NEWSPAPER OBITUARIES, BLACK DECATUR COUNTIANS

from the obituary files of Novella Tole

Mae T. Davenport

News Leader, date unknown

Services for Mrs. Mae Tom Davenport, 70, of Parsons, were held Saturday, September 27, 2:00 p.m., with Elder Joseph Fisher officiating.

Interment was in Pettigrew Cemetery, Parsons.

Mrs. Davenport died Wednesday, September 24, 1997, at Decatur County General Hospital. She was a retired homemaker and member of St. Mark AME Church.

Survivors include a son, Thomas C. Davenport, Sr., Rockingham, North Carolina; three daughters, Beverly E. Davenport, Nashville, Joyce Davenport, and Rachel Davenport, both of Parsons; two sisters, Sarah Ann Jones, Parsons, and Catherine Sparks, Lexington; 7 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Gwendoline Jones, Jackson.

Active pallbearers were Brian Pettigrew, James Walton, Stanley Bradshaw, Davis Hines, Leonard Terry, Sidney Sparks, and Jimmy Earl Sparks.

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Mrs. Clara Parham

Source and date unknown

Funeral services for Mrs. Clara A. Parham, 39, of Lexington will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Montgomery School in Lexington with the Rev. Martin Crockett officiating. Burial will follow in Cathey Cemetery with Parham Mortuary in charge.

Mrs. Parham died Saturday evening in the Lexington-Henderson County Hospital following an illness of four days.

She was born in Lexington, daughter of Alvin Dickerson and the late Ruby Williams Dickerson, and graduated from Montgomery High School. She later attended Murray State University where she received the B.S. and the M.S. degres in home economics and sociology.

Mrs. Parham was a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Henderson County Teachers Association, Tennessee Education Association and the National Education Association.

She was a licensed funeral director and a member of the Tennessee State Funeral Directors and Morticians Association, Inc., and a member of the Mt. Tabor C.M.E. Church.

Mrs. Parham was employed as a principal-teacher in the Henderson County system at Montgomery Special Education School.

Survivors include her husband, Nathaniel Parham; a son Barry Bernard; a daughter Jerri Denise Parham; three step-children, Nathaniel Parham Jr. of North Carolina, Pamela and Anthony Parham of Parsons; a brother, James Dickerson; her grandmother, Mrs. Ressie Williams.

At Caffey Cemetery:
Double tombstone: CLARA A. PARHAM, 1934-1972/NATHANIEL PARHAM, 1917-____ (Mr. Nathaniel Parham, Lexington, Tenn. has told the present compiler [Jonathan K. T. Smith] that his father, Nathaniel Parham, born Nov. 29, 1917 and died Jan. 22, 1981, is not buried here. He is buried near Savannah, Tenn. Buried in his place beside Clara Parham, is her brother, JAMES DICKERSON, born July 3, 1931; died Feb. 3, 1982)

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Alonzo M. Montgomery

News Leader, date unknown

Services for Mr. Alonzo M. Montgomery, 54, of Detroit, Michigan, were held Saturday, March 4, 1:00 p.m., at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, with Rev. Terry M. Jackson officiating.

Hardeman County Funeral Services of Bolivar were in charge.

Mr. Montgomery died February 25 in Detroit. He was formerly of Decaturville, the son of Novella Montgomery and the late R. T. Montgomery. He was a member of St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, Decaturville. He attended Tennessee State University in Nashville. He was formerly employed as a supervisor at Sears in Chicago, Illinois until he moved to Detroit in 1969.

After moving to Detroit, he worked at Chrysler, Inc. as a supervisor, until becoming self-employed in his own business.

Survivors include his wife, Sandra Bush Montgomery, Detroit; his mother, Novella M. Shannon, Nashville; four daughters, Alonya and Jessica of Detroit, Alicia of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Dorcas of Chicago; four sons, Alan and Alonzo of Chicago, Robert of Parsons, and Terry (Jeanette) Jackson of Nashville; 12 grandchildren; two sisters, Barbara Douglas and Novella (Arthur) Williams; two brothers, James (Ann) and Robert Montgomery, all of Nashville; aunts Pauline Phelps and Geneva Menzie and Maude Tole, all of Decaturville; five uncles, James (J. B.) Jeff and Thomas C. (Greta) McElrath of Decaturville, Parker (Ophelia) Montgomery of Chicago and Roland (Janice) McElrath of Camden; three brothers-in-law, Thomas Bush of Las Vegas, Nevada, Roy Gray of Detroit, and David Bush of Bessemer, Alabama; two sisters-in-law, Barbara Bush and Rhonda Bush of Bessemer; a niece, Carmen (Sterling) Coleman of Detroit; several nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, a cousin, Charlene Coupe of Chicago, mother-in-law, Eugenia Bush of Bessemer, a God-daughter C. Sakinah Jackson of Detroit, friends, J. T. Bailey, Phillip Woolens, Foster (7Sugar Lee), Carrie White, Dorothy Wilson and Bishop E. K. Wilson and a host of other cousins, relatives and friends.

At Decaturville Negro Cemetery:
Alonzo, 5/16/1940-2/25/1995, temporary marker, 4 yards west of marker for R. T. Montgomery

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Willie R. Scott Rites Wednesday

Source and date unknown

Willie Ray Scott of 306 East 6th St., Parsons, died Sunday at Decatur County Hospital after a brief illness.

Funeral services will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at St. Mark AME Church with the Rev. Willie Wortham officiating. Burial will be in Decatur County with Stephenson and Shaw Funeral Home in charge.

[remainder of obituary missing]

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Willie Hayes Dies, Services Tuesday

Source and date unknown

MORRIS CHAPEL - Services for Willie Hayes, 95, will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at St. Paul AME Church at Morris Chapel with the Rev. L. D. Jones officiating. Burial will be in Cawthon Cemetery with Parham Mortuary of Lexington in charge.

Mr. Hayes died Saturday evening at Baptist Hospital in Memphis after a three-week illness.

He was born in Hardin County, son of the late Ned and Lucy Lee Hayes. He was a retired farmer and a member of the St. Paul AME Church.

Surviving are two sons, Quious Hayes of Nashville and Lennell Hayes of Haynes, Ark.; two daughters, Mrs. Nellie M. Hockett of Washington, D.C., and Mrs. Zenolia Cawthen of Cleveland, Ohio; five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

The body will be at the church after noon until services. Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon for another son, John Marshal Hayes, 69, who died of a gunshot wound Thursday evening. Prather Howard Hayes, 38, reportedly a former mental hospital patient, is in jail at Selmer charged with killing his father.

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McCall Pate Dies; Rites Saturday

Source and date unknown

LEXINGTON, Tenn. - Services for McCall Pate, 44, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at St. Mark Methodist Church at Parsons with the Rev. L. L. Harper officiating. Burial will be in Parsons Cemetery with Parham Mortuary of Lexington in charge.

Mr. Pate died at his home Wednesday night. He was born in Decatur County where he lived his entire life. He was the son of Mrs. Emma Pate and the late Milton Pate. He was a veteran of World War II.

Surviving besides his mother are, his widow, Mrs. Kitty Pate; four daughters, Miss Charlotte Pate, Miss Janice Pate, Miss Symatha Pate and Miss Georgia Pate; four sons, Dennis Pate, David Pate, Douglas Pate and Dwayne Pate; a brother, Leo Pate, all of Parsons.

The body will be at St. Mark Methodist Church today after 7 p.m. until time for services.

At Parsons Cemetery:
Pate, McCall, 10/4/1922-8/2/1967, military marker "Tennessee Pvt US Army World War II"

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Ruby W. Tatum

News Leader, date unknown

Services for Mrs. Ruby Viola Walker Tatum, 73, of Parsons, were held Saturday, September 3, 2:00 p.m., at New Hope Baptist Church, with Rev. James Arnold officiating.

Interment was in New Hope Cemetery. Boyd-Parsons Funeral Home was in charge of services.

Mrs. Tatum died Wednesday, August 31, at Decatur County General Hospital. She was a housewife and member of Temple Church of God in Christ.

Survivors include her husband, Herman Tatum, Parsons; two sons, James Ray Walker, Korean, and James Clarence Walker, Saginaw, Michigan; three daughters, Frances Montgomery, Parsons, Denise Carter, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Amanda Russell, Savannah; two brothers, Robert Earl Walker and Charles Billy Walker, both of Detroit, Michigan; three sisters, Bobbie McDonald, Parsons, Jessie Mae Webb, Knoxville, and Jennie Opal Haney, Paris; 19 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

   Two sons, James Ruddie and Garry Ray, and two brothers, James L. Walker and George Edward Walker, all preceded her in death.

At New Hope Cemetery:
Tatum, Ruby Walker, 1920-1994, temporary marker, Boyd Funeral Home, 3 yards south of marker for Ineasy F. Walker

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Mrs. Nettie Scott

Source and date unknown

CLIFTON - Services for Mrs. Nettie Scott, 52, were today at St. James Methodist Church with the Rev. S. B. Moore officiating. Burial was in Clifton Cemetery with Parham Mortuary of Lexington in charge.

Mrs. Scott, wife of Paul Scott, died Friday at Parkview Hospital in Nashville after a long illness.

She was a Wayne County native and had lived in Nashville and Cliftton for several years. .

Also surviving is an uncle, Alfred Sinclair of Pontiac, Mich.

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Kerby Hayes

Source and date unknown

MORRIS CHAPEL - Funeral services f or Kerby Hayes, 78, will be at 12 noon Friday at the St. Paul A.M.E. Churh in Morris Chapel with the Rev. L. D. Jones officiating. Burial will be in the Shiloh National Cemetery with Parham Mortuary of Lexington in charge.

Mr. Hayes died Tuesday at the Veterans Hospital in Memphis where he had been a patient for several weeks.

He was born in Hardin County where he spent his entire life, son of the late Edward and Lucy Lee Hayes. He was a member of the St. Paul A.M.E. Church, a veteran of World War I and a retired farmer.

Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Willie Laster Hayes of Morris Chapel; six daughters, Mm. Irene Danner, Mrs. Mae Mayes, Mrs. Maxine Mitchell, all of Detroit, Mrs. Emma Haymond of Cleveland, Ohio, Mrs. Leather Holt of Memphis and Mrs. Inez Sevier of Gary, Ind.; five sons, James Hayes of Morris Chapel, Floyd Hayes of Detroit, Edward Hayes of Savannah, Sgt.Frankland Hayes of Ft. McClellan, Ala. and Joe R. Hayes of Detroit; 31 grandchildren, a great grandchild and other relatives.

The body will be at the church from 8 to 10 tonight.

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James R. Fisher

News Leader, date unknown

Services for Mr. James Ricky Fisher, 40, of Jackson, were held Saturday, July 30, 1:00 p.m., at J. P. Baptist Church, Henderson.

Interment was in Lexington Cemetery. Parham Mortuary of Lexington was in charge.

Mr. Fisher died Sunday, July 24, in Henderson. He was a former machine operator at Johnson Controls and was a veteran of the Army National Guard. He was of the Baptist faith.

Survivors include his wife, Deneathia Fisher, Jackson; two daughters, Melissa Fisher and Edquwina Fisher, both of Henderson; a stepdaughter, Dajuanna Moody, Jackson; a son, Montia Fisher, Henderson; a stepson, Dajuan Moody, Jackson; three brothers, Donald Fisher, Decaturville, Norman Fisher, Jackson, Darryl Fisher, Nashville; seven sisters, May Fisher, Beloit, Wisconsin; Barbara Fisher, Atwood, Shelia Fisher, Machell Estes, both of Lexington, Mary Wilson, Margo Woods and Lisa Fisher, all of Henderson; and stepfather, Dan Tharpe, Lexington.

