Benton County, Tennessee Genealogy
Obituaries


The following obituaries have been contributed to the web site.

James Samuel Doty

Funeral services for James Samuel Doty, 89, who was one of the last surviving Confederate soldiers who served with General Forrest at the Johnsonville raid, were held Monday afternoon at the Pleasant Ridge Presbyterian Church with the Rev, R.H.Craig and the Rev. W.W. Phillips officiating. Burial was in the Pleasant Ridge Cemetery. Mr. Doty or "Uncle Jim" as he was affectionately known to the community died at his home in Big Sandy Sunday, following a lengthily illness. He was born in Henry County and lived there until entering the war at the age of 18. He served in the Seventh Tennessee Calvary Regiment, Company A, U.S.A. After the war he married and settled in this section near Pleasant Ridge. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church. Survivors are his fourth wife Lucy, and his children: Mrs. Mary Glover, Hollow Rock; Amos Doty, Paris; Mrs. Alma Roney , Lawrence, Ewing, and Samuel Doty of Big Sandy, and three brothers, Frank Doty of Dallas , Texas; Daniel Doty of Manleyville Tenn.. and John Doty of Trenton Tenn.. NOTE: Although mention is made of Mr. Doty being a Confederate Soldier He served in the Seventh Tenn. Cav.. United States Army Which is proven from the Morning Reports and paper work received from the Veterans Administration.

Submitted by Donald R. Doty


REV. G.W FLORENCE BURIED LAST SATURDAY

SATURDAY The Rev. G.W. Florence was born in Benton county Dec. 25, 1867, departed this life July 26, 1935, being 68 years, 7 months and one day old. He was united in marriage to Miss Lee Ada Elmore Nov. 2, 1887. To this union were born eight children, three sons and five daughters, two daughters having died at an early age. His good wife, who had waited on him so faithfully during the early months of his illness, preceded him to her heavenly reward one year and 11 days. Bro. Florence professed faith in Christ at the age of 27 years and united with the M.E. Church at Pleasant Hill. He became a local preacher in 1893 and joined the Central Tennessee Conference in 1895. Serving as an active pastor for 35 years. He served as district superintendent of the Lawrenceburg district for three years, having the honor of serving five times as secretary of his conference. In 1918, he represented his conference as a delegate to the World's Centeary celebration at Columbus, Ohio. He was twice elected alternate delegate to the M.E. General Conference, 1928 and 1932. The last six years of his pastorate was served at Lexington. He retired in the fall of 1933 because of ill health. He leaves to mourn his death, three sons, Walter, Ernest and Elihue, all of Benton county; also three daughters, Mrs. B.C. Watson, Mrs. Herschel Greer, of Benton County and Mrs. J. H. Abernathy of Nashville; 21 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren; also two brothers and four sisters and a host of friends. His funeral was preached by his pastor, Rev. W.W. Phillips of Big Sandy, assisted by Rev. R.F. Blankenship of Lexington.

Submitted by Dan Florence


Harvie Herndon
Esteemed Citizen of Eva Passed Away

Obituary from "The Camden Chronicle", in Benton County, TN, which is dated January 5, 1931.

"Eva, Tenn., January 5, (special) -- Harvie Herndon a highly respected citizen of this community passed to his reward on the night of December 31, 1930.

Uncle Harve, as he was affectionately called by his many friends had not been well for quite awhile and his going was not unexpected. He was 73 years of age and had spent most of his life here and in the nearby communities. In his going the community sustains a distinct loss, for he was one of its best citizens. His church will greatly miss him in many ways, he was one of the most loyal and devoted members.

Funeral services were conducted by the pastor, Rev. T.M. Boyd after which his body was laid to rest in the Chalk Hill Cemetery.

He is survived by his companion three sons and four daughters, two brothers, one sister and a great host of friends to whom we extend our sympathy. But his gain of a Heavenly reward makes our loss much lighter may all be as loyal to the Christ as this good man and then one day we shall meet him over there in that beautiful world."

The survivors, who were not named in the obituary, were his wife, Cordelia Lashlee Herndon; his three sons Wyly Herndon, Claude Herndon, and George Herndon; and his four daughters Alma Sykes, Myrtle Ingram, Cassie Hale, and Clara Latham.

Submitted by Janice Ingram


Mrs. Lucy Doty

Mrs. Lucy Doty died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Alma Roney at Big Sandy June 15, 1946 after a lingering illness of several months. Funeral services were conducted Sunday ay Pleasant Ridge by Rev. Albert Melton assisted by the Rev. W.W. Phillips and the Rev. Mr. Craig. Internment was in the Church Cemetery.

Mrs. Doty is survived by one daughter Mrs. Roney, three sons, Sam of Big Sandy, Amos of Paris, and Lawrence of Cleveland Ohio. One step-daughter Mrs. Mary Gliover of Hollow Rock and one sister Mrs. Mattie Nash of Erin.

Submitted by Donald R. Doty


William Harris Veasley (Beasley)

"William Harris Veasley: WHITESBORO, July 5 - Funeral and burial serviceds for William Harris Veasley, 83 years old, who died here Thursday morning at 4 o'clock at his home, were held Friday afternoon at 5 o'clock at the Dixie cemetery. Rev Claude Smithson of this place officiated.

"He is survived by his widow and the following children: Mrs Walter Purvis of Fort Worth, Mrs Thomas Tippets of Silom Springs, Ark, W S Veasley of Ardmore, Okla, H S Veasley of Lawton, Okla, and C R Veasley of Norman, Okla. "Mr Veasley died following an illness for several months. He was born December 12, 1844 at Camden, Tenn. He has been living in or near Whitesboro for the past thirty-four years and wasd a member of the Whitesboro Seventy Club, composed of men over seventy years old.

"Active pall hearers were J E Owens, C M Stalie, George Towers, Roy Dutton, J J Judd, and Henry Massey. Honorary pall bearers were members of the Seventy Club.

"Out-of-town relatives here to attend the funeral were Mr and Mrs W C Purvis, Mr and Mrs J E Owens and Misses Lillian and Ruell Coleman of Fort Worth, Neal Willis of Lawton, Okla, and Mr and Mrs Alfred Atkinson of Claburne." (OBITUARY: Sherman Daily Democrat, 9 July 1927, Page 12, Sherman, Texas. Rcd 2/2000 from Julius H "Bud" Almond, Tulsa, OK.)

Submitted by Jean Stringham


Noah C. Melton

Funeral services for Noah Calvin Melton were held Monday afternoon, March 10, 1958, at the First Methodist Church with the pastor, the Rev. D. W. Anderson, assisted by the Rev. A.E. Hold of Union City, officiating.

Mr. Melton died Sunday morning at a local clinic. He was the son of the late John and Lovina Melton. He was a member of Camden Methodist Church and a Mason. He was married to the former Julia Myers, who died several years ago.

Mr. Melton owned and operated Melton's Cafe from 1932 until a few years ago. He formerly had operated a store in Eva.

Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Gretchen Cuff, Camden, and Mrs. Lorene Ott of Miami, Fla.; two sons, Lester Melton, Camden and Carnell Melton, Humboldt; three grandchildren, Kelton Cuff of Nashville, Mrs. Madeline Sharpe, Camden, and Hal Melton of the U.S. Air Force.

Obituary from NewsTribune Article written by Nell Morisette

Obituaries

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