Tennessee, U.S., Delayed Birth Records, 1869-1909
EDNA ELIZABETH WADDELL DINKINS
1913-2008
McKENZIE - Edna Elizabeth Waddell Dinkins, 95, died Thursday, March 13, at McKenzie Health Care Center. Funeral services were Saturday, March 15, at 11 a.m. at McKenzie Funeral Home with Bro. John Forgy officiating. Burial followed in Carroll Memorial Gardens.
Mrs. Dinkins, a retired factory worker, was born December 31, 1912 in McKenzie to the late Eber and Hallie Lankford Waddell. She was a Cumberland Presbyterian in faith. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, John Howard Dinkins; and one son, Joe Dinkins.
Survivors include: one son, Robert Hugh (Ann) Dinkins; two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Shiloh Cumberland Presbyterian Church in McKenzie.
MARY DOROTHY BEAL
1924-2008
HUNTINGDON - Mary Dorothy Beal, 84, died Friday, March 14, at Life Care Center in Bruceton. Funeral services were Tuesday, March 18, at 2 p.m. at Chase Funeral Home with Bro. Steve Atwood officiating. Burial followed in Parker's Crossroads cemetery.
Mrs. Beal was born February 18, 1924 in Carroll County to the late Will Brandon and Viola Bush Brandon. She was a Baptist by belief and a retired sewing machine operator for Henry I. Seigel. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by one son, Donald Beal; two sisters, Allie May Wilson and Brooksie Brandon; two brothers, William Brandon, and Ray Brandon.
Survivors include: seven daughters, Frances Pritchard of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Peggy (Tony) Davis, Jo Beal, Janice (Larry) Douglas, and Wanda Waugh, all of Huntingdon, Kathy Jowers of Dallas, Texas, Lisa (Albert) Frantzman of Memphis; three sons, Dan (Judy) Beal of Huntingdon, Larry (Christine) Beal of Red Bay, Alabama, and Michael (Rose) Beal of Huntingdon; one sister, Shirley (Lloyd) Crider of Huntingdon; two brothers, Johnny (Becky) Brandon of Indiana, and Paul (Janie) Brandon of St. Louis, Missouri; 23 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
BLANCHE BIRDWELL
1915-2008
CAMDEN - Blanche Birdwell, 92, died Friday, March 14, at Camden General Hospital. Funeral services were Sunday, March 16, at 2 p.m. at Mt. Nebo Baptist Church in Buena Vista with Bro. Truman Miller officiating.
Mrs. Birdwell was born August 30, 1915 in Buena Vista to the late Carzy Clifford Cole and Ruth Esther Dickerson Cole. She was employed at Publix Shirt Factory in Huntingdon and was a member of Oak Grove Baptist Church. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Leon Birdwell; and one sister, Louise Cole Smothers of Camden.
Survivors include: one sister, Ada Ruth Cole Kelly of Nashville; and one brother, Willard Cole of Ft. Worth, Texas.
Chase Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
DON OWEN BERRY
1934-2008
McKENZIE - Don Owen Berry, 73, died Saturday, July 12, at his home. Funeral services were Tuesday, July 15, at 11 a.m. at McKenzie Funeral Home with Rev. Dennis Beal and Rev. Dennis Trull officiating. Burial followed with military honors at Carroll Memorial Gardens.
Mr. Berry was born August 18, 1934 in McKenzie to the late Carlos Pratt and Jessie Causey Berry. He was a retired iron worker, member of McKenzie First Baptist Church and U.S. Army veteran.
Survivors include: his wife, Lois Walls Berry of McKenzie; one daughter, Paula Townsend of Memphis; one son, Ronnie Cooper of McKenzie; four sisters, Peggy Sydnor, June Nanney, Cherry Rittenberry, and Patty Price, all of McKenzie; three brothers, Horace Berry, Milton Berry and Toney Berry, all of McKenzie; three grandchildren, Marvin Townsend, Jr. of Memphis, Penny White of Florida, and Stacy Sullivan of Murfreesboro; and one great-grandson, Oscar Austin Townsend of Memphis.
SHIRLEY J. GRIFFIN
1938-2008
McKENZIE - Shirley J. Griffin, 69, died Monday, July 7, at her home. Funeral services were Tuesday, July 8, at 3:00 p.m. at Williams Funeral Home in Greenfield. Burial followed in Pilgrims Rest cemetery in McKenzie. Mrs. Griffin was born November 23, 1938 to the late C.A. Tate and Lucille (Byrum) Tate. She was a former factory worker for H.I.S. Industries. Besides her parents, Mrs. Griffin was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Griffin; and one sister, Mildred Cooper.
Survivors include: one son, Ricky Griffin of McKenzie; one daughter, Kathy (Griffin) Brennan of McKenzie; and three brothers, Alton Tate of Gleason, David Tate of Dyersburg, and Joseph Coy Tate of McKenzie.
RUBY LEE WALKER
1928-2008
TREZEVANT - Ruby Lee Walker, 79, died Monday, July 7, at Jackson Madison County General Hospital. Funeral services were Thursday, July 10, at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Trezevant with burial in Republican Grove cemetery in Trezevant.
Mrs. Walker was born October 22, 1928 to the late Jodie and Gillie Johns Ervin. She was co-owner of Walker's Red & White Grocery in Trezevant and was a cook. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Billy Walker; and one sister, Dean Hargrove.
Survivors include: three daughters, Joyce Lunsford of Trezevant, Jill (Butch) Browning of Medina and Pat (Randy) Hudgins of Trezevant; one son, Jack (Cindy) Walker of Trezevant; one sister, Peggy Jo Hopper of McKenzie; one brother, Dwayne Ervin of Union City; nine grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Memorials can be made to the First Baptist Church Building Fund in Trezevant or to the American Diabetes Association.
NORMA KATHRYN COUCH
1916-2008
McKENZIE - Norma Kathryn Couch, 91, died Tuesday, July 8, at her home. Funeral services were Friday, July 11, at 11 a.m. at Brummitt Funeral Home with burial in Blooming Grove cemetery, McKenzie.
Mrs. Couch was born November 30, 1916 to the late Oscar and Fay Cates Cook. She was an office manager for Couch's Printing. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by one sister, Frances Spotts.
Survivors include: her husband, Morey Couch of McKenzie; two daughters, Kathy (Larry) Rosengreen of Fullerton, California and Maurilee (Tom) Walker of Star Valley, Arizona; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
BETTY SUE TOWNSEND
1933-2008
McKENZIE - Betty Sue Townsend, 74, died Thursday, July 10, at McKenzie Regional Hospital. Funeral services were Saturday, July 12, at 4 p.m. at McKenzie Funeral Home with Bro. Wayne Holmes and Bro. Bobby Mann officiating. Burial followed in Everetts Chapel cemetery.
Mrs. Townsend was born November 20, 1933 in McKenzie to the late William Onzie and Bessie Grace Thomas Harris. She was a member of Concord Baptist Church and a retired clothing manufacturing employee of Wilker Brothers, Bill Sills, Public Shirt and HIS. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by four sisters, Carnice Stone, Desi Hale, Dola Berry, Ