Tennessee, U.S., Delayed Birth Records, 1869-1909
Thomas Everett Smith
1941-2005
HENRY - Services for Thomas Everett Smith, 63, were held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, February 3, at Ridgeway Funeral Home with Alan Trull officiating. Interment
followed in Rushing cemetery.
Mr. Smith, a Henry County school bus driver for 30 years, was dead on arrival on Tuesday, February 1, at Henry County Medical Center. He was a cattle farmer and a former member of the Henry Saddle Club.
He was born June 15, 1941, to Edith Anderson Smith Stockdale of Henry and the late Thomas Numa Smith. His stepfather, W.B. Stockdale, preceded him in death.
Survivors include his wife, Glenda L. Cox Hamlin Smith; a daughter, Bobbie Jo Toombs of McKenzie; two sons, Billy Joe Hamlin of Henry and Ricky Thomas Smith of Medina; two sisters, Patsy Wyrick of Paris and Debbie Titterington of Highland Village, Texas; one brother, Jimmy Smith of Henry; and five grandchildren.
Paul Staten
1943-2004
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA: Services for Paul Staten, 61, were at 1:00 p.m. Sunday, February 6, in the Chase Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. John Williams officiating. Interment
followed in the Hopewell cemetery in Yuma.
Mr. Staten died on Thursday, January 17, in Las Vegas.
He was born November 3, 1943, in Carroll County. He was a supervisor for the Republic Recycling Center in Las Vegas. He was preceded in death by his mother, Trulay Staten, seven aunts, one niece and two nephews.
Survivors include his wife, Carolyn Howard Staten; his father, John Rivers; four daughters: Cynthia Staten of Kinchclo, Michigan, Trula Staten of Texas, and Stephanie Staten-DeBois and Melissa Ann Staten, both of Las Vegas; three sons: Jeremy Staten of Las Vegas and James Paul Staten and Devon Staten, both of Wildersville; one sister, Mary Ann Hart of Clarksburg; two brothers, Jeffrey Rivers of Fayetteville, North Carolina, and John M. Rivers of Huntingdon; and 15 grandchildren.
Timothy Cloyce Swinford
1964-2004
YUMA - Services for Timothy Cloyce Swinford, 40, were on Tuesday, February 8, at 2:00 p.m., in the Yuma Missionary Baptist Church with Bro. Phillip Halters officiating. Interment
followed in the New Hope cemetery in Yuma.
Mr. Swinford died Saturday, February 5, at Baptist Memorial Hospital.
He was born February 13, 1964, in Toone. He was a heavy equipment operator for the Yates Construction Company and also pastored the New Prospect Missionary Baptist Church in Parsons. He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Cloyce VanAlstine.
Survivors include his wife, Teresa Burton Swinford; his father and mother, Walter Jerome Swinford and Leola Mae VanAlstine Swinford of Yuma; his grandmother, Viola VanAlstine of Clarksburg; two daughters, Amanda Robbins and Rebecca Ann Swinford, and one son, Timothy Cloyce Swinford, Jr., all of Yuma; three sisters: Tina Swinford of Corpus Christi, Texas, Teresa Williams of Marion, Arkansas, and Tammy Ashcroft of Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas; five brothers: Thomas Swinford of Jackson, Tony Swinford of Mississippi, Walter Swinford, Jr. of Jackson, and Toby Swinford and Michael Swinford, all of Yuma; and one grandson.
Robert Eugene Ezell
1954-2005
McKENZIE - Graveside services for Robert Eugene Ezell, 50, were at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 8, at Pleasant Green cemetery in Trezevant. Brummitt Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Mr. Ezell, who was disabled, died Sunday, February 6, at his residence.
He was born April 25, 1954, in McKenzie.
Survivors include his father, Gene Ezell, and his mother, Dorothy Crews Ezell, both of McKenzie; three sons, Adam (Jessica) Ezell and Edgar Longworth, both of McKenzie and Casey (Beth) Ezell of Paris; three daughters, Angela (Danny) Allen, Cindy Lovell and Dana Copeland, all of McKenzie; a special friend, Mary Longworth of McKenzie; and ten grandchildren: Ariel Allen, Issac Ezell, Brianna Ezell, Dalton Lovell, Hunter Lovell, Kaley Longworth, Jessica Copeland, Christopher Copeland, Steve Nevells and Kayla Nevells.