At Lexington Cemetery:
James Ricky, 2/19/1954-7/24/1994, temporary marker, Parham Mortuary, 2 yards south of marker for Mildred M. Fisher

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Bobbie S. Arnold

News Leader, date unknown

Services for Miss Bobbie Sue Arnold, 69, of Decaturville, were held Saturday, March 11, 2:00 p.m., at Boyd-Decaturville Funeral Home chapel, with Rev. Johnny Moore officiating.

Interment was in Decaturville Cemetery.

Miss Arnold died Tuesday, March 7 at HCA Regional Hospital, Jackson. She was a factory worker and of the Methodist faith.

Survivors include a brother, Swanson Booty, Decaturville; two sisters, Leisola Riggins and Geraldine Yarbrough, both of Chicago, Illinois.

Active pallbearers were Ricky Harmany, Lynn Williams, Raymond White, Tony McElrath, Curtis Taylor, Charles Gandy, and Michael Walker.

At Decaturville Negro Cemetery:
Arnold, Bobby Sue, 11/8/1925-3/7/1995

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Mitchell S. Hardin

News Leader, date unknown

Services for Mr. Mitchell Swain Hardin, 64, of Decaturville, were held Wednesday, April 10, 1:00 p.m., at Boyd Decaturville Funeral Home chapel, with Minister Edward White and Rev. Arnold officiating.

Interment was in Decaturville Cemetery.

Mr. Hardin died Sunday, April 7, at Decatur County General Hospital. He was a retired mechanic and member of St. Paul's Baptist Church.

Survivors include a son, John Hardin, Nashville; a daughter, Yacha Hardin Spain, Nashville; three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Active pallbearers were Johnny McElrath, Ray Vaughn, Larry McElrath, John White, Jr., Tony McElrath, and Anthony Holt.

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Jimmy P. Scott

News Leader, date unknown

Services for Mr. Jimmy Paul Scott, 49, of Parsons, were held Friday, February 12, at Temple Church of God in Christ, Parsons, with Elder Joseph Fisher officiating.

Interment was in Lexington Cemetery. Parham Mortuary of Lexington was in charge.

Mr. Scott died Sunday, February 7, at Metro Nashville General Hospital, Nashville. Mr. Scott, disabled, was a chauffeur and musician. He was of the Church of God in Christ faith.

Survivors include his wife, Kathy Scott, Nashville; a daughter, Laura Lee Scott, Parsons; seven sisters, Barbara Fisher, Shelia Fisher, Machell Estes, all of Lexington, Mary Lou Wilson, May Ann Fisher, Margo Lynn Woods, and Lisa Marie Fisher, all of Henderson; four brothers, Mm. Donald Fisher, Decaturville, Rev. Ricky Fisher, Norman Fisher, Darryl Fisher, all of Lexington; his stepfather, Dan Tharpe, Lexington; uncle Robert Mays, Augusta, Georgia; two aunts, Alice Mae Simmons, Ft. Wayne, Indiana, and Joyce Webster, Parsons.

He was preceded in death by his father, R.T. Scott, and mother, Mildred Fisher.

At Lexington Cemetery:
Scott, Jimmy Paul, 1943-1993, temporary marker, 5 feet south of marker for Mildred M. Fisher

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Makhala Da'Shay Spain

News Leader, December 20, 1995

Graveside services for Makhala Da'Shay Spain, 18-day-old daughter of Ronnie and Yacha Yvette Hardin Spain, were held Thursday, December 14, 1:00 p.m., at Decaturville Cemetery, with Elder Ricky Beard officiating.

