TNGenWeb Project
Jim Allen, a man who was interested in the history and genealogy of Cheatham County Tennessee and a founding member of the Cheatham County Historical and Genealogical Association, past President of Forest Hill Cemetery Association, Chaplain of the Cheatham County Memorial VFW Post 618, List Administrator of the Cheatham County Historical and Genealogical Association MyFamily.Com Site and Co-host of the Cheatham County Genealogy WebPage on the TnGenWeb has passed away on December 8, 2003.
December 10, 2003 - Wednesday -- 2:00 Graveside miltary service at Forest Hill Cemetery in Ashland City, Cheatham County, TN.
Visitation with family will be Wednesday, December 10, 2003, from 1:30 - 1:55 p.m. at Boyd Funeral Home until time of procession to Forest Hill Cemetery.
You could always depend on Jim for an answer or a lead in the right direction.
Written by Lisa Walker
indexBetty Ruth Gaines Brooks, 79 of Mexico, died Monday, July 13, 2009. Betty was born Nov. 15, 1929 in Mexico to Lester and Ora Kettle Gaines. Private services will be held at a later date. On May 16, 1957 she and Church B. Brooks were married. Mr. Brooks survives at the home. Betty was involved in Genealogy for 50+ years. Having helped to rewrite and update the “Boone” family history, start the Boone Reunion of Montgomery County, Mo. in 1978, she found many missing links for others looking for their ancestors all over the world. She was the host of nine different county Web sites for others in search of information. She was a member of The National Society Daughters of the American Colonists, National Society Sons & Daughters of the Pilgrims, The National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century. She had in past years held several offices in the Missouri State Genealogy Society also. She was always willing and glad to help anyone find that missing link. She will be sadly missed by her husband, Church; sisters, Vivian Byrd and Gayle (Bill) Mattox; several nieces and nephews, and all that knew her. Betty was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Edward E. Shay III. -- From the Mexico Missouri Ledger
It is with a very sad heart that I learn of Betty’s death. I have the privilege of working with Betty Brooks for almost nine years on the Callaway County Missouri Journal website, which eventually was moved to the MOGenWeb organization of websites about six years ago. I could not have found a better and more able teacher for the history and genealogy that we have worked on so diligently for so long. Betty's efforts were not simply limited to Callaway County; but were duplicated in Audrain, Montgomery, Saline, Warren and several other Missouri Counties as well as sites in Tennessee and a MOPOC site associated with MOGenWeb. Her efforts in history/genealogy will be long remembered when her name has faded into the past. I will say that it has been an honor and a privilege working with Betty who gave her all for a cause that she strongly believed in. She will be missed. ----- Sincerely yours - Wayne Johnson
index~ November 16, 1949 – May 16, 2008 ~
Mari Burwell Harpole Byers, age 58 of Murfreesboro, Tennessee died May 16, 2008. She was born in Greenville, Mississippi.
She is survived by her husband, Kenneth Byers; daughters, Jenefer Sullivan of Lavergne, Mary Shannon Byers, Chicago, Illinois, Rebecca Linfield Murphy of Smyrna and Rachel Erin Mityok, Smyrna; mother, Mary L. Harpole, Smyrna; sister, Ann Hatchett, Murfreesboro; brother, Mark L. Harpole, Norman Oklahoma, and ten grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her father, the late Edward B. Harpole.
Mrs. Byers had been the State Coordinator of TNGenWeb Project for two years and at the time of her death she was the Assistant State Coordinator. She was the Rutherford County Coordinator TNGenWeb Project continuously since 1998.
Funeral services will be 10 am Saturday, May 24, at Rutherford County Baptist Church in Smyrna with Pastor Paul Chisgar officiating. Burial in Mapleview Cemetery in Smyrna.
~ requiescat in pace ~
index– May 28, 1928 – July 21, 2009 –
Graveside funeral services for Jerri Gearldine Chasteen, 81 of Claremore, OK will be held 10:00 A.M. Friday, July 24, 2009 at Fairview Cemetery in Pryor. Services are under the direction of Key Funeral Home of Pryor.
Jerri was born on the 28th day of May in 1928 in Pryor, OK to Earl Jessie Rogers and Olga Nancy Williams. She died July 21, 2009 in Claremore, OK. Jerri attended the first 8 years of school in Pryor and completed her education in California, where she achieved an Associates degree in Business Administration and Accounting.
Jerri enjoyed several occupations in her professional life. She worked for American Airlines and Douglas Aircraft. She became a licensed private investigator and worked for the Fletcher detective agency in Tulsa. Jerri and her husband later ran the CB shop and Truckers store in the Cherokee Truck Stop at Big Cabin. They became known from coast to coast by the truckers as “Copperhead and Deacon.” “Deacon,” Cloys Dwight Chasteen preceded her in death in 1984.