He was preceded in death by a son, Anthony Scott Ezell.
Merle Kilgore
1934-2005
Henry Countian, Country Artist
PARIS - Merle Kilgore, who co-wrote "Ring of Fire" during a wide-ranging career in music, died Sunday evening in Mexico of medical complications related to his treatment for cancer. He was 70.
Kilgore lived in Henry County since 1986 and was the manager of Hank Williams, Jr., also a resident of Henry County.
During his career, Kilgore was a singer, songwriter, disc jockey, radio program director, actor and manager.
As a songwriter, he co-wrote "Ring of Fire" with June Carter, which became a hit in 1963 for Johnny Cash. Ms. Carter later become Cash's wife.
He also wrote "Wolverton Mountain", a hit in 1962 by Claude King, "More and More," a 1954 hit for Webb Pierce, and "Johnny Reb," a hit in 1959 by Johnny Horton. He was a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Behind the scenes, he was Williams' personal manager, and negotiated the deal for Williams' performances to open ABC's "Monday Night Football." He also worked with Hank Williams, Sr.
He had a long association with Williams, joining his road show in 1964 as opening act. He became general manager of Williams' publishing companies in 1969.
Kilgore also did some acting, appearing in "Coal Miner's Daughter," "Nashville," "Nevada Smith and "Five Card Stud."
As a singer, he had a Top 10 country hit in 1960, "Love Has Made You Beautiful." Kilgore had recording contracts with all the major Nashville record labels at one time or another.
Additionally, he and Elvis Presley performed together in the South just as Presley was launching his career in the mid-1950s.
Kilgore was born Aug. 9, 1934, in Chickasha, Okla., and grew up in Shreveport.
In October 2004, Kilgore received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Entertainment Buyers Association.
"I'm scratching and fighting my way back to the top," he said at the time.
Kilgore was named an honorary state senator in Tennessee and was inducted into the Louisiana Hall of Fame.
Kilgore is survived by his wife, Judy, sons Steve and Duane Kilgore, daughters Pam Compton, Kim Pomeroy and Shane McBee, eight grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
Hendersonville (Tennessee) Memory Gardens will be handling funeral arrangements, which are incomplete.
Raymond Alfred Dorsett, Sr.
BRUCETON - Services for Raymond Alfred Dorsett, Sr., 87, were Friday, October 5 at 2:30 p.m. at Hollow Rock Methodist Church with Rev. Robert White officiating. Burial was in the New Prospect cemetery near Hollow Rock. He was preceded in death by his wife, Letha Leone Dorsett.
Mr. Dorsett, retired superintendent and coach in the Texas school system, died Tuesday, October 2 at Lifecare in Bruceton.
He was born February 17, 1914 in Dodge City, Kansas to the late Alfred M. and Goldie M. Parkin Dorsett. He was a member of Hollow Rock Methodist Church; a former Mason and Scottish Rite and Shriner.
Survivors include one daughter and one son, Ella May Wyatt of Bruceton and Ray Dorsett, Jr. of El Paso, Texas; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Nadine King Parker
HUNTINGDON - Services for Nadine King Parker, 64, were Saturday, October 6 at 4:00 p.m. at Smyrna Missionary Baptist Church with Rev. Lonnie Parker officiting. Burial was in Humble cemetery.
Mrs. Parker died Wednesday, October 3 at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Huntingdon.
She was born July 27, 1937 in Huntingdon to the late Charlie King and Christiner (Willis) King. She was a member of Smyrna Missionary Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband Joseph Paul Parker; four daughters, Gloria Huffman of McKenzie, Margaret Knight and Christella Moore, both of Huntingdon and Brandy Parker of Antioch; three sons, Dexter Parker of Bruceton, Joseph (JJ) Parker and Jeffery Parker, both of Lexington; eight sisters, Bonnie Staten, Jessie Jamison, Raylene Jamison, Virgie Chapple, Miralyn Johnson and Eva Carter, all of Huntingdon, Rosalyn Milam of McKenzie and Wanda Cook of Jackson; four brothers, Mike King, Mack King and Charlie Lee King, all of Huntingdon and Leon King of Bay City, Michigan; and thirteen grandchildren.
