Polk County, Tennessee Obituaries

If you have old family obituaries that you would like to submit for reference on this page, please send to me.

Mrs. Ida Waller
The Chattanooga Times, Tues, Sept 22, 1959
Mrs. Ida Waller by Times Correspondent ETOWAH, Tenn.,
--Mrs. Ida Paralee Howell Waller, 74, wife of Nep. B. Waller, of near Etowah, died Monday morning at Epperson Hospital in Athens. A lifelong resident of McMinn and Polk counties, she was a member of Wetmore Baptist Church. Surviving other than her husband are two daughters, Mrs. Buenos Baker of Athens, and Mrs. W.F. "Bud" Cheek of Delano; two sons, Homer Waller of Delano, and Milburn Waller of Johnson City; one sister, Mrs. Anna Harrison of West Salem, Ill.; three brothers, Nep of Delano, Dolph of Englewood and Hobart Howell of LaFayette, GA; nine grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday in Wetmore Baptist Church, with the Revs. Homer E. Pullen and Jasper Woody officiating. Burial will be in Delano Cemetery.

Submitted by Connie Baumann

Mary Buchannan Eaves
The Chattanooga Times, Monday, April 3, 1950
MRS. MARY B. EAVES by Times Correspondent

ATHENS, Tenn., April 2-Mrs. Mary J. Buchannan Eaves, descendant of a pioneer family, died at her home in near-by Calhoun late Saturday after an illness of several weeks. She was 79. She was an active member of the Calhoun Baptist Church. A native of Polk County, she was a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Buchannan. Surviving are her husband, George W. Eaves; one son, George B. Eaves of Chattanooga; three daughters, Mrs. Robert Johnson, Mrs. James Stephenson and Mrs. Oliver Liner, all of Calhoun; one sister, Mrs. Sallie Tilley of Benton; 22 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be conducted Monday at 2 p.m. at Calhoun Baptist Church, with the Rev. Eldon Pack of Etowah, the Rev. W.H. Liner of Pikeville and the Rev. Paul Huling of Cleveland officiating. Burial will be in Calhoun Cemetery. The body will be at the home of a daughter, Mrs. Robert Johnson, until the funeral hour.

Submitted by Connie Baumann

Henry Clay Nicholson
The Chattanooga Times, Monday, Aug. 20, 1951
NICHOLSON- HENRY CLAY, SR., age 61, of 909 McFarland Avenue, Rossville, Ga., died in a local hospital early Sunday morning. He is survived by his widow; three sons, Henry C. Jr. of Arkansas; Robert Allen and Charles Edward of Chattanooga; and one daughter, Mrs. Poole Jones of Rossville, Ga; one sister, Mrs. Jim Davis of Benton; also three grandchildren. The body is at the funeral home and funeral arrangements will be announced later by the Wann-Chapman Funeral Home.

Sat., March 22, 1919
The Daily Times
MRS. ISAAC NICHOLSON DIES AT RIPE OLD AGE
Mrs. Isaac Nicholson, of Polk County, died early yesterday morning at the home of her granddaughter, Mrs. Laura Ayers, near Cleveland. Mrs. Nicholson was 100 years of age and was the widow of the late Isaac Nicholson, a pioneer citizen of Polk County, who died July 22, 1915. Just previous to his death, Mr. and Mrs. Nicholson celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary. She is survived by three sons, A.B. and N. S. of Chattanooga, and R. T. Nicholson, of Benton. She is also survived by forty-one grandchildren and twenty-three great-grandchildren. The funeral will be held this afternoon at 2:30 at Ridgedale Memorial Methodist church, of which she was a member. The services will be conducted by the Rev. Mr. Bales, assisted by Rev. Dr. Patty, of Trinity church. The pallbearers will be six of her grandsons, Fred, Will, Joe, Jake, and Clay Nicholson and Will Burns.