Jerri retired from the truck stop after Dwight passed and decided to focus her passion of Cherokee Tribal history and became a certified professional genealogist. She worked closely with Lee Fleming HR, and the Cherokee Nation to promote accurate research practices. She also worked with the National Archives and the Mormons library in Salt Lake as she established the Cherokee Archival Project. Collecting and translation of historical records relating to all of the 5 civilized tribes. She became the first Head Registrar for the Cherokee Elders Society, and worked as Vice President of the Twin Territory Historical Society for several terms. She was a board member of the Native American Arts Council and during the 80′s and 90′s, the Oklahoma Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court considered her qualified to give “expert testimony” on Cherokee History and Cherokee Citizenship Rights.
Jerri’s dedication to the creation of accurate records for valid tribal citizenship was her passion. Up until her passing, she maintained the leadership of several online group sites such as on ancestor.com and Cherokee.net.
Much of Jerri’s considerable research archives will be donated to the Pryor Library in hopes that everyone will be able to research their ancestors locally.
Jerri (Rogers) Chasteen is survived by one daughter Gloria Murray of Owasso, three grandchildren, Freeman Bull of Claremore, Nancy Neal of Claremore, and Debra Mouse of Chouteau; eight great grandchildren; one great great grandchild; one sister, Pauline Rundell, and many nieces and nephews in the Pryor Area also survive her.
Family will be greeting friends Thursday evening from 6-8 PM at Key Funeral Home in Pryor.
Jerri Chasteen was Co-Coordinator of TNGenWeb’s First People of Tennessee and the American Southeast.
indexQuebeck Tennessee resident and Fresno California native, Fred LeRoy Clark, 79, died Jan. 21 at White County Hospital. A heating and air conditioning businessman and a retired Lt. Commander in the U.S. Navy, he served his country in the Atlantic and Pacific theaters during World War II before retiring after 24 years in the service. He was involved in the White, Putnam and Warren County Genealogical societies and was president of the White County Genealogy Historical Club. He was a member of the Elks Lodge of Thousand Oaks, California. The son of the late Fred and Margaret Beck Clark, he was preceded in death by brothers, George, Johnny, Bob and Harvey. He is survived by his wife, Willie M. (Billie) Swack Clark; sons, Michael, Allan and Charles Clark, all of Doyle; and nephew, Bob Clark Jr. of Thousand Oaks. Services were held Tuesday at Thurman Funeral Home Chapel in Sparta with Bobby Wilhite officiating. Burial followed at Skurlock Cemetery with full military honors. Thurman Funeral Home of Sparta was in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard, McMinnville, TN. Jan. 24, 2001, p. 2-A.
[Contributor: Ladye Jane Hunter, 2001]
Fred Clark was the first TNGenWeb Warren County County Coordinator serving June 1996 through June 1997. He was the editor of the Warren Couunty Genealogical Association Bulletin.
Fred Clark had the best sense of humor. And, no one worked harder to preserve and disseminate Upper Cumberland Plateau history and genealogy than he did. Despite serious health issues, he continued working to the point of exhaustion to achieve his personal goals. He was also very wise and a great interpersonal tactician.
[Contributor: Billie McNamara, 2004]
indexOn Friday, June 13th, 2014, the TNGenWeb Project lost one of our valued members.
We were saddened to learn of the passing of Nancy Adams Cole, a former State Coordinator of this project, and a long-time volunteer and contributor. Nancy mentored and collaborated with many of our coordinators and volunteers and she will be dearly missed. The tribute below from her cousin and TNGenWeb coordinator, Billie McNamara, aptly describes how much Nancy has been of value to the project.
Friends,
My heart is breaking as I write this, although I am joyful for her spirit and jealous of her knowing the answers to our mutual family history brick walls.
My precious cuzzin, Nancy Adams Cole, left us early on Friday morning. Of course, she picked Friday the 13th and a Full Moon to go out. It’s perfectly Nancy!
Our new TNGenWeb folks may not be aware of the integral roles Nancy and her son, Jim, have played in our project since the very beginning. Recounting the details would fill a book. When I asked if she wanted to adopt a county, Nancy picked Rhea. She knew very little about it (not even how to pronounce it properly!), but she dove in with both hands and started digging for resources. Nancy raised a little army of transcribers, and they set out to add tons of data for researchers’ benefit.
