Benton County, Tennessee Genealogy
Obituaries

The following obituaries have been contributed to the web site.


Catharine W. Mingea Haley

Camden Chronicle, 6 March 1903

Mrs. Haley, wife of our townsman, R.P. Haley died Saturday afternoon about 3 o'clock. The funeral was conducted by Rev. J. M Pickens from the Methodist Church Monday afternoon, and the reminisce were given interment at the Camden Cemetery. Mrs. Haley was born at Petersburg, Va., in 1832, but had lived here for a long number of years. The aged coupled had journeyed together. Mrs. Was a devoted christian and a faithful member of the Methodist Church, a loving wife and mother, and a kind neighbor. Deceased left a husband and several children to mourn her departure, who shall be comforted by the promises of meeting her in the bright beyond.

Submitted by Peggy Haley Ferguson


Frances Irene Cooley Cauthen

"Frances Irene Cauthen, age 74, of Camden, Tennessee died Friday, April 29, 1994 at her residence in Camden, TN of Cancer.

The funeral was held Sunday, May 1, 1994 at 3:00 p.m. at Stockdale-Malin Chapel in Camden, TN with Bro. Marty Johnson and Bro. Leonard Greer officiating.

Burial was in Flatwoods Methodist Cemetery with Stockdale-Malin of Camden in charge of the services.

Mrs. Cauthen was born December 10, 1919 in Benton Co., TN. Her parents William Edward Cooley and Lou Gather Melton Cooley, preceded her in death. Her husband, Robert Henry (Bob) Cauthen also preceded her in death February 7, 1963. She was also preceded in death by one son, James Danny Cauthen, one brother William Hershel Cooley and one sister Morie Cooley.

Survivors include two daughters, Brenda Griffith, Gloria Cagle, of Camden, one step daughter, Kathleen Palmer, of Lafayette, LA, two step sons, Neulan Gene Cauthen of Tuscumbia, AL, William R. Cauthen, Chattanooga, TN; one sister, Ethelene Holland, Camden, Tn, four grandchildren, and nine step-grandchildren, three great grandchildren and several step great grandchildren.

Mrs Cauthen was a retired sales clerk and a member of First United methodist Church in Camden, Tn."

Submitted by Brenda Griffith


Christoper Columbus Vick

"Camden Chronicle," 1930: Obituary of Christopher Columbus Vick B. Nov. 1848, D. 19 April 1930, son of Americus and Susan Vick; married Julia Ann Bateman on 9 Feb. 1876. Began as a teacher at the age of 20 and taught consecutively 35 years, all but 2 were in Benton County. In 1882 professed religion and later joined Flatwoods Meth. Church, near his home. Buried at Liberty, had 13 children, and 4 of them died in inf.; others were Mrs. Ona Cowan, Tulsa, Okla., Elmer Vick of Tulsa, Carl Vick, Mrs. Bettie Pafford, of Camden. A brother S.C. Vick and sisters, Mrs. Victoria Holland and Mrs. Sarah Woods, survived him.

Submitted by E. J. & Frances Sims


Martha Cordelia Rushing

Published in the "CAMDEN HERALD" on Friday, 10 October 1884, Volume IV, No. 21, page 5.

Cordelia W. Rushing, daughter of George W. and Martha Rushing, and wife of J.D. Rushing, was born September 1st 1854, professed religion and joined the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Pleasant Valley, and lived a consistent christian life until her death which occurred after a short illness of twenty-eight or thirty hours on July 23, 1884.

Sister Rushing leaves an aged mother, husband and child, and a number of relatives to mourn her absence. However, they do not mourn as those who have no hope, for she sleep in the certain hope in all that is promised in the Gospel to those who believe in Christ. Bereaved ones you can say with the poet: "Yet again we hope to meet the, when in heaven with joy to greet thee, where no farewell tear is shed." A Friend.

Callie Frances Rushing was only five years old in 1886 when she went into her fathers bedroom to wake him and found he had died while sleeping. Callie Frances Rushing was placed in the care of George B. Bain family for a time, then the Ayers family kept her until she was married in 1897.

Callie Frances Rushing married 13 January 1897 to Robert Lee Utley. He was born 3 November 1866 the son of John Albert and Louisa (Mitchell) Utley of Benton County, TN.

Submitted by E. J. & Frances Sims


Thomas L. Allen

Funeral Services were held for Thomas L. Allen, 77, of Big Sandy, on Monday, Nov, 23 at McRaes Chapel Methodist Church with Rev Russell Gallimore of Adamsville and Rev Charlie Hall of Big Sandy officiating. Burial was in the McRaes Chapel Cemetery with Stockdale-Malin Funeral Home handling the arrangements.

Mr. Allen was dead on arrival at the Benton County General Hospital on Saturday, Nov 21.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Pearl Beecham Allen; one daughter, Mrs. Chester Stull, Cleveland, Ohio; one son, Leonard Allen, Big Sandy; one sister, Mrs. Edna Brack, East Prairie, Mo.; 5 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.