Trinity Funeral Home of Paris was in charge of the arrangements.
Joe Louis Yarbrough
HUNTINGDON - Mr. Joe Louis Yarbrough, 64, died Saturday, October 6 at Baptist Memorial Hospital. Funeral services were conducted on Wednesday, October 10 at Smyrna Missionary Baptist Church with Brother Lonnie Parker officiating. Interment
followed in Carroll Memorial Gardens.
Mr. Yarbrough was born September 18, 1937 to the late Sandy and Verona Tharpe Yarbrough. He was an employee of Milan Arsenal for 30 years, a member of National Guard for 30 years and a member of Smyrna Missionary Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by a brother, Tom McCauley.
He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Mildred Williams Yarbrough; four sons, Princeton Yarbrough, Vasquze Yarbrough, Dwarry W. Yarbrough and Vincent R. Yarbrough, all of Huntingdon; three daughters, Marie Yarbrough and Kim O. Melton, both of Huntingdon and Sonya Yarbrough of Clarksville; one sister, DeLois Jamison of Huntingdon; fifteen grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Dilday Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Irene Blankenship Bishop
CEDAR GROVE - Mrs. Irene Blankenship Bishop, 73, died Thursday, October 4 at Baptist Memorial Hospital. Funeral services were conducted on Saturday, October 6 in the Dilday Funeral Home Chapel with Brother Wayne Holmes officiating. Interment
followed at New Bethel cemetery.
Mrs. Bishop was born April 16, 1928, to the late Dewey and Clara Roberson Blankenship in Arkansas. She was a retired production worker for the Milan Arsenal and a member of Hickory Flat Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Clyde Bishop, and a daughter, Janette Bishop.
She is survived by two daughters, Linda Ann Crider of Huntingdon and Vivian Kyle of Cedar Grove; two sisters, Lucille Jones of Cedar Grove and Marene Hollingsworth of Bruceton; three brothers, J. D. Blankenship of Huntingdon, Chester Lee Blankenship and James Blankenship, both of Cedar Grove; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Harold Donald Crider
HUNTINGDON - Mr. Harold Donald Crider, 61, died Monday, October 1 at his home. Funeral services were conducted Wednesday, October 3 at 2:00 p.m. in the Chase Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Bill Goodpasture and Bro. Ricky DePriest officiating. Interment
followed in the Sellers Hill cemetery.
Mr. Crider was born September 8, 1940 in Carroll County, to the late Lowell Alberta and Clytie Martha Jane Wiles Crider. One sister, Carolyn Joanne Depriest, also preceded him in death. He was a member of the Huntingdon Church of Christ, a veteran of the United States Army and a retired shipping handler for Norandal USA in Huntingdon.
He is survived by his wife, Louise Wheet Crider; two daughters, Cynthia Haynes of Holladay and Paula Kee of Huntingdon; one sister, Linda Doris Allen of Trezevant; five grandchildren and three step grandchildren.
Richard D. Sanders
SPRINGVILLE - Services for Richard Donald Sanders were at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, October 6 at Russwood Baptist Church, where he was a member with Pastor Kenneth Basham officiating. Burial followed in Memorial cemetery.
Sanders, 73, died Tuesday, October 2 at Baptist Memorial East Hospital in Memphis.
A Paris native, he was born October 31, 1927, a son of the late Cager A. and Cessie Mae Hoofman Sanders. He was married
March 15, 1951 to the former Hilda F. Fail, who survives.
A member of VFW, Sanders retired from the U.S. Air Force as a senior master sergeant and air traffic control supervisor. He taught school in McKenzie and Huntingdon for 16 years.
In addition to his wife, he leaves four daughters, Cynthia Brown of Henry, Patricia Hamlyn of Memphis, Theresa Sanders of Salem, Oregon and Debra Boaz of Murray; two sisters, Lucille Flowers and Betty Swor, both of Springville; a brother, Fred Sanders of Paris and two grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by three sisters, Laverne Merrell, Nonis Whichcar and Corene Ridley and four brothers, Floyd, Homer, Prince and Curtis Sanders.
Memorials may be made to the needy children's fund at Russwood Baptist Church.