Nancy was a dedicated and consummate historical researcher. She taught herself HTML, and she mastered system administration so she could set up a Web server at home. Nancy was never satisfied with “almost okay” or “mostly there” on anything. She encouraged everyone to excel, but she never pushed anyone beyond his or her limits. She mentored a number of TNGenWeb Project volunteers over the years, and all spoke highly of Nancy’s dedication and guidance. She was also a co-founder of the internationally immensely popular Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness initiative.
For several years, Nancy was our State Coordinator. Under her leadership, we achieved several important goals, including acquiring non-profit status, which give TNGenWeb the cohesion and stability to keep us at the forefront among purveyors of digital family and local history.
About 20 years ago, Nancy earned her teaching certificate and went to work in the public school system, focusing on special needs kids. Shortly after she started teaching, a young man named Josh crossed Nancy’s path. He became her foster son, and she loved him dearly. One of the last things Nancy did was formally adopt Josh into our family. Nancy also has a daughter, Laura.
If you would like to make a tribute in her honor, I have a couple of suggestions: Nancy regularly gave to Heifer International (http://www.heifer.org/), and she spent the past 18 years fervently promoting the TNGenWeb Project. Both are 501(c)(3) organizations, so your contribution is tax-deductible. If you donate to Heifer International, you can ask that the memorial confirmation be e-mailed to tnsc@tngenweb.org – we will make sure it is forwarded to Nancy’s children.
Another cuzzin wrote a lovely tribute, and it sums up exactly how I will remember Nancy: “Such a loss… She was so helpful, and generous with her help, and a real researcher, not someone who just collected what other people said/believed/had been told. And she was never mean-spirited.”
As a matter of fact, “Be Nice” was Nancy’s only real rule for TNGenWeb participants’ discussions and interactions. We’ve done a pretty good job of it, so I know she’s proud.
I will miss her…and I know I am not alone.
–Billie McNamara
We offer our condolences to Nancy’s family and friends. Nancy is with her ancestors now and leaves an entire community mourning her loss.
index
Jere Robinson Cox, age 84 of Milan, passed away on January 17, 2021 at Milan General Hospital after a brief illness. He was born on October 15, 1936 to Robert and Mary Sue Robinson Cox in Cades, TN. Jere was a member of the Milan First Baptist Church and he was the Carroll County Historian and the Director and Curator of the Gordon Browning Museum and Library in McKenzie.
He is survived by his wife Rachel Stafford Cox of Milan, two children Sandra Cox of Bartlett and Brent Cox (Susan) of Milan, one sister Bobbie Sue Waynick of Clarksville, three grandchildren Robert Jefferson Cox (Patra) of Milan, Sarah Elizabeth Mulcahy (James) of Milan and Nathan Robison Cox of Cleveland and one great grandson Brantley Robert Cox.
Memorial service will be held on Friday, January 22, 2021 at 12 pm at the First Baptist Church in Milan. Visitation with the family will be held on Friday from 11 am until 12 pm at the church. A graveside committal service will be held on Friday at 2 pm at the Oakwood Cemetery in Milan.
Source: Bodkin Funeral Home, Milan.
indexSAVANNAH – Billy Joe Darnell, 65, retired from Packaging Corporation of America in Counce, died Friday at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital. Services will be at 3 p.m. today at Shackelford Funeral Home with burial in Mount Hermon Cemetery. He was a member of Savannah First United Methodist Church, Sons of Union Veterans, the Historical Society and Purple Martin Society. Mr. Darnell, the husband of Linda Young Darnell, also leaves a daughter, Angelia Burnette of Knoxville; a son, Mark Darnell of Fairhope, Ala.; his mother, Geneva Darnell of Savannah; a sister, Margaret Ann Whalen of Horn Lake, Miss.; a brother, Larry Darnell of Georgia, and two grandchildren.
Source: The Commercial Appeal, January 11, 2004, Section: Metro, Page: B3, Edition: First [Contributor: Rose-Anne Cunningham Bray, 2004]
indexDavidson, Morgan (M.T.), 63, Lancing, passed way Jan 3, 2002 in his home in Lancing. He was born on Nov. 30, 1938. He retired from Caterpillar Tractor Company in Joliet, Ill., after 30 years of service. He was instrumental in organizing a committee to do a book on Morgan County. His efforts helped make “The Heritage of Morgan County” a success. He was a member of the Morgan County Genealogy and Historical Society and was a Mason. He was preceded in death by his parents Arthur and Effie Davidson. He is survived by his wife Phyllis, of 42 years; son and daughter-in-law Craig and Karla Davidson of Knoxville; daughter and son-in-law Janet and Duane Carlson of Plainfield, Ill.; two granddaughters, Morgan and Madison Carlson; brothers Wesley of Deer Lodge, Stanley of Lancing and Johnny of Milner, Ga.; sister Beth Syler of Carbondale, Ill.; and several nieces, nephews and a host of friends. The family received friends Saturday, Jan. 5, 2002 from 6 to 8 p.m. in Schubert Funeral Home, Wartburg. A Masonic service began at 8 p. m. followed by a memorial service with Rev. Rick Taylor officiating. [Morgan County News, 1-10-2002]
indexDavid Donahue died Nov. 8, 2004 at his home in Parsons, Decatur County, Tennessee. He was buried Nov. 10 at Campground Cemetery which is located west of Decaturville. The funeral was private. David never married. He was fifty-one years old at the time of his death.