(The above was taken from the Camden Chronicle dated 25 November 1970.)

Submitted by Kenneth Allen


Leonard Thomas Allen

Services for Leonard Thomas Allen, 46, were held February 2 at Stockdale- Malin Chapel in Big Sandy, with Rev Marion Caruthers officiating. Burial was in McRae Chapel Cemetery. Mr. Allen died at his residence January 30.

He was a veteran of World War II. He was the son of Mrs. Pearl Beecham Allen and the late Thomas L. Allen.

Survivors include his wife, Ann Horne Allen; one daughter, Kathy Allen, Big Sandy; two sons, Kenneth Ray Allen, Charleston, South Carolina; Roger Keith Allen, Big Sandy; his mother, Mrs. Pearl Allen; one sister, Mrs. Laura Mae Stull, Cleveland, Ohio; and one grandchild.

(The above obituary was taken from the Camden Chronicle dated 8 February, 1978.
Mr. Allen was actually a veteran of the Korean War and not WWII.)

Submitted by Kenneth Allen


Pearl A. Allen

Pearl A. Allen, 81, died Thursday, February 7 at Benton County General Hospital. Services were held February 7 at Benton County General Hospital. Services were held February 10 at McRae Chapel Methodist Church with Rev Buddy Brack and Rev Claude Vanhurse officiating. Burial was in McRae Chapel Cemetery.

Mrs. Allen was the widow of Thomas Allen. She is survived by one daughter, Lara Maye Stull of Willoughby, Ohio; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

(The above was taken from the Camden Chronicle 13 February, 1980. Rev Vanhurse is actually spelt Van Huss.)

Submitted by Kenneth Allen


Thomas Jonie Kee

Kee, Thomas Jonie, died Saturday, age 85. Born and reared near Camden and moved to Fayette County 54 years ago. Member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church. Survived by wife, Mrs.Beda Elizabeth Kee,Somerville, eight daughters, Mrs. Claudia Markle, Eads, Mrs. Lela Smith, Memphis, Mrs.R. C. Voyles, Somerville, Mrs. Lee Thompson, Somerville, Mrs. Andrew Thompson, Somerville, Mrs. Herbert Hamm, Whiteville, Mrs. Cecil Hoskins, Senatobia, Mississippi, Mrs. Charlie Shubert, Malcoff, Texas, Five sons, Hosea Kee, Oakland, Arvin Kee, Louisville, Kentucky, And Charlie Kee, Louisville, Kentucky, One sister, Mrs. Della Cooper, Jackson, 84 grandchildren, and 75 great grandchildren. Buried Mt. Olive Cemetery, Crawford Funeral Home. Taken from Fayette Falcon (note June 2,1863 - March 7,1959 are the dates from his gravestone)

Submitted by Cindy Hensley


Gladys Maude Craig

Gladys Maude Craig, age 92, of Camden, died at Benton Community Hospital Monday, Dec. 1, 1986. Funeral services were today (Wednesday) Dec. 3, at Stockdale-Malin Chapel. Bural was in the Mt. Carmel Cemetery. Born Sept. 5, 1894 in Benton County, she was a daughter of Eliza Jane Ogles Elmore and John Edward Elmore. She was the widow of Bert Craig. She is survived by one daughter, Christine Weatherly of Camden; two sons, Cyrus Craig and Marlie Craig, both of Camden; one sister, Goldie Phillips of Harrisburg, AK; 17 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren. Preceding her death were a daughter, Louise Hoskins, a son, William Edwards Craig, and a baby who died at birth before being named. She was a housewife and a member of Cedar Grove Methodist Church.

Submitted by E.J. Sims


James Franklin Smothers
Camden Chronicle, Friday, August 4, 1916

James Smothers was born in Carroll County, TN September 22, 1837. In later years he came to Benton County where he lived until his death in January 10, 1916. Brother Smothers became identified with the Methodist Episocal Church and afterwards became a minister of this church. He also served in the Federal Army as a volunteer during the Civil War. Brother Smothers was made a master Mason on December 7, 1870 and was a loyal member of the order. He was united in marriage to Elisa Barnes, daughter of William and Sallie Barnes. Nine children were born of this union, of whom onlt three survived him; Jordan, Ernest and Martin. He was afterwards married to Cora Baggett, who, with five children, survived him.

Brother Smothers was held in high esteem by his neighbors and friends , and is sadly missed in the home, in the church and the lodge room. He was a member of the Mt. Carmel Lodge No. 333 F&AM of Holladay, TN, who deeply sympathize with the bereaved and would console them with a promise of the faithful, he is in the hands of a just God, who doth all things well and giveth to every man his wages.

Submitted by E.J. Sims

Obituaries

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