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 Presley Funeral Home, West Jackson Street in Cookeville.
Obituaries For Wednesday, February 13
Funeral services for Willie Clay Johnson, 67, of Gainesboro, will be held at 1 P.M. on Thursday, February 14, 2019, 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 Monday, February 11, 2019, at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. He was born March 8, 1951, in Gainesboro, to Marie Haney Johnson and the late Willie C. “Biss” Johnson. He was the produce manager at Kroger for 38 years, and was affiliated with the Church of Christ. He served in the U.S. Army as a military policeman. In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by 1 Step-Son: Jon Jon Robinson; his Maternal Grandparents: Troy and Lina Haney; and his Paternal Grandparents: Amon and Mary Daniel Johnson. Survivors include his Life Partner and Friend: Debbie Maynard of Cookeville, and her son, Philip Dixon; 3 Daughters: Angie Bilbrey and husband, Yancey, of Buffalo Valley, Julie Land and husband, Alex of Cookeville, and Brittany Johnson of Gainesboro; 1 Step Son: Shane Robinson of Baxter; his Mother: Marie Haney Johnson of Gainesboro; 1 Brother: Mark Johnson of Gainesboro; 8 Grandchildren: Ashley Bouton, Lora Bouton, Christopher Bilbrey, Devin Bilbrey, Peyton Land, Kendall Land, Miranda Bilbrey, and Jonathan Ford; and several Great Grandchildren. Other relatives and friends also survive. The family will receive friends on Wednesday from 4 P.M. – 9 P.M., and Thursday from 10 A.M. until time of services.
Funeral services for Mrs. Lillian Roberta Donelson Rankhorn, age 84 of Sparta, will be conducted 1:00pm Thursday, February 14 from the Chapel of Hunter Funeral Home with burial in Old Zion Cemetery. Mrs. Rankhorn passed away Monday morning February 11, 2019 at Life Care Center of Sparta Mrs. Rankhorn was born April 30, 1934 in White County to the late Arvie Martin Donelson and Dolly Jane Hutchings Donelson. She had a work career that spanned from 25 years working on a dairy farm to working at Palk’s Feed Store then finally being a caregiver. She was a homemaker also, she loved quilting, sewing, cooking and canning. When she was not working, she enjoyed going to yard sales with her sister to add to her collection of Teddy Bears, Tea Pots and Dolls. In addition to her parents, she is also preceded in death by her husband Garwin Rankhorn. Survivors include her daughter Gail Leonard and husband Daryl; Granddaughter Jennifer Qualls and husband Donnie; Great-grandsons: Chance Wheeler and Raylon Joe Qualls; Brothers: JC Donelson and wife Jean, Jo Thomas Donelson and wife Geneva; Sisters Reba Hutchings, Treva Driver and husband Paul. The family will receive friends Thursday, February 14 from 10am until service time at Hunter Funeral Home.
Funeral Services For Waylon Tabors, Age 78, Of Monterey, Will Be Conducted On Thursday, February 14, 2019, At 1:00 PM From The Chapel Of Goff Funeral Home. Bro. Tony Phipps Will Officiate With Interment To Follow In The Sand Springs Memorial Gardens. Mr. Tabors Was Born On May 18, 1940, In Monterey, To The Late James Paul And Pearlie Elizabeth Nabors Tabors. Mr. Tabors Passed Away On Monday, February 11, 2019, At The Cookeville Regional Medical Center. Mr. Tabors Was Employed With Perdue Farms Inc. For Many Years Working As A Maintenance Man And Security Guard. He Worked With Putnam County Convenience Center, Suburban Supply, A Private Towing Company, And Was A Former Monterey City Policeman. He Was A Trustee With Sand Springs Cemetery. He Was A Member Of Sand Springs Baptist Church Where He Served As Trustee And A Musician. He Was A Lifetime Mason And A Member Of Monterey Lodge #751 For 50 Years. He Was A Benevolent Man And Assisted With Many Fundraisers. He Was A Loving Husband And Father. He Is Survived By His Wife, Mable Randolph Tabors Of Monterey; Daughter And Son-In-Law, Carolyn And David Howard Of Monterey; Son And Daughter-In-Law, Mike And Sherry Tabors Of Monterey; 2 Grandchildren, Casey (And Troy) Davenport Of Monterey, Chelsea (And Josh) Waddell Of Nashville. In Addition To His Parents, He Was Preceded In Death By 4 Sisters, Bonnie Walker, Opal Cruise, Marie Roberts And Mellanea McCormick; And 2 Brothers, Watson And Euell Tabors. The Family Will Receive Friends At Goff Funeral Home On Wednesday, February 13, 2019, From 4:00 PM Until 7:00 PM.