Makhala died Monday, December 11, at Vanderbilt Medical Center.

Survivors, other than her parents, include a brother, Terrand Tole, Decaturville; her grandparents, Kathryn Hardin, Mitchell Hardin, both of Decaturville, Catherine Spann, Jackson; great-grandmother, Lucinda Pritchard, Decaturville.

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Robert V. Pettigrew

News Leader, date unknown

Services for Mr. Robert Vincent "Shorty" Pettigrew, 36, of Parsons, will be held Thursday, September 25, 2:00 p.m., with interment in Pettigrew Cemetery, Parsons.

Mr. Pettigrew died Friday, September 19, 1997, at Decatur County General Hospital, following an auto accident. He was a self-employed carpenter.

Survivors include his wife, Kimberly Michelle Pettigrew, Parsons; his mother, Zenobia Davenport Pettigrew, Parsons; two daughters, Lisa Sherwood, Lexington, and Ruth Bowman, Parsons; four sons, Jason Harbin, Parsons, Bobby Powers, Robby Powers, both of Lexington, and Joshua Crittendon, Scotts Hill; three sisters, Pamela Arnold, Prudence Boulette, both of Lexington, and Victoria Robertson, Baltimore, Maryland; two brothers, James Pettigrew, Parsons, and Donald Pettigrew, Rockingham, North Carolina.

He was preceded in death by his father, James Pettigrew.

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Essie M. Brasher

News Leader, May 10, 1995

Services for Mrs. Essie Mae Boggan Brasher, 80, of Bath Springs, were held Saturday, May 6, 1:00 p.m., at Union Baptist Church, Bath Springs, with Rev. Eugene Ellison officiating.

Interment was in Union Cemetery. Boyd-Decaturville Funeral Home was in charge.

Mrs. Brasher died Wednesday, May 3, at Decatur County General Hospital. She was a cook for the school system, member of Union Baptist Church, the Missionary Board and Mother Board.

Survivors include her husband, Babe Brasher, Bath Springs; six sons, Mack A. Brasher, Clyde W. Brasher, both if Indiana, Clarance Ray Brasher, Larry Brasher, James K. Brasher, and Edward Lee Brasher, all of Bath Springs; five daughters, Margaret E. Lusk, Mildred K. Coleman, both of Indiana, Clara M. Brewer, Bath Springs, Joyce Ann Tinsley, Parsons, and Georgia L. Royster, Martin; two sisters, Flora Hoggans, Dyersburg, and Mary Thomas of Illinois; 26 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.

Active pallbearers were Joe Ross, J.C. Brasher, Randy Johnson, Gwen Moody, Willie Casey, and Timmy Sanders. Honorary pallbearers were Nat Brasher, George Coleman, Clarence Brasher, Jr., Corey Brewer, Dewayne Brasher, and Keith Royster.

At Union Cemetery:
Brasher, Essie Mae, 1914-1995, temporary marker, Boyd Funeral Home, no good reference point, 2 yards north of temporary marker for Clarence Brashers

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Roxie C. Scott

Parsons News Leader, date unknown

Graveside services for Mrs. Roxie Craig Scott, 69, of Decaturville, were held Saturday, May 6, 2:00 p.m., at Decaturville AME Cemetery, with Bro. Henry Sanders officiating.

Mrs. Scott died May 4 at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital. She was a retired school teacher.

Survivors include her husband, Dover T. Scott, Decaturville; four sons, Dale Scott, Michael Scott, Danny Scott, all of Decaturville, and Terry Scott, Nashville; a brother, George Craig, Nashville; four grandchildren, Aaron Scott of Jackson, Bradley Scott of San Diego, California, Bobby Crews, Shreveport, Louisiana, and Belynda Scott, Decaturville.

Pallbearers were Dale Scott, Danny Scott, Bobby Crews, Michael Scott, Aaron Scott, and Bradley Scott.

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Gary Smith Yarbro

Source and date unknown

Gary Smith Yarbro, age 55, a resident of Decaturville, died Wednesday afternoon at Decatur County General Hospital in Parsons. He was a native of Decaturville, a retired United States Air Force Master Sergeant, a member of Freedman Chapel Methodist Church, Parsons Lodge F&A Masons, DAV, NCOAA, and National Geographic Society.

Services will be 2 p.m. Sunday at Freedman Chapel with Rev. Harles Mays officiating with burial in Decaturville Cemetery.

Surviving are two sisters: Mary Ella Bailey, Parsons; Novella Tale, Milwaukee, Wisc.; two brothers: Henry C. Yarbro, Chicago, Ill.; Jerry Fred Yarbro, Savannah; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and others.

The family will receive visitors from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Parham Mortuary.

At Decaturville Negro Cemetery:
Yarbro, Gary Smith, 1931-1987, military marker "MSgt US Air Force Korea Vietnam"; also temporary marker as footstone, Parham Funeral Home, d. 10/14/1987

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Henrietta Yarbro, Col. Died

Decatur County Herald

Mrs. Henrietta Yarbro, wife of the late Car Yarbro died of heart failure Wednesday afternoon about 1 o'clock March 23rd. She was born Feb. 2, 1856, age 76 years 1 mo. 21 days. She was a member of the A. M. E. church and lived a consistent Christian until the end. She was a kind and devoted mother, a sympathetic friend and neighbor. She will not only be missed in her home but in the community in which she 1ived so long. She had a pleasant word for everyone she met and her wonderful personality caused her to number her friends by her acquaintances. Some of us complete our task early and take our flight to the shores beyond but she was left to make a much longer pilgrimage here: her task, seemingly had been lengthened, at last it was finished and she took her flight to join the innumerable hosts awaiting our arrival on the shores beyond, to which we are traveling one by one, She was a member of Bright Star Chapter No. 40 O. E. S. holding the office of treasurer for at least twenty years.

  Funeral service were conducted at her home by Rev. J. W. Thompson, pastor and Mr. B. M. Crowder, undertaker, after which her body was laid to rest, in the Decaturville Cemetery. The floral offering was beautiful. She leaves three daughters, two sons and a host of other relatives and friends to mourn their loss.

One by one they're crossing over
One by one they go away
Love that lives and works forever
Will provide a meeting day.

Faustina A. Yarbro.

* * * * *

She had been a subscriber of the Decatur Co. Herald for a number of years and always expressed herself as enjoying reading it.

At Decaturville Negro Cemetery:
Yarbro, Henrietta C., 2/2/1856-3/23/1932\Yarbro, Henry Carr, 5/1/1853-10/2/1926

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Mrs. Willie Hayes

Source unknown, Thursday, March 25, 1982

MORRIS CHAPEL - Services for Mrs. Willie Leetta Hayes, 83, will be at noon Friday at St. Paul AME Church with the Rev. L. D. Jones officiating. Burial will be in Shiloh National Military Cemetery with Parham Funeral Service of Lexington in charge.

Mrs. Hayes, widow of Kirby Hayes, died Wednesday morning at her home after short illness.

She was a member of St. Paul Church, serving as president of the choir.

Surviving are six daughters, Mrs. Irene Danner, Mrs. May Mays and Mrs. Maxine Mitchell, all of Detroit, Mrs. Emma Haymon of Cleveland, Ohio, Mrs. Leatha Holt of Memphis and Mrs. Inez Sevier of Morris Chapel; five sons, James Hayes of Cleveland, Ohio, Joe Roger Hayes of Detroit, Floyd Hayes of Swainsboro, Ga., Franklin E. Hayes of Augusta, Ga., and Edward Hayes of Savannah; 32 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

The family will receive visitors at the church after 10 am. Friday.

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R. L. Funderburk Services Thursday

Source and date unknown

PARSONS Tenn. - Funeral services for Robert Lee Funderburk will be at 2 p.rn. Thursday at Freeman Chapel Methodist Church, Decaturville, with the Rev. Willie Wortham officiating.

Mr. Funderburk died Monday morning in the Perry County General Hospital, Linden. He was born in Decatur County and spent his entire life there. He was a member of the Freeman Chapel Methodist Church.

Survivors include his wife. Mrs. Beatrice Funderburk of Decaturville; two sons, Bobbyi Funderburk and James Gilbert Funderburk, both of Cleveland, Ohio; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Funderburk of Decaturville; two sisters, Mrs. Nora May Nance and Mrs. Johetta Guy both of Cleveland, Ohio; one brother, Walter Funderburk of Cleveland; two grandchildren, two uncles, two aunts, nieces, nephews and other relatives.

The body will be in the residence at Decaturville today after 5 p. m. until the funeral hour.

Burial will be in the Decaturville Cemetery with Parham Funeral Home in charge.

 

Grave probably is unmarked.

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Matt Scott

Date and source unknown

DECATURVILLE - Funeral services for Matt Scott, 92, will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Freeman's Chapel Methodist Church in Decaturville with Rev. W. W. Wortham officiating. Burial will be in the Decaturville Cemetery with Parhams Mortuary in charge.

Mr. Scott died Friday morning at his residence in Decaturville after a long illness.

He was a lifelong resident of Decatur County, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Abner Scott, and was a member of the Freeman's Chapel Methodist Church.

Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Ella Scott of Decaturville; three daughters, Mrs. Pauline Mays of Ridgley, Mrs. Cathryn McFall and Mrs. Bonnie Pearson, both of Anderson, Ind.; three sons, Stanley Scott of Cleverland, Ohio, Leland Scott and Grover Scott, both of Decaturville; two sisters, Mrs. Maggie Scott of Cairo, Ill., and Mrs. Ellen Pettigrew of Los Angeles, Calif.; four grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and eleven great-great-grand-children.

The body will be at the residence in Decaturville today after 6 p.m. until the time of services.

Note: Grave probably is unmarked. His wife Ella died in 1983 at age 101.

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William Laster

Source and date unknown

LEXINGTON - Services for William Laster, 62, will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Freeman Chapel Methodist Church in Decaturvi1le with the pastor officiating. Burial will be in Decaturville Cemetery with Parham Mortuary in charge.

Mr. Laster died Monday morning at the University of Tennessee Hospital in Knoxville after a short illness.

He was born in Decatur County but had lived in Knoxville for a number of years. He was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Gibraltor Laster.

Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Mary Laster; a daughter, Miss Roberta Laster, both of Saltillo; several aunts.

The body will be at the funeral home until services.

At Decaturville Negro Cemetery:
Laster, William L., 1907-1969; also temporary marker as footstone, Parham Mortuary, d. 8/11/1969, "Aged 62 Years 4 Months 13 Days"

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Mrs. Mable Casey Services Monday

Source and date unknown

Funeral services for Mrs. Mable Casey, 57, will be Monday at 1 p.m. at Union Baptist Church in Bath Springs, with the Rev. E. C. Cole officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery with Parham Funeral Home of Parsons in charge.

Mrs. Casey died in the Hardin County General Hospital in Savannah Thursday night where she had been a patient for four days.

She was the daughter of the late Will and Maggie Gordon Sparks, and was a member of the Union Baptist Church.

Survivors include her husband, George E. Casey; two daughters, Mrs. Rosie Johnson and Mrs. Dorothy Jean McDaniel, both of Saltillo; a son, Elvin Casey of Bath Springs; two sisters, Mrs. Alline Caldwell of Kansas City, Mo., and Mrs. Dorothy Taylor of Chicago, Ill.; two brothers, Bernise Sparks, Pontiac, Mich., and Payton Sparks, Clifton, 12 grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

The body will be at the residence in Saltillo after 6 p.m. today until time of the services.