His deceased parents are also interred at the Campground Cemetery; Leo Joseph Donahue, Mar. 10, 1921-Aug. 10, 2003 and Anne Moore Donahue, Dec. 13, 1919-Aug. 6, 1997. Leo and Anne were married May 25, 1948.
David had a Bachelor’s degree from University of Tennessee in Knoxville. He went straight from high school to UT. David was a history major who also excelled in science.
David was an avid historian and genealogist. He spent much time taking and compiling cemetery readings. David was a meticulous researcher. He was a member of the Mid-West Tennessee Genealogical Society. He started an earnest involvement with Internet genealogy in the late 1990s and joined the American Local History Network in 1999. Later, he joined TNGenWeb Project (TNGenNet Inc.) as the Madison County Coordinator. More recently, he was a Co-Coordinator of the TNGenNet’s Tennessee Records Repository.
David was the first to offer a helping hand to “lost” genealogists and he was the first to go the extra mile for the them. His good work earned him many friends and admirers. He will be missed.
indexMr. Athol Kay Foster age 86 of Lewisburg, TN, and Dekalb County native passed away Saturday, December 19, 2020 at the Maury Regional Medical Center.
Kay, as he was better known, was born January 7, 1934 in DeKalb County, TN to his parents, the late Athol J. & Cleo Vandagriff Foster. Also preceding him in death was his wife, Julia Foster. Kay was retired from the United States Army as an MP and was a helicopter pilot. He entered the Army in 1954 and served for over 20 years. During his service time he was in Vietnam and was a highly decorated war hero. After he retired from the Army, he went to work at the United States Post office until the mid 1990’s. Kay was a member of the Riggs Church of Christ in Chapel Hill, TN.
Graveside Services will be held on Tuesday, December 22, 2020, at 1 p.m. at Smithville Town Cemetery with military honors provided by the Veterans Honor Guard. There will be no visitation held at the funeral home. Family and friends will gather at the cemetery just prior to the services at 1 p.m.
Survivors include a daughter, Monie Foster Cyr of Nevada, and a son, Garry Foster, of Nevada. 2 Sisters, Sammie Foster George of College Grove, TN, and Sue Foster Smiley of Dickson, TN. Several nieces & nephews also survive.
index~ February 22, 1946 – March 5, 2009 ~
Carole Jean Hammett-Cook, 63, of Boulder, Colorado, died Thursday, May 5, 2009 after a long battle with Lung Cancer. She was born February 22, 1946 in Kingsburg, California. A personal account of her life and cancer journey may be found here: My story: Quality of Life. Carole is survived by her daughter, Chrissy Hammett; her step-grandchildren, Amanda & James; her mother & stepfather, Verdean & Lawrence Werder; her half-sister, Cathy Hammett Gilbert; her step-brothers, Carl and Paul Werder; four aunts, one uncle, & numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and good friends. Carole chose to donate her body to Science Care for cancer research, no services will be held at her request.
Carole Hammett had been a Giles County Coordinator and a Co-Coordinator of Warren County, TNGenWeb Project. She had been Secretary of USGenNet from year 2000 until she became too ill to serve. Carole was the mover and shaker behind transforming USGenNet into a bona fide 501(c)(3) nonprofit “free access server.”
~ requiescat in pace ~
indexHelen A. Hewitt of Mercer Island, King, Washington died 2 Aug 2003. She was the wife of David Hewitt. She was born on 18 Aug 1930 in Oregon.
She once told me of a WWII forest fire started by a Japanese fire balloon near her childhood home in southern Oregon. She said the government kept the cause of the fire hidden so as not to scare the plain folk.
She was a TNGenWeb County Coordinator for Meigs County.
Helen died from a rare and super-fast moving type of lung cancer. She was not a smoker. Helen and her husband Dave ran a carpet business in Seattle, specializing in wholesale to business and government entities. Their business was located a few miles south of Seattle’s Pioneer Square.
