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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 Thursday, May 6
Phillip Vincent Yacovella, Sr 84 of Cookeville, Tennessee passed away on Tuesday, May 4, 2021, at his home with his wife by his side. Phil was born Sunday, April 18, 1937 in Cleveland, Ohio, and he was the son of the late John Yacovella and the late Alice (Sarno) Yacovella. Phil is survived by, Wife, Belinda (Heil) Yacovella; 5 Children. Phil chose cremation, the family followed his wishes, and a celebration of his life will be held at a later date.
Funeral Services for Savannah Faith Buckley, 19 of Cookeville, will be held Friday, May 7 beginning at 11:00am from the chapel of Crest Lawn Funeral Home with Bro. Robert Haynes and Bro. Bobby Lee Hale officiating. Interment will follow in Mt. Zion Cemetery at 1635 Mt. Zion Road, McMinnville. Miss Buckley passed from this life Monday, May 3. Savannah was a loving daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, and friend. She loved the Lord with all of her heart, was a shining example of a Christian and she was a member of the Bangham Heights Baptist Church. Savannah would go out of her way to make others smile and loved to make those around her happy. Savannah is survived by her mother, Tenessa (Shane) Self; father, Scott (Amanda) Buckley; and three siblings, Adyson Self, Caleb Buckley, and Candace Smith. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Camp Sandy Stone thru the Stone Association of Southern Baptist, or Child Evangelism Fellowship at P.O. Box 348, Warrenton, MO 63383, or Baptist Collegiate Ministry, at Cookeville BCM. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Thursday, May 6, 2021 from 5:00 pm until 9:00 pm, and again Friday from 9:00 am until the time of service at 11:00 am.
Graveside Funeral Services Clarissa Ray Bilbrey Wilson, Age 101 Of Rickman, will Be Conducted On Friday, May 7 At 11:00 AM At The Welch Memorial Cemetery In Monterey. Mrs. Wilson Passed Away On Tuesday, May 4 At The Cookeville Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Wilson Started Teaching At The Age Of 17. She Taught At Love Joy, Tyler Point, Muddy Pond, Monterey, Tin Top, And Shiloh. She And Her Family Moved To Battle Creek, Michigan, In 1952 And Returned To Tennessee In 1978. She Was A Member Of The Livingston Congregation Of Jehovah’s Witnesses. She Is Survived By Her Daughter, Carolyn Sue Wilson Of Rickman; and Son, George Stanley Wilson Of Rickman. The Family Will Receive Friends At The Welch Memorial Cemetery For Graveside Services.
Funeral Services for Robert Eugene Shell, age 73 of Cookeville will be held Friday, May 7, 2021 beginning at 12:00 noon from the chapel of Presley Funeral Home with Pastor Ronnie Mounts officiating. Interment will follow in Crest Lawn Memorial Cemetery. he passed from this life Monday, May 3, 2021, at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. He was born Saturday, August 30, 1947, in Sweetwater, Tennessee to the late Billy and Wilma (Barger) Shell. Robert was a U.S. Army Veteran serving during the Vietnam Era. He worked in the Automobile Industry with General Motors on the Line Tech. Robert is survived by his Wife Wanda Gail Shell of Cookeville; 2 Sons Robert William Shell and Wife Tiffany, Jason Curtis Shell and wife Laurie. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Friday, May 7, from 10:00 am until the time of service 12:00 noon.
Funeral services for Mr. Manuel Lewis Copeland, age 75 of the Hickory Valley community, will be conducted 1:00pm Friday, May 7 from the Chapel of Hunter Funeral Home with burial in Copelands Chapel Cemetery. Mr. Copeland passed away at 9:47am on Tuesday, May 4 at his residence. Mr. Copeland was born August 6, 1945 in White County, Tennessee to the late Charlie Clarence and Ozell Thompson Copeland. He was a graduate of White County High School and retired from Fleetguard and Thomas Industry. In addition to being an avid fisherman, Lewis was well known for his farming and gardening skills. Lewis is lovingly survived by his wife of 54 years, Beverly Hodge Copeland; and sons, Tony (Mindy) Copeland, Jeff (Miya) Copeland, and Clint (Kerrie) Copeland. The family will receive friends from 10:00am-1:00pm on Friday at Hunter Funeral Home.
Graveside services for Mrs. Shirley Claudette Winstead Ayala, age 75 of Sparta, will be conducted 1:00pm Friday, May 7, 2021 at Spring Hill Cemetery. She passed away Tuesday morning, May 4, 2021. Mrs. Ayala was born September 26, 1945 in Sparta, Tennessee to the late Claude Potter and Beatrice Humphrey Winstead. Claudette was a graduating member of the White County High School Class of 1963 and attended Draughn’s Business College. She did clerical work for Thomas Industries before moving west and working as a cashier at the Vegas Showboat. There will be no public visitation prior to the service. Richard Haston will officiate.
