Tennessee, U.S., Delayed Birth Records, 1869-1909
Betty Jo Martin
Betty Jo Martin, 74, of Athens, died Sunday, Feb. 1, 2009, at Athens Regional Medical Center.
A native of Monroe County, and a resident of McMinn County for most of her life, she was a daughter of the late Sam and Retha Plaster Webb. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Robert Rufus Martin, on Dec. 10, 2004; one daughter, Martha Gibson; and one brother, Dewey Webb. She was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include four sons and daughters-in-law, Sgt. Billy and Kim Martin of Etowah, and Johnny and Cynthia Martin, Ricky Martin and Raymond Martin, all of Athens; one daughter, Joyce Morgan of Athens; two stepsons, Lester Martin and Charles Martin, both of Cleveland; three stepdaughters and spouses, Wanda and Kenneth Baxter of Englewood, Alice Baxter of Athens, and Minnie and Dave Jeffers of Cleveland; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Larry and Betty Webb of Etowah, and John and Thelma Webb of Athens; one sister and brother-in-law, Louise and Bill Baxter of Athens; 15 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday in the chapel of Laycock-Hobbs Funeral Home with the Rev. Scott Cardin officiating. Burial will follow in McMinn Memory Gardens.
Active pallbearers will be Ricky Martin, Raymond Martin, Billy Martin, John Martin, Cody Martin and William Morgan.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Thomas "Tom" Reuben Buckner Jr.
Thomas "Tom" Reuben Buckner Jr., 73, of Athens, died Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009, at Roane Medical Center in Harriman.
A native of Tellico Plains, and a resident of McMinn County since 1957, he was a son of the late Thomas Reuben Buckner Sr. and Anna Evangeline Lawson Buckner. Hee retired from Bowater Paper Corporation in 1998 after 42 years of service, and was a U.S. Army veteran. He was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include his wife, Ruth Longmire Buckner of Athens; one son and daughter-in-law, Thomas "Tommy" and Connie Buckner of Riceville; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Sharon and Billy Kinser of Sweetwater, Sherri Tice of Athens, and Terri and Bill Rutledge of Grapevine, Texas; one sister and brother-in-law, Doris and Harold Hicks of Kingsport; nine grandchildren, Nicole, Caleb and Logan Chouinard, Robbie, John and Amanda Tice, Brianna Buckner and Jessica and Alisha McJunkins; four great-grandchildren, Brayden Runyan and Luke, Walker and Jared Chouinard; two nieces and spouses, Angelyn and Steve Johnson and Andrea and Roy Rogers; and one great-niece, Adrienne Rogers.
Funeral services will be 8 p.m. Friday in the chapel of Laycock-Hobbs Funeral Home with the Rev. J.J. Christman officiating. Burial will be 11 a.m. Saturday in McMinn Memory Gardens.
Active pallbearers will be Steve Sitzlar, Joe Lingerfelt, Wayne Thomas, Bill Baskett, Shazzon Bradley and Bill Crofts.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Dewey James Purkey
Dewey James Purkey, 79, of Sweetwater, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009, at Sweetwater Hospital.
A native of Loudon County, a former resident of McMinn County, and a resident of Sweetwater for three years, he was a son of the late James Isaac and Violet Augusta Freels Purkey. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Wilma Barbee Purkey; one brother, Robert Grubb; and one sister, Pauline Grubb. He was a member of Fellowship Baptist Church and a former deacon of East Athens Baptist Church. He was a Jewell Tea salesman and the former owner of Purkey's Office Supply. He was a 32nd Degree Mason, having been Worshipful Master of Meridian Sun Lodge 50. He was a member of York Rite, receiving the Distinguished Honor of Knights of the York Cross of Honor (K.Y.C.H.) in 1996 and was York Rite secretary/recorder from 1996 to 2003.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Ruth Harvey Purkey of Sweetwater; one son and daughter-in-law, David Robert and Mary Jane Purkey of Athens; one daughter and son-in-law, Ann Purkey and Aaron Billings of Niota; one sister, Evelyn Ettinger of Madison Heights, Mich.; two grandchildren, Nicholas Purkey and Laura Purkey; one sister-in-law, Glenda Jolly of Knoxville; two brothers-in-law, Junior Barbee and Mayford Barbee, both of Jefferson City; two nephews and one spouse, Tim Jolly and Tony and Amanda Jolly; two great-nieces, Madison and Brooklyn Jolly; and several other nieces and nephews.
Masonic services will be 7:45 p.m. Saturday in the chapel of Laycock-Hobbs Funeral Home with Meridian Sun Lodge 50 officiating. Funeral services will follow with the Rev. Johnny Carr and the Rev. Phillip Murphy officiating. Burial will be 2 p.m. Sunday in McMinn Memory Gardens.
Active pallbearers will be Tim Jolly, Tony Jolly, Gary Harvey, Wayne Harvey, Terry Billings and Johnny Helton.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 7:45 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Window Fund of Etowah First Baptist Church, 824 Washington Ave., Etowah, TN 37331.
French Glen "Bud" Grubb
French Glen "Bud" Grubb, 74, of Athens, died Monday, Feb. 23, 2009, at his residence.
A native and lifelong resident of McMinn County, he was a son of the late William Grubb and Viola Mae "Kay" Butler Grubb Corbett. He was preceded in death by his stepfather, Marvin Earl Corbett; one brother, Jewel Grubb; one sister, Beverly Weber; and one grandson, Ernest Glen Grubb. He was retired from Collins-Aikman, was a member of Clearwater Baptist Church and had attended Riceville United Methodist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Sara Elizabeth Rue Grubb of Athens; two sons and daughters-in-law, Steve and Penny Grubb of Niota, and Johnny Glen and Cindy Grubb of Decatur; his former daughter-in-law, Lynette Culberson of Athens; one brother and sister-in-law, John and Rhonda Corbett of Athens; one brother-in-law, Roy Rue of Niota; one sister-in-law, Dorothy Vines of Tampa, Fla.; six grandchildren and spouses, Dusty Grubb, Chris and Celeste Grubb, Todd and Laura Grubb, Cody Grubb, Crystal and Brad Holder and Beth and Stacey Emerson; 17 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be 8 p.m. Tuesday in the chapel of Laycock-Hobbs Funeral Home. Burial will be noon Wednesday in Clearwater cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Dusty Grubb, Chris Grubb, Todd Grubb, Cody Grubb, Stacy Emerson, Dale Miller, Randall Waldrop, Brad Holder and Travis Daniels. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Hallie Gurley Firestone
Hallie Gurley Firestone, 96, of Athens, died Tuesday, March 3, 2009, at NHC Health Care of Athens.
A native of Polk County, and a daughter of the late James Wesley and Donnie Jenkins Gurley, she was preceded in death by her husband, Waymon Firestone, on Dec. 20, 1995; one sister, Essie Davis; and three brothers, Coker L., Luther C. and Creed L. Gurley. Following their marriage in 1928, she and her husband lived, worked and reared their children in Polk and McMinn counties. In 1948, they sold the family farm and moved to Detroit, Mich., where she, along with her husband, was active in a Baptist church. They later moved to Streetsboro, Ohio, where they were instrumental in establishing and building a Southern Baptist church, in which she worked mainly with children and missions organizations and supported her husband who served as a deacon.
After his retirement, they returned to Athens, where she was a member of Athens First Baptist Church at the time of her death. She was a member of the Gleaners Sunday School Class, the Missions Organization and worked with Vacation Bible School until she was 90 years old. After returning to Athens, she worked at Athens Community Hospital and retired about 25 years ago. She did needlework as a hobby, cross-stitch, knitting, crocheting, quilting and other crafts, which she enjoyed giving to others.
Survivors include one daughter and son-in-law, Betty and Charles Kennedy of Athens; one son, Parnick H. Firestone of South Padre Island, Texas; three grandchildren and spouses, Karen and Douglas Harrod of Athens, Dennis Firestone of Phoenix, Ariz., and Charles "Chuck" and Billie Kennedy of Plantation, Fla.; four great-granddaughters, Carli and Ella Firestone and Marianne and Amanda Kennedy; three great-grandsons, Joe Kennedy, Mark Harrod and John Harrod and his wife, Michelle; two great-great-grandchildren, Caroline and Grayson Harrod; one sister, Marie Harbison of Delano; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Friday in the chapel of Laycock-Hobbs Funeral Home with the Rev. Harold Firestone officiating. Burial will follow in McMinn Memory Gardens.
Active pallbearers will be Dennis Firestone, Chuck Kennedy, Joe Kennedy, Douglas Harrod, John Harrod and Mark Harrod.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
James William Clark
James William Clark, 14, of Decatur, died Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009, at his residence from injuries sustained in an accidental shooting.
He was born Jan. 27, 1995, in Knoxville, and was a lifelong resident of Decatur. He was preceded in death by his paternal great-grandparents, Ruth "Mamaw Dew" and Willard Overstreet; and his grandfathers, Eldin Clark and Joseph Doby Webb. He was an eighth-grade student at Meigs Middle School, where he loved his friends, played on the youth football team and looked forward to playing in high school next year. He was a member of Victory Baptist Church in Niota, was a part of the youth group there, which he loved, and was saved and baptized this past year. He was a happy and very loving young man who will stay in our hearts forever.
Survivors include his parents, Scotty and Bonnie Webb Clark of Decatur; his grandparents, Jimmy and Annette Pressley of Decatur, and Irene Webb of Philadelphia; his great-grandmothers, Sue Crabtree of Decatur, and Mammie Webb of Cleveland; two aunts and one spouse, Teresa "Aunt T.T." and Lee Whitener of Etowah, and Janie Risner of Philadelphia; two uncles and one spouse, Daniel Webb and Wayne and Tammy Webb, all of Philadelphia; cousins, Nathan Whitener and fiance, Katelyn Bivens, and Megan Whitener, all of Etowah, Lindsey and Steven Webb and Larry, Joseph and Marco Risner, all of Philadelphia; and several great-aunts, great-great-aunts, great-uncles, great-great-uncles and cousins who loved him.
Funeral services will be 8 p.m. Tuesday in the chapel of Laycock-Hobbs Funeral Home with the Rev. Chad Hester officiating. Burial will be 2 p.m. Wednesday in Mountain View Memorial Gardens.
Active pallbearers be Thomas Dunn, Zack Lowe, Dakota Lowe, Tommy Trew, Tyler Trew, Corey Schiestel, Lee Whitener, Nathan Whitener, Daniel Webb and Donnie Pressley.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the James William Clark Memorial Fund, c/o Teresa Whitener, Citizens National Bank, 1612 S. Congress Pkwy., Athens, TN 37303.
Marvin W. Melton
Marvin W. Melton, 76, of Athens, died Wednesday, March 4, 2009, at his residence.
A native and resident of McMinn County for most of his life, he was a son of the late Henry and Beulah Melton. He was a former employee of McMinn County High School, and was preceded in death by his wife, Willine Jones Melton, on Dec. 12, 2008; and one brother, Ray Melton.
Survivors include one sister, Loraine Lawson of Joliet, Ill.; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be 8 p.m. Friday in the chapel of Laycock-Hobbs Funeral Home. Burial will be 11 a.m. Saturday in McMinn Memory Gardens.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Jean Stanton
Jean Stanton, 66, of Athens, died Sunday, March 8, 2009, at Kindred Hospital in Chattanooga.
A native and lifelong resident of Athens, she was a daughter of the late Charlie and Edna McNabb McCormack. She was retired from Athens Products, was a member of North Athens Baptist Church and was preceded in death by her husband James Edward "Knocker" Stanton.
Survivors include two daughters and sons-in-law, Sheri Stanton Hall and husband, Randy, of Memphis, and Kimberly Stanton Skeen and husband, Ron, of Niota; and three grandchildren, Michelle Hall, Macy Skeen and Hailey Skeen.
Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Wednesday in the chapel of Laycock-Hobbs Funeral Home with the Rev. Allen Young officiating. Burial will follow in McMinn Memory Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Ron Skeen, Randy Hall, Greg Case, Doug Gentry, Ray Guffey and Ronnie Stanton.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Jessie Lee Howell
Jessie Lee Howell, 93, of Athens, died Monday morning, March 9, 2009, at NHC Health Care of Athens after a lengthy illness.
She was a member of North Athens Baptist Church, where she served as a Sunday school teacher for more than 50 years. She prepared the sacraments for the Lord's Supper for more than 25 years, and influenced many young ladies to become lifelong leaders in women's ministries. She attended Pleasant Hill Academy, where she cultivated her skills for baking and cooking. She was noted for entertaining her family and friends with delicious food. She was a hair dresser and owned Jessie Lee's Beauty Shop for 30 years. She was a devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother and friend. She was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Raymond H. Howell; two brothers, Ray Thomas Howell and William H. Howell; and her parents, Ray and Ovie Bussell Howell, formerly of Sparta.
Survivors include one daughter, Carole Whaley of Dalton, Ga.; one son and daughter-in-law, Jerry H. and Velva Howell of Athens; four grandchildren, Randy Dockins of Dalton, Ga., Todd and Michelle Howell of Manchester, Mark and Penny Howell of Georgetown, Ky., and Carol and Jimmy Brooks of Athens; eight great-grandchildren, Stephen Howell, Isabel Brooks, Elliott Brooks, Ryan Howell, Andrew Howell, Abby Howell, Allyson Howell and Olivia Howell; two step-grandchildren and their spouses, Carl and Nancy Whaley and Brenda and Bobby Cantrell, all of Dalton, Ga.; one brother, Kenneth Howell of Englewood; three sisters, Nellie Howell of Madisonville, Wilma Howell Boylin and Laverne Fuqua and her husband, Bryant, all of Nashville; four nieces, including one locally, Karen Burrell; one nephew; and great-nieces and great-nephews and many wonderful friends and caregivers, particularly those at NHC Health Care.
Funeral services will be 7 p.m. Tuesday in the chapel of Laycock-Hobbs Funeral Home. Burial will be Wednesday in Cedar Grove cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Helen Joye Swafford
Helen Joye Swafford, 61, of Riceville, died Tuesday, March 10, 2009, at SkyRidge Medical Center in Cleveland.
A native and lifelong resident of McMinn County, she was a daughter of the late George "G.A." and Mildred Womac Swafford. She was a member of Meadow Fork Baptist Church and the Tennessee School for the Deaf Club.
Survivors include her husband of 35 years, Glenn Swafford of Riceville; three sisters and brothers-in-law, Veda Sue and Gary Morgan of Riceville, Faye and Charles Rowland of Athens, and Virginia Ruth and Billy Callahan of Calhoun; one brother and sister-in-law, James A. and Lynn Dean of Charleston; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Thursday at Meadow Fork Baptist Church with the Rev. Ray Ingram and the Rev. Joseph Hicks officiating. Burial will follow in Meadow Fork cemetery. The body will lie in-state at the church from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday.
Active pallbearers will be Jeff Humbert, Steve Byrum, Eddie Rowland, Mel Rowland, Casey Suits, Jared Suits and Little David Lee Burris.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Shirley Ann Kincannon
Shirley Ann Kincannon, 73, of Englewood, who loved her home church and family, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, March 12, 2009, at her residence.
A native of Oklahoma City, Okla., and a resident of McMinn County for 53 years, she was a daughter of the late Clarence and Audrey Mobley Horton. She was a member of Boyd Memorial Church of God, and was preceded in death by one infant son, Billy Ray Kincannon.
Survivors include her husband of 50 years, the Rev. Frank D. Kincannon of Englewood; two sons and daughters-in-law, Dale and Peggy Hayes of Ten Mile, and John and Tommie Kincannon of Englewood; three daughters and sons-in-law, Debbie and Howard Rose of Ten Mile, and Jeanne and Dale Abernathy and Frankie and Wayne Lively, all of Maryville; 12 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and two living cousins, Janice Beck and Ronnie Sams, both of Oklahoma City, Okla.
Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Sunday at Boyd Memorial Church of God with the Rev. Raymond Clore and the Rev. Chris Hampton officiating. Burial will follow in Pisgah cemetery with grandsons serving as pallbearers.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