They were planning to move from Mercer Island and get a home with a view so Dave could, as the song says, watch the ships roll in … and watch ’em roll away again. Helen would send me links to Seattle area real estate website offerings that came with that much coveted view.
But then came the cough, the diagnosis, and the end.
~ requiescat in pace ~
indexThe TNGenWeb Project is saddened to report the news of the death of David Rowland Johnson. David was our coordinator of Dekalb, Grundy, and Marion counties. Joining us in 2008, David dedicated many hours to adding information to his county websites. The Project was made better by his collaboration and he will be greatly missed. His obituary, as it appeared on the website of the Chattanooga Cremation Center is below:
David Rowland Johnson, 61, of South Pittsburg, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015, at a Chattanooga hospital. He was born in Paducah, KY, in 1954, to the late Stewart and Mary Jacqueline Johnson. Two years later, his family moved to South Pittsburg, where David spent his boyhood and the last twenty years of his life.
Most recently, David had served as coordinator for the Dekalb and Marion County pages of the Tennessee Genweb site. He enjoyed researching his own and other people’s family histories at the Tennessee State Library and in visits to courthouses, cemeteries, and lands farmed and lived upon by his ancestors along the Cumberland Plateau.
As a boy, David was an Eagle Scout and star pupil and enjoyed running track. He earned a biology degree from Tennessee Tech, attended a year of medical school, and worked as a licensed practical nurse at hospitals in Cookeville and Chattanooga. For several years after that, David lived and worked in Orlando, FL, building houses with his cousins. Returning to TN, he worked as a carpenter and general handyman, always generous with his skills to those in need.
David is survived by a sister, Carol Guess, of Decherd, TN, and brother, Ron Johnson, of Hayesville, NC; nieces, Heather Walker, of Antioch, TN, and Kimberly Young, of Chattanooga; grand nephews, Miles and Adrien Hill; and cousins, Karen Janszen and David Leese.
Arrangements were by Cremation Center of Chattanooga. The family will honor David at a later date with a scattering of ashes on lands that once comprised the Rowland farm in Dekalb Co., TN.
indexMary Floy Katzman, passed from this life at 6:00 p.m., December 7, 2004, in Sharon, Massachusetts of lung cancer, age 68. Funeral services will be held on December 13, 2004, at the Eugene McCarthy Funeral Home, 11 Lincoln Street, Framingham, MA. Visting hours: 10-11am; Service: 11am. Burial will follow in the Edgell Grove Cemetery, Framingham Centre, MA.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Mary Floy Katzman’s memory were requested sent to Johnson County Historical Society, P. O. Box 123, Mountain City, Tennessee 37683.
Ms. Katzman born to Casimir H. Schulz and Nora Charlotte Donnelly on Los Angeles, California, on March 11, 1936. Nora Charlotte Donnelly was a native of Johnson County, Tennessee. Her parents and her only sibling, High Casimir Schulz preceded her in death. She is survived by daughter Cynthia Marie Katzman Bowlby, her husband John, and their two children, David and Sarah, all of Sharon, Mass; son Michael Scott Katzman, his wife, Judith and their daughter Jesamine Leigh Katzman of Oklahoma; and daughter Patricia Diane Katzman of Boston, Mass. Ms. Katzman is also survived by her former husband, Dr. Sidney Katzman of Detroit, Michigan.
Ms. Katzman, began her career as a flight attendant for Trans-World Airlines (TWA) in the 1950s. After her marriage to Sidney Katzman, she settled into the life of a wife and mother, raising three wonderful children.
After her divorce in 1981, she moved to Framingham, Massachusetts, where she lived the remainder of her life. She developed a passion for discovering the past, her family, and the past of Johnson County, Tennessee. In the first days of the World Wide Web (1994) she developed a website devoted to the history and people of Johnson County, Tennessee. In 1997 she began a mailing list devoted to the discussion of Johnson County history and families.
Mary was particularly interested in researching the Greer and Donnelly families. She amassed a considerable amount of information on these families, but due to her illness, she was unable to complete it. She did publish a transcription of the 1880 Ashe County, North Carolina Federal Census, which was very helpful for researchers in that area. Other tid-bits of history she uncovered may be found on the Johnson County Cuzins website, mentioned above.
Rest on dear friend, you shall be missed.
indexA celebration of life for Jesse Wesley Lewis, Jr., was conducted at 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 15 at Coffee County Funeral Chapel. Visitation with the family was from 4-6 p.m. at the funeral home. Mr. Lewis passed away on Wednesday, April 12 at his residence, surrounded by his loving family. Jesse was born in Manchester, the son of the late Jesse Wesley Lewis, Sr. and Louise Jernigan Lewis. He served his country in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War. He was an electronics technician for various companies, having retired from Nissan in Smyrna. He was a member of the Ham Radio Club, having served as president and was an extra class ham operator (KR4OJ), holding a DXCC #1 honor roll certification. Jesse was also past president of the Coffee County Historical Society and the Coffee County Historian. He was a passionate Master Geocacher with the Over the Hill Gang and a published author of Tombstone Records of Cannon County. Jesse is survived by his loving wife, Joanna Ewell Lewis; six children, James (Mary Lou) Harvill, Michael (Shawna) Lewis, Nicholas (Vicki) Lewis, Tracey (Tony) Suzzi, Stephanie (Jeff) Hayes, and Stephen Lewis; two brothers, Gary (Martha K. Otwell) Lewis and Mark (Debbie) Lewis; and seven grandchildren.
Source: Manchester Times, April 19, 2017.
Note from Billie McNamara: Jess was Coffee County Historian for 20 years, and Joanna was appointed to the position after his death. Joanna was nearly always by Jess' side in his historical research adventures and activities. After 44 years of marriage, Joanna rejoined Jess less than a year later on March 8, 2018. She served in the U. S. Army during the Vietnam War, was president of the Coffee County Historical Society, and co-published Tombstone Records of Cannon County with Jess. They were good friends of TNGenWeb, fun to be around, and tremendous instigators for historical research and preservation.
indexArrington – Gweneth Kay Rogers McGee of Arrington, TN and a native of Middle Tennessee born 21, September 1936, died January 16, 2008 at Williamson Medical Center, Franklin, TN. She is survived by her husband, Norman Thomas McGee, Sr. She was the daughter of James Cecil Rogers and Anna Mae Shasteen. Kay was predeceased by son, James Roy McGee.
She is survived by two children, one son, Norman Thomas McGee, Jr.; and a daughter, Marsha Lynn McGee Carnahan. She is also survived by five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Graveside services will be held at Woodlawn Memorial Park, Nashville, TN on January 19 at 10 a.m. where interment will follow. Grandsons and nephews will serve as pallbearers. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to Alive Hospice. Woodlawn Funeral Home 615-383-4754
Kay was a TNGenWeb Special Project Volunteer for First People of Tennessee and the American Southeast, she ran our early Cherokee and Chickasaw query projects.
indexDawn's impact on discovery and preservation of history in the Northeastern Tennessee region is immeasurable. She will be missed immensely, but her legacy will be recognized for decades to come.
Glenda Dawn Trivette Peters
Glenda Dawn Trivette Peters, 77, Jonesborough, died January 8, 2023, after a short battle with cancer.
Dawn was born in the Poga community of Carter County to the late Linzy and Mary Jane Potter Trivette.
Dawn loved genealogy, photography, gardening, birdwatching, traveling, and collecting books and antiques. Along with her husband of 60 years, Jackie Dean Peters, she wrote the book Images of America: Carter County. Dawn was a coauthor of the book Carter County and Its People. She served as president of the Watauga Historical Association and was a leader in the restoration and maintenance of Green Hill Cemetery in Elizabethton. In addition to her parents, Dawn was preceded in death by a brother, Prentice "Bo" Trivette; her maternal grandparents, Peter Hamilton and Zady Andrews Potter; and her paternal grandparents, Joel and Mary Ann Bunton Trivette. In addition to her husband, Dawn is survived by her children, Danny (Karen) Peters of Lexington, Ky., and Deanne (Brad) Dale of Knoxville; two granddaughters, Rebecca Peters and Lauren Peters of Lexington, Ky.; two sisters, Rosemary Mowrey and Dianne Garland, both of Mountain City; a special sister-in-love, Patsy Treadway Trivette, Elizabethton; a special nephew, Prentice (Larissa) Trivette II, Elizabethton; and several other nieces and nephews as well as many friends.
In accordance with Dawn's wishes, no funeral service will be held; a celebration of life will be held to honor her at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Watauga Historical Association, P.O. Box 1776, Elizabethton, TN 37644. Memorial Funeral Chapel is honored to serve the Peters family.