Funeral services for Howard Wayne James, age 76, of Cookeville will be held Friday, February 15th, 2019 at 12:00 pm in the chapel of Presley Funeral Home with Pastor Tony Phipps officiating. Interment will follow in Sand Springs Memorial Gardens. Wayne passed away Monday, February 11, 2019 at Bethesda Health Care in Cookeville. He was born Sunday, September 27, 1942 in Benton, Mississippi to the late Dallas Haze James and Daisy Ione Minor James. Wayne was a member of Sand Springs Baptist Church. He served in the US Army in Okinawa, Japan during the Korean War. He is survived by: his wife, Willene Smith James; two sisters, Hazel Rogers of Forrest City, Arkansas and Carolyn Schmidt of Byhalia, Mississippi; two brothers, Robert (Charlotte) James of West Memphis, Arkansas and Kerry (Glenda)James of Conway, Arkansas; several nieces, nephews, and many extended family and friends. The family will receive friends on Friday, February 15, 2019, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM prior to the Service at Presley Funeral Home.
Funeral services for James Gregory “Gregg” LaFever, 63 of Silver Point will be Friday, February 15 at 1PM from the Baxter Chapel of Hooper Huddleston Horner Funeral Home. Interment will follow in LaFever Cemetery at Silver Point. Mr. LaFever died Tuesday, February 12, 2019 in Cookeville Regional Medical Center. He was born October 22, 1955 in Fayetteville, North Carolina to the late James “Jim” Monroe and Thelma Jean Allison LaFever. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a brother John LaFever, grandparents: Arnold and Mae Boyd Allison, Rutledge “RD” and Jodie Foster LaFever. He graduated from Memphis East High School and attended Tennessee Tech University. He was a self-employed electrician. He enjoyed jet-skiing, fishing and playing his guitar in a band. Family will receive friends Thursday, Feb. 14 from 5 to 8 PM and after 11 AM Friday at the funeral home.
A celebration life for Georgia Lee (Colburn) McCurdy, 63 of Cookeville, will be held at Willow Avenue Church of Christ in Cookeville, on Saturday, February 16, 2019 at 11 a.m. Georgia entered into eternal peace on Thursday, February 7, 2019 at her home surrounded by her family. Georgia was born on October 10, 1955 in Grand Rapids, MI, to Leon & Marian Colburn. She graduated from Caledonia High School in 1974. On June 29, 1974 she married Richard Oliver McCurdy, Sr. in Alaska, MI. Georgia dedicated her life to Christ and was a servant to all those around her. Visitation with the family will be from 9-11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Kindred Hospice at 750 E Spring Street, Suite B, Cookeville, TN or to Willow Avenue Church of Christ.
A Celebration of Life Service for Yasuko “Tie” Winfree, age 86, of Baxter, will be held Monday, February 18th at 6 pm in the Chapel of Presley Funeral Home with Pastor Charlie Wills officiating. Tie passed away Thursday, February 7, 2019, at Cookeville Regional Medical Center, following a lengthy illness. Tie was born on January 28, 1933 in Hokkaido, Japan. She was the daughter of the late Taro Koga and Nobu Hayashida Koga. The family later moved to Koga, Japan where she grew up. She married Leo Winfree of Baxter in 1952. She met Leo in Japan during his service in the Korean War. Tie has been a resident of Baxter since 1954 and became an American citizen in 1963. She worked for 40 years, of which the last 30 years were spent in the cafeteria at Baxter Elementary School. Tie attended and was baptized at Baxter United Methodist Church. She was an active member of the community, always ready to feed and care for whomever entered their home. Tie enjoyed traveling back to Japan, fishing, crafts, hosting visiting Japanese students, and loving her family. She was a wonderful, loving, and devoted wife, mother, and friend. She was preceded in death by her parents and five siblings. Tie is survived by her husband, Leo Winfree, her four children, Alvin Winfree (Julie), Keith Winfree, Scott Winfree (Stephanie), and Amy Wheelock (Tim), thirteen grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild, and six siblings. The family will receive friends on Monday the 18th, from 4pm until the time of service at 6pm at Presley Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital at stjude.org.