Funeral Services for Mr. Joseph Willard Yates, age 87 of Allons will be conducted 2 p.m., Friday, May 7 from the chapel of Speck Funeral Home. Rev. James Shenko will officiate. Burial will be at a later date. Mr. Joseph Yates passed from this life on Tuesday afternoon, May 4 from his residence. He was born November 9, 1933 in Trenton, New Jersey to the late Charles and Valiria Faltum Yates. A retired worker for General Motors, Joseph enjoyed woodworking, word search puzzles, and watching westerns on television. His greatest joy was his family. Joseph leaves behind his loving wife of 62 years, Judith Hanyecz Yates, of Allons; son, Joseph William Yates of New York; and daughter, Sandra Cianelli of Cookeville. The family will welcome friends on Friday morning from 11 a.m. until time of services at Speck Funeral Home.
Funeral services for Jeffrey “Jeff” Lynn Massa, age 59 of Baxter, will be at 10 a.m. Saturday May 8 at the Baxter Chapel of Hooper Huddleston Horner Funeral Home. Bro. Mark Herren will officiate. Interment will follow at the Judd Cemetery in Baxter. Mr. Massa passed away Tuesday, May 4 at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. He was born February 20, 1962 in Putnam County to Mae Maynard Massa of Livingston and the late Verdie Massa. Jeff was a supervisor with White County TDOT. He formerly was employed with Maberry Heating and Cooling, Martin Lumber Co., and Dacco in Cookeville. In addition to his mother, he is survived by his wife of 31 years, Lisa Morgan Massa, whom he married March 9, 1990; daughter, Nicole (Kevin) Asher of Baxter; and daughter-in-love Ashley Barcus. The family will receive friends Friday from 5 – 8 p.m and again Saturday from 9 a.m. until service time.
Services for William “Fred” Birdwell, 74 of Cookeville, will be held Saturday, May 8th at 11AM at Anderson Upper Cumberland Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Union Hill/Flatt Cemetery in Bloomington Springs. Bro. Jimmy Anderson and Minister Kevin Daughrity will officiate the services. Mr. Birdwell passed away at home on Sunday, May 2 in Cookeville, after a battle with lung cancer. He was born May 15, 1946, in Jackson County to the late Velma and Odes Birdwell. Mr. Birdwell was a retired carpenter. He loved his family and enjoyed spending time on his farm and raising cattle. His surviving family includes his wife of 45 years, Pauline Foulks Birdwell; children, Sarah (Eric) Murphy of Avon, IN, Lynn (Hope) Eddington of Gainesboro, Beth (Jeff) Peterson of Oakfield, Michael Eddington of Cookeville, Shane Birdwell of Paris, TN, and Andrea (Casey) Fox of Cookeville. Visitations will be held 4:00PM-8:00PM Friday, May 7th and Saturday, May 8th 9:00AM until the time of services at 11 AM.
Funeral services for Margret Miranda Russell, age 85 of Cookeville, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday May 8 at the Cookeville Chapel of Hooper Huddleston and Horner Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Howard Cemetery. Margaret passed away Wednesday May 5, 2021 at NHC of Cookeville.Her family will receive friends Friday from 5 – 8 p.m. and again Saturday from 9 a.m. until service time.
Funeral services for Mr. Jeremy Garland Holtzclaw, age 40 of Sparta, will be conducted 11:00am Saturday, May 8, 2021 at Gum Springs Baptist Church with burial in Highland Cemetery. He passed away at 12:14am on May 4, 2021 at his residence. Jeremy was born August 11, 1980 in Muncie, Indiana to John Garland and Julie Ann Hunter Holtzclaw. He worked as an automobile mechanic and was widely known as #979 on the racetracks of Tennessee and the southeastern United States. His need for speed began with four-wheeler racing at the age of 19. He later became a member of the 604 UCRA Series. Jeremy was a champion racer having success in both four-wheeler and the UCRA Series. Now #979 is racing to heaven. Surviving family members left to cherish his memory include his daughter Madison Jade Holtzclaw, Son: Hudson Lee Holtzclaw, Parents: John and Julie Holtzclaw. The family will receive friends Friday from 5-8:00pm at the church. Bo Hendrix and Jacob Sparkman will officiate.
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.
Funeral Services for Mr. Jimmie L. Davis, age 76 of Livingston, will be conducted 2 pm Saturday, May 8th, from the chapel of Livingston Funeral Home. Jimmie passed from this life on Tuesday morning, May 4, 2021, from his residence. He was born in Pulaski, Tennessee, on August 14, 1944, to the late George Lee and Lillie Ann Bilbrey Daniels. Jimmie loved his family and spending time with his grandchildren. He always enjoyed fishing, Sunday afternoon drives, and working with his tractor.
Mr. Davis leaves behind his daughters Donna Tinsley and husband Gary of Livingston and Barbara Dale and husband Jack of Hilham; son Terry Davis and wife Carole of Lebanon; step-son Brian Mills and wife Tracie of Indiana. The family will welcome friends from 1 pm until the time of services at 2 pm on Saturday.
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.
