM And On Wednesday, May 5, 2021, From 10:00 AM Until The Time Of Services At 11:00 AM
Funeral services for Mrs. Patricia “Pat” Rodgers, age 86 of Cookeville, will be held Wednesday May 5 at 12 noon in the chapel of Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Paran Cemetery. Mrs. Rodgers passed away suddenly Saturday, May 1, 2021 at her home. Mrs. Rodgers family will receive friends Tuesday from 5 till 7 pm and Wednesday from 10 am til service time at the funeral home.
Funeral services for Mr. Ulysses Grant Culley, Sr., age 94 of Sparta, will be conducted 12:00pm Wednesday, May 5, 2021 from the Chapel of Hunter Funeral Home. Burial with full military honors by the Veterans’ Honor Guard will follow in Oak Lawn Cemetery. A fixture of White County sports passed away at 11:54 am on Saturday May 1, 2021 at his residence. Mr. Culley was born October 8, 1926 in the Bon Air community of White County. He was a retired custodian for Caney Fork Electric, where he also assisted on emergency calls. Ulysses proudly served his country in the United States Army. Above all, he is widely known and beloved by the White County sports community. Ulysses started playing baseball, his first love, in the 1940s and was fortunate to coach his sons throughout the 60s and 70s. In the 60s, he also began umpiring baseball games for the White County youth. Ulysses loved to coach and encourage young kids in any sport, with any skill level, treating them as if they were the star of the team. His importance to the community was commemorated on March 17, 2016 when the White County High School Baseball field was dedicated as The Ulysses Culley Field. Chris Brewington, Lynn Brewington, Braden Brewington, Trenton Brewington, Trey Brewington, Ladainian Culley, Zedekiah Culley, Donnie Haley, Clay Leftwich, Jr. and Sam Dibrell will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends from 10:00am until service time Wednesday at Hunter Funeral Home. Morris Irby and Diantha McLeod will officiate.
Funeral Services for Nancy Pearl Rice Johnson, 78 of Sparta, will be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, May 5, 2021 at Oak Lawn Funeral Home with Brother Rudy Oakes and Brother Kenneth Kirby officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Lawn Memorial Cemetery. She passed away on Saturday, May 1, 2021, at Standing Stone Care & Rehabilitation Center in Monterey, Tennessee. She was born January 17, 1943 in Putnam County to Logan Rice and Alice Judd Rice. Survivors include Son Bobby Johnson. She was retired from Mallory Timers. She was a faithful member of the Sparta First Free Will Baptist Church for many years where she also served as church pianist and sang in the Church Trio. She enjoyed the outdoors and spending time with family. She was a wonderful mother, grandmother, and friend. The family will welcome friends from 11:00 AM until time of the service at the funeral home. Pallbearers to serve are Harold Williams, Paul Williams, Stacy Rice, Corey Austin, Kenneth Maxwell, and Raymond Anderson..
A Memorial Service for Mrs. Cynthia Lou Ray, age 55 of Alpine, Overton Co., will be held on Wednesday, May 5 at 3 PM from the chapel of the Hall Funeral Home of Livingston. Miss Ray passed away on Saturday, May 1 at the Livingston Regional Hospital. Cynthia loved her children, grandchildren, and her brother very much. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. She is survived by her children, Chris Sells, and Amy Sells. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Wednesday starting at 12 noon till service time at 3 PM.
Funeral Services for Mr. Sanford “Sam” Matthews, age 81, of Allons, will be conducted 2 p.m., Thursday, May 7 from the chapel of Speck Funeral Home. Bro. Nolan Cantrell will officiate. Burial to follow in the Okolona Cemetery. Mr. Matthews passed from this life on Sunday evening, May 2 from the Overton County Health & Rehab. Baptist in faith, and a carpenter by trade. Sam was a member of the Mountain Cur Club of Jamestown. He enjoyed raising and training cur dogs. He also worked with Mules, winning State Championships. Sam leaves behind his sons, Thomas Matthews of Rockwood, TN, and David Matthews of Birmingham, AL. The family will welcome friends on Thursday from 12 noon until time of services at Speck Funeral Home.
Funeral services for Teresa Joann Henry, 50 of Gainesboro, will be held on Saturday, May 8 at 1 P.M. at Anderson Upper Cumberland Funeral Home. The family has chosen cremation. Miss Henry passed away on Saturday, May 1 at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. She was born July 10, 1970, in Gainesboro, to the late Troy Eugene Gentry and Mary Ann Hagan Gentry. She was an automotive factory worker, and a Christian. Survivors include her children, Eric Henry of Cookeville, and Makensei Nicole Henry of Gainesboro. The family will receive friends on Friday, May 7 from 3 P.M. – 7 P.M., and Saturday, May 8, 2021, from 10 A.M. until time of services.
Memorial services for Tommy Knight, 58 of the Dodson Branch community of Jackson County, will be held on Saturday, May 8 at Anderson Upper Cumberland Funeral Home at 4PM. Mr. Knight passed away Tuesday, April 20 at his residence. He was born January 1, 1963, in Cookeville, to the late Birdle Knight and Billie Jane Thornton Knight. He was a construction worker by trade. He is survived by his daughter, Misty Rittenberry of Cookeville. The family will receive friends on Saturday, May 8 at the funeral home from 2 P.M. – 4 P.M.
A memorial service for Hollena “Holly” Arlene West, 47 of Cookeville, will be held Saturday evening, May 8 at 10:00 PM at the Dyer Chapel of Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home. Mrs. West died Wednesday, April 28, 2021 at her home due to a house fire. Holly graduated with an associate degree in marketing and fashion design. She was a homemaker who enjoyed talking politics, music, art, outdoor activities and especially being with her children. She had many online friends, she was in contact with daily. Survivors include husband of 25 years (Married December 16, 1995) Kenneth West; and sons, Tanner and Gavin West all of Cookeville. The family will receive friends Saturday 8 PM until service time at the funeral home.