Charles D Nicholson
The Daily Times, Chattanooga Wed [Sept. 6, 1916]
Charles D Nicholson, aged 38, died yesterday morning at his home, 710 Dodson Ave, East Chattanooga, after a brief illness. The deceased is survived by a wife, one son, Howard Russell Nicholson; mother, Mrs. Matilda Nicholson; one brother, Clay Nicholson; three sisters, Mrs. J.E. Davis and Mrs. Nola B. Wilson of this city, and Mrs. Charles Harrison of Benton. The deceased was a member of the Ridgedale Methodist Episcopal church. The funeral will be conducted this afternoon at 2 o'clock from Wann's at 10 McCallie avenue, the Revs. Mr. Hamil and H.H. Moore officiating. Interment will be in Forest Hills cemetery. Pallbearers will be Alfred Lwa, Ben Allison, William Garner, James Rooney, Gus Wiler and Frank Kelly.

Asa B. Nicholson
Death funerals, Rites in Chattanooga [Jan. 4, 1940],
Asa B. Nicholson, 79, retired Chattanooga postal clerk and long prominent in G.O.P. politics of public county before going to Chattanooga 35 years ago passed away at his Chattanooga home Thursday. Mr. Nicholson was born in Polk county, living at Benton for a number of years; where he taught in the local schools, later becoming superintendent of the schools there. He also was postmaster at Benton, justice of the peace and chairman of the county court of Polk county. Mr. Nicholson came to Chattanooga in 1905 and has resided here since. He was a retired postal employee and a member of the Masonic Lodge 660. He was active in church work being a member of the Ridgedale Methodist church and organizer of the Nicholson Bible class which he taught for twenty-five years. Mr. Nicholson married Miss Nallie Clemmer in 1885 , who preceded him in death in December, 1938. Surviving are two daughters, Mrs,. Charles L. Price, of Miami, Fla. Miss Mary Wayne Nicholson of Chattanooga; two sons Jacob Nichoison, or Norris, Tenn,. and Walter Nicholson. of Chattanooga; one brother. R. T. Nicholson. of Benton, Tenn,. and one grandson, Charles Boyd Nicholson. Funeral services were held in Chattanooga this afternoon, the Revs. W. M. Grier, James Henley and Wallace Fowler Officating. Interment was in Memorial Park. Several prominent Benton citizens attended the rites.

Mrs. Matilda E. (Womack) Nicholson
Polk County News, Sept. 23, 1937, Front Page
Mrs. Matilda E. Nicholson, 79, died at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Charles Harrison in Benton, Saturday night after an extended sickness. She is survived by three children, Mrs. Chas. Harrison, and Mrs. J.E. Davis of Benton and Clay Nicholson of Chattanooga; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Deceased was the widow of Bill Nicholson, former Postmaster of Benton, who died several years ago. Funeral services were held from the Harrison residence, Sunday afternoon. Rev. J.W. Stewart officiating with burial in the Nicholson cemetery at Old Paty, with Higgins & Son in charge.

Submitted by Connie Baumann

William Avery Womack
Chattanooga Times- Friday, April 22, 1955
Womack, William Avery, 66, died at a local hospital Thursday morning. Mr. Womack lived at 1800 Portland St. He is survived by one sister, Mrs. G. W. Erby of this city; four brothers, John Womack, Hixson, Tenn., Jasper, Charlie, and James Womack of Chattanooga. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 o'clock Sunday afternoon from the Avondale Baptist Church with the Rev. Joe Shaver and Rev. Frank Rich officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood. The body will be at the National Funeral Home until 10 o'clock Saturday morning when it will be taken to the residence.

John Womack
The Chattanooga Times, Sat., Nov 26, 1960
WOMACK--JOHN (J.P.) SR., 77, Route 1, Hixson, Tenn., died in a Chattanooga hospital at 11 a.m. Friday. Born in Benton, Tenn, he had been a resident of the Dallas Community of Hamilton County for 25 years. He was a member of the Dallas Baptist Church. Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Sarah Womack; nine sons, A. J. Womack, Lakeview, Ga.; N. L. Chattanooga; Marvin, Soddy; J. W. Daisy, Ples, Loyd, W.R., Allen, and Jimmy all of Route 1, Hixson; six daughters, Mrs. Sallie Smith, Willoughby, Ohio; Mrs. Della Mae Green, Route 2, Hixson; Mrs. Jimmy Parker, Route 2, Soddy; Mrs. Donald L. Thomas and Mrs. Johnny Davis, both of Chattanooga; Mrs. Sammy Davis Hixson; three brothers, Jasper Womack, Chattanooga,; Charlie Womack, McDonald, Tenn; James Womack, Chattanooga; one sister, Mrs. Dorthy Hale, Chattanooga; 35 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Sunday from the Dallas Baptist Ch! urch, conducted by the Rev. Carl Gass. Interment will be in Hamilton County Memorial Park Cemetery. The body will be at the residence after 11 a.m. today. Arrangements are by Williamson-Garrison Funeral Home, Daisy.