Grave probably is unmarked.

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Mary Young Services Sunday

Source and date unknown

LEXINGTON, Tenn. - Services for Mrs. Mary Lee Etta Young, 74, will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday at Lewis Chapel AME Church with the Rev. H. I. Starks officiating. Burial will be in Lexington Cemetery with Bledsoe Funeral Home in charge.

Mrs. Young died at 1 a.m. Tuesday in Lexington-Henderson County General Hospital. She was a lifelong resident of Henderson County, daughter of the late Solomen and Nancy Thompson Buck. She was a member of Lewis Chapel AME Church.

Survivors are a daughter, Miss Noble E. Young of Lexington, two brothers, James Arthur Buck of Jackson and Ben Buck of Nashville.

The body will be at the residence after 5 p.m. Saturday until services.

At Lexington Cemetery
Young, Mary Lee Etta Buck, 11/15/1888-12/14/1965

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James A. Brown

Source and date unknown

Funeral services for James Anderson Brown, 53, of 31-A Lincoln Courts, who died a t 3:15 am. Monday at the Jackson-Madison County General Hospital following a lengthy illness, will be at 2 p.m. Friday at St. Marks Baptist Church in Decaturville, with the Rev. L. E. Freeman and the Rev. E. C. Cole officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery with Bledsoe Funeral Home in charge.

Mr. Brown was born and reared in Decatur County and moved to Madison County in 1948. He attended the public schools of Decatur County and was a member of the New Hope Baptist Church in Decatur County.

Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Margaret Brown of Jackson; a daughter, Miss Lucille Brown of Cleveland, Ohio; an adopted son, James Hampton of Jackson; four sisters, Mrs. Ola Mae McElrath, Mrs. Mary Lee McElrath, both of Decaturville, Mrs. Willie Lee Scott and Miss Mae Brown, both of Detroit, Mich.; a brother, Johnnie Brown of Decaturville, and several nieces and nephews.

The following pallbearers are asked to meet at the funeral home at noon Friday: Windell Pirtle, Johnnie Pirtle, Lawrence Williams, Rodney Gray, Wilbert Grimes Jr. and Joe Pure.

Honorary pallbearers will be James Chairs, Jimmie Lee Carter and W. J. Gray.

The body will be at the funeral home.

At Decaturville Negro Cemetery:
Brown, J., 12/10/1914-2/12/1968

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Mrs. Pettigrew Services Sunday

Jackson Sun, April 28, 1967

PARSONS, Tenn. - Services for Mrs. Nellie Ray Pettigrew, 44, will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at St. Mark's Methodist Church in Parsons with the Rev. W. W. Wortham officiating. Burial will be in Parsons Cemetery with Parham Funeral Home of Lexington in charge.

Mrs. Pettigrew died Thursday at Decatur County General Hospital where she had been a patient for several days. She was a lifelong resident of Decatur County, and was the daughter of the late Sidney and Mildred Dodson Sparks. She was a member of St. Mark's Methodist Church.

She leaves her husband. Mike Pettigrew of Parsons; four daughters, Miss Patricia Ann Pettigrew, Miss Lue Nell Pettigrew, both of Parsons, Mrs Ruby Lee Brasher of Bath Springs, and Miss Gloria Jean Pettigrew of Milwaukee, Wisc.; three sons, Jerry M. Pettigrew of Stockton, Calif., Danny Reed Pettigrew and Jackie N. Pettigrew, both of Parsons; two sisters, Mrs. Marion Davis of Chicago, and Mrs. Kittie Marie Pate of Parsons; two brothers James Sparks of Parsons and Willie C. Sparks of Nashville; four grandchildren.

The body will be at the Otis Clark residence, Route 1, Darden after 6 p.m. Saturday and until time for services.

At Parsons Negro Cemetery:
Pettigrew, Nellie R., 2/19/1923-4/26/1967

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