Lowell Dempsey ‘LD’ Cornelius, lovingly known as Demp or LD, age 74, husband of Portia Cornelius and a resident of Summertown, passed away on Monday, January 13, 2025, at Southern Tennessee Regional Health System.

A funeral service was held on Thursday, January 16, 2025, at Heritage Funeral Home in Columbia, with Randall Runions and Brandon Smith officiating. Following the service, he was laid to rest in the Garden of Freedom in Maury Memorial Gardens with military honors provided by the United States Army.

Heritage Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.

Born on December 7, 1950, in Leighton, Alabama, LD was the son of the late Marion Levi Cornelius and the late Martha Ann Lane Cornelius. A proud veteran of the United States Army, he married Portia Webb on October 27, 1972. He worked in maintenance at Tennessee Aluminum Processors, Inc. for over 30 years before retiring in 2014.

Demp enjoyed racing dirt tracks, riding dirt bikes, fishing, and music, particularly singing and playing the guitar. Known for his caring and loving nature, he cherished his family above all. He was a member of Unity Baptist Church in Summertown.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his sons, Randy Lee (Heather) Cornelius of Summertown, Joshua Adam (Debi) Cornelius of Water Town, Massachusetts, sisters, Linda (Daniel Craig) Bobo of Summertown, Patricia Gail Blair of Columbia, Shirley Sue Graham of Columbia, Sandra Kay Phillips of Summertown, Joannie Lee Shively of Columbia, Kathy Lynn Cornelius of Lawrenceburg, grandchildren, Justin Blake (Danielle) Cornelius, Dylan Levi Cornelius, Andrew Charles Cornelius, Tayler Blake (Brittany) Landrum, Kinlee Moore, Abbigale (Lane) Burleson, great grandchildren, Vivian Jean Cornelius, Micah Lee Cornelius, Easton Wade Landrum, Charley Mae Landrum, Blakely Rae Landrum, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Bobby Ray Cornelius and Gerry Wayne Cornelius.

Those serving as pallbearers were Daniel Bobo, David Putnam, Charlie Lovett, Dwayne Estes, Christopher Cornelius, and Bill Webb. Honorary pallbearers will include Jimmy Baxter, Steve Barr, and David Keough.