William R. Warmock (Womack)
Chattanooga Daily Times, March 6, 1924
William R. Warmock, aged 62, died at his residence, 1408 Chamberlain Avenue, last night at 7:30. He is survived by his widow; one daughter, Dora Erby; five sons, John P, Avery W, Jasper B, Charles, and James F Warmock, of this city. Funeral from the home tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock. Interment at Morris Hill cemetery.

Elijah Womack
Joplin Globe, Aug. 11, 1929
Southwest City, Mo., Aug 10,

Elijah T. Wommack, 83 years old, a veteran of the civil war, died Thursday afternoon at his home here. He was born July 6, 1846, in Polk Co., Tennessee. He enlisted in the Fifth Tennessee Mountain Infantry and was honorable discharged June 27, 1865. He came to this district from Tennessee in 1881 and had lived in Southwest City since March 15, 1920. He was a member of the Baptist church. Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Sarah L. Wommack; six daughters, Mrs. Clevia Greek of Webb City, Mrs. Emma Adams of Island Mountain, Calif.,Mrs. Mary Blevins of Southwest City, Mrs. Zona Reed of Seminole, Okla., Mrs. Flora Reed of Miami, Okla. and Mrs. Clinton Sims of Row, Okla.; two sons, Levi Wommack of Wichita, Kan. and George W. Wommack of Southwest City, forty-six grandchildren and thirty-seven great- grandchildren.

Submitted by Connie Baumann

OBIT FOR JAMES W. BREEDEN
FEBURARY 22, 1930
CLEVELAND BANNER

JAMES W. BREEDON, 56, VICTIM OF PNEUMONIA
James Willis Breedon, aged 56, died at his home near Big Springs this morning at 9 o'clock after a two week illness, pneumonia being the cause of his death. He is survived by his wife( Carrie Brown Breeden); four daughters, Mrs. Stella Harris, Mrs Fina Rose, Ruth Breedon of Cleveland and Mrs. Onie McDaniel of Chattanooga; one son, Floyd Breedon of Cleveland. Six grandchildren, three sisters and three brothers also survive. Funeral services will be held Friday afternoon at 2 o;clock from the home.

OBITUARY FOR M.L. BREEDEN
FEBURARY 23, 1927
CLEVELAND BANNER
CLEVELAND, FEB. 23.--(SPECIAL) _ M.L. Breeden, 56, was instantly killed by lightning last night at 8 o'clock at his home on the Ladd Springs Road. Breeden was standing on the hearth of the firplace in his bare feet when the bolt hit the chimney tearing a hole in the ceiling and killing him instantly. A clock was knocked off the mantel and stopped at exactly 7:25 o'clock. He was an employe of the Cleveland Chair Compay and is survived by his wife (Fanny Brown Breeden) and one son, Roy of Bradley County. Funeral services will be held Thursday at Hopewell , Whitfield County, Georgia.

COPPER CITY ADVANCE
Death Claims G. W. A. Lanning -
George Washington Alexander Lanning passed away early Saturday morning (March 7, 1959) at his home on Mobile Road. At 97, he was the oldest resident of the area.

Born in Isabella, Mr. Lanning was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. F. A. Lanning. The father died in the Union Army during the War Between the States, and Mr. Lanning himself recalled hearing cannon fire in a battle west of Ellijah.

After a brief period in helping to build the railroad through the Dallas, GA, section, Mr. Lanning returned to this section, never to leave again.

At one time he operated a blacksmith ship at Madola, building wagons or rifles with equal facility. He later established a watch repair service in McCaysville, operating this buisness for some 50 years.

In 1926, he went into semi-retirement but continued his trade at home until a few years ago, when at 92, he finally stopped working. Even at his age, Mr. Lanning remained mentally and physically alert, and it was only during the past year that he was confined to his room. He was bedfast one week before his death.

MRS. MARGARET JONES

"The Birmingham Post," page 22, 23 Feb. 1940, MRS. MARGARET JONES SUCCUMBS IN CALERA CALERA, Feb 23, {Special} An illness of several weeks ended in death yesterday for Mrs. Margaret Jones 71, of Birmingham Route 8 who was visiting her son, Charles Jones, here. Funeral services and burial will be held here at 2:30pm Sunday, Brown-Service directing. Mrs. Jones is survived by another son, Wesley Jones, Birmingham; five daughters, Mrs. Ella Falls and Mrs. Willie Mae Cost, Birmingham; Mrs. Lettie Wooten, Calera; Mrs. Violet Ducker, Chattanooga, and Mrs. Edith Jones {sic=Sparrow}, Kinston, NC; 25 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Obituary of Mrs. Ella Nora Falls

"The Birmingham News" page 32, Friday 4 October 1974
MRS. ELLA NORA FALLS, 83, of 3741 Seventh Ave., Wylam, who died Thursday, was a native of Tennessee. She lived in the Birmingham area more that 50 years, and was a longtime employee of The Birmingham News. She was a Gold Star Mother and a member of the First Church of God of Bessemer. Funeral will be 11am Saturday at Brown Service Bessemer with burial at Oaklawn Cemetery. Survivors are four daughters, Mrs. O.E. Smith, Hueytown, Mrs. C.H. Smith, McCalla, Mrs. H. Eugene Jones, Homewood, Mrs. Mike Hassett, Albany, Ga.; two brothers, Charlie L. Jones, Anniston, Wesley Jones, Birmingham, and three sisters, Mrs. Jim Ducker, California, Mrs. Edith Sparrrow>, Kingston, NC, and Mrs. Lettie Wooten, Wylam. Ella Nora Jones was born in Benton, Polk Co, Tenn, she married J. Harry Falls in Georgia.

Margaret Ann Thurman was born in Polk Co., Tenn. and married Jonas Jones there.

Submitted by Judy J. Davis

James William Segraves
SEGRAVES RITES SET
Cleveland Banner November 19, 1957
James William Segraves, 99 died in a Knoxville haspital Saturday afternoon November 16, 1957, after a lengthy illness. Born in North Carolina, he had lived in (Polk County) Tennessee most of his life. He was employed by the Tennessee Copper Comapny for 45 years. Surviving are four sons; Olen of Cleveland, Earl and Weldon of New York City, N.Y., and Lee Segraves of Baltimore, Md.; 12 grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Funeral service will be conducted Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Lebanon Baptist Church with Rev. M.L. Howard and Rev. Leonard Higgins officiating. Interment will be in the church cemetary with Murphy-Buckner directing. Friends of the family may call at the home at 223 Broad Street, SW until the service hour.

Submitted by vmhb

NORA EDNA MASON-DOYLE
Nora Edna MASON DOYLE of Hodgen, Oklahoma passed away on August 26, 1972 in Poteau, Oklahoma. Nora was born on October 23, 1904 in Hamilton County, Tennessee; she was the daughter of James Perry and Martha Lou Ellen HAWKINS MASON. Granddaughter of Harrison and Martha MASON of Polk County, Tennessee and Jeptha M and Angeline Brown-HAWKINS. She had been a resident of Hodgen, Oklahoma the greater part of her life. Burial was at Heavener Memorial Park. Survivors include her husband Samuel Lee DOYLE of the home, daughter, Wanda Lee BRANSTETTER, Independence, Missouri and son, Paul Emery DOYLE of Independence, Missouri. One daughter, Velma Grafftas preceded her in death in 1970, one son, died in infancy and grandson Paul Alan Grafftas died of polio in 1963. Brother, Poley MASON of Welch, WV. Sisters, Pearl SHEARER and Lillian Elbertson of Poteau. Another sister Lucy Haley of San Pedro, CA. She leaves four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Source: Heavener Legend

Submitted by Paula Doyle-Bicket