Published January 10, 2023, at Elizabethton.com
indexThere aren't words to describe Jane Powell's engagement with the TNGenWeb corps of volunteers during the first years of our project. Jane was about 65, had very little computer experience, but was determined to be a vital part of our fledgling operation. Her spirit, her determination, and her eagerness to share all she could were beyond inspiring. Jane kept us going with laughter and stories from her adventures when things seemed overwhelming, and she provided a voice of reason when things got a little tense over the years. My favorite memory of her is sitting in a Shoney's in Dyersburg, Tennessee, one evening after a conference at the college there. Several TNGenWeb volunteers met each other for the first time at that conference, and we had only been working together for a few months. Jane was of the generation of most of our parents, but she was the youngest-spirited of all. Over the years, just thinking about Jane's enthusiasm and smile has bouyed my dedication. -- Billie McNamara
Mrs. Jane Norton Powell, age 88, passed away Monday, June 17, 2019, at the Sugar Creek Retirement Center. Her Funeral Services will be conducted Wednesday, June 19, 2019, at 2 PM in the Lea and Simmons Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery. A visitation will be conducted Wednesday, June 19, 2019, 1:00 to 2:00 PM in the Lea and Simmons Funeral Home.
Jane was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Howard "Brother" Powell, her parents: James Herman Norton and Mary Clara Kersey Norton Casey, her youngest sister, Edwina Jones Rabbitt and a great-grandson; Austin Powell.
She is survived by her three sons: Jim Powell, Ray Powell, both of Brownsville, TN, Chuck Powell (Lisa), Jackson, TN, a middle sister, Bettye Jones Hartline, Locust Grove, GA, seven grandchildren and thirteen great grand children.
Not only being a lover of the Arts and Crafts movement in America, Jane was an accomplished artist, painter, photographer and writer. She studied at the Memphis Academy of Arts, currently known as Memphis College of Art.
As Jane herself once wrote, "I love genealogy, reading mysteries, classic literature, the Yankees, Braves baseball, Sudoku, and good chicken salad." Her interests also included the Bible, God, Family, knitting, and "a lot of other things I've tinkered with." She studied at Freed-Hardeman College and Harding College in Searcy, Arkansas, ever expanding her knowledge of the Bible, its history, Hebrew and Greek.
Because of Jane's great love for Family, who they were, and where they came from, genealogy research was a personal endeavor at first, but soon became of way of life. Jane is recognized across the state of Tennessee as a noted member of the handful of volunteers who established and contributed to the first organized Tennessee Genealogy Research Database.
In lieu of flowers memorial may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38101-9908 or the charity of the donor's choice.
Photos and video tributes are at Lee and Simmons Funeral Home.
indexIn February 2017, we here at the TNGenWeb were saddened to learn of the passing of our colleague Joyce Gaston Reece.
Joyce began with TNGenWeb as a contributing volunteer in the early 2000s, going on to adopt her first county in 2007. At the time of her passing, Joyce was our coordinator for Polk and Cocke counties, and special projects administrator for the TNGenWeb sites First People of Tennessee and the American Southeast and Cherokee By Blood. She also took on responsibility for being our overall Special Projects Coordinator. In addition to the TNGenWeb, Joyce also volunteered as a member of the USGenWeb Election Committee.
Having had an interest in genealogy since she was 16 years old, close to 50 years, Joyce was amazingly dedicated to genealogy and helping people make connections. She was born and raised born and raised in Polk County and at the time of her passing, lived in McMinn so Polk- both counties were near and dear to my heart. Cocke is one of those counties that has lost all their county records due to a fire in 1879 but thanks to wonderful contributors it has blossomed into a very informative and helpful site.
Rest in peace Joyce - you are with your ancestors now.
indexBorn on Sep. 18, 1941 - Departed on Oct. 7, 2007 and resided in Virginia Beach, VA.
Betty Jo Betty Jo ‘BJ’ Rountree, 66, was unexpectedly called to her Heavenly home on October 7, 2007, after a brief illness while visiting her sister in North Carolina.
BJ was born September 18, 1941 to the late William Miller and Emma Morgan Miller. BJ was predeceased by her husband of 41 years, Terry McCall Rountree, who was called home on August 31, 2007.
B. J. had a lively, caring, fun-loving spirit that extended to the entire neighborhood. Everyone who came to the Rountrees’ home felt welcomed and significantly important in BJ’s eyes. For several years, BJ was actively involved in recreational sports as a coach for girls’ basketball and softball. In her later years, she enjoyed gardening and lovingly caring for her husband.
BJ is survived by her three daughters, Karen James and husband Robert, Penny Evans, Renee Norman and husband Chris; and step-daughter, Terry Willis and husband Stuart; also five grandchildren, Tim Hall, Amanda Morisette, Megan Evans, Madison Evans, Alexis Norman; and her beloved dog, Kobe; lifelong friend, Agnes Manos; and a sister, Glenda Johnson and husband Kevin.
The family will receive visitors one hour prior to the memorial service at Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Lynnhaven Chapel at 7 p.m. on October 18, 2007. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Virginia Beach SPCA, 3040 Holland Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23453.
BJ will never be replaced in the hearts and minds of her family and friends. Dear BJ was TNGenWeb’s Gibson County, Tennessee Co-Coordinator and she was very active as a County Coordinator with the NCGenWeb. Requiescat in Pace.
indexFrederick Karl Smoot of San Francisco passed away Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012. He was 73. Mr. Smoot was born Sept. 25, 1939, in Santa Barbara, Calif., the only child of Angeline “Peggy” and Marvin Smoot. The family moved to San Francisco soon after, where Mr. Smoot spent the remainder of his life. After high school and a stint in the U.S. Coast Guard, Mr. Smoot followed in his father’s footsteps and worked as a projectionist in the San Francisco area. In 1964, he married and they had four children, Elizabeth Krizenesky, Kristina Martin and Erick Smoot, and a few years later Monica Tinsley Smith joined the family. In 1995, he married Patty Sokolecki and they lived with their two cats, Willie and Oliver, overlooking the San Francisco Bay. Mr. Smoot was an extremely intelligent man, and throughout his life he delighted in all things enlightening. He furthered his education at the University of California, did extensive genealogical research for the family and was interested in everything. He was also a talented artist and did many projects in pen and ink, oils and metal. The day before his death he was doing sketches for his next project. In 2007 he was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis. He leaves his wife Patty; his children Liz (and Joe) Krizenesky, Kris Martin, Erick (and Nicole) Smoot, Monica (and Derek) Smith; and four grandchildren, Melissa McNair, Parker and Bailey Martin, Mathena Smith; and extended family members Cathi Rawley, Phillip Dionne and Hunter Brokaw. Services will be held at the Columbarium in San Francisco Friday, Nov. 16 at 10 a.m. An additional memorial service will be held in Newport, time to be announced next week.
Published in the Newport Miner (Newport, WA) 14 Nov 2012, p. 6-B
indexSara Kathryn “Kathy” Bowling McKown 61, of Tucson, AZ., formerly of Huntington, WV., died Wednesday, November 6, 2002 at her residence. Graveside funeral service will be conducted 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 12, 2002 at Ridgelawn Memorial Park’s Mausoleum by the Rev. Paul Rice. Burial will follow. Kathy was born December 10, 1941 in Huntington, WV a daughter of the late Charles R. and Lavonia Bowles Bowling. She was a retired RN previously with Cabell Huntington Hospital in Huntington and a health care facilities inspector specialist with the state of Arizona and a member of the V.F.W. post 1064 ladies Auxiliary. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Tommie W. McKown; two brothers, George Elbert “Budd” Bowling, and Richard Lewis “Dick” Bowling, one sister, Margaret “Eloise” Bowling. Survivors include one brother and a sister-in-law, Charles R. and Audrey Bowling of Proctorville, OH, and one sister, Billie Jean Ferris of Castile, NY, and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the charity of one’s choice. Friends may call at Ridgelawn Memorial Park after 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, November 12, 2002. Chapman’s Mortuary Huntington is in charge of arrangements.
indexEdith Maxine Reggio, 71, of Bethany, known as Maxine, was called peacefully to her savior, Jesus Christ, the evening of Friday, February 8, 2002 at her home. She was born in Oney, OK on April 10, 1930, to Howard Holdge and Alene Olvilla (Lynn) Holdge. She was the loving wife of Michael Angelo Reggio and was the loving mother of four children, Michael Howard Reggio of Newalla, Joseph Lawrence Reggio of Bethany, David Anthony Reggio of Oklahoma City, and Maria Bernadette (Reggio) Epperson of Warr Acres. She is survived by fifteen grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. She is also survived by one sister, Mona Jean Berndsen, and one brother, Billy Don Holdge both of Fort Cobb. She was preceded in death by one brother, James Holdge of Fort Cobb, and one sister, Daisy Vaughn of Norman. Maxine grew up east of Fort Cobb, OK and graduated from Washita High School as one of only nine students graduating. She came to Bethany in 1962 and resided there until her passing. She was not only a dedicated homemaker, but she spent much time in charity and church work at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church. She worked at numerous jobs including becoming an assistant manager for 7/11 and one of the top sales people for C.R. Anthony Company. She was a celebrated genealogist, working on the Lynn and Holdge family since 1988. She has published many family history books on these two lines as well as five obituary books covering Central Tennessee. She was loved and will be missed by friends and loved ones all across the country. Funeral services were held at the Bill Merritt Memorial Chapel in Bethany and was buried at Resurrection Cemetery in Oklahoma City.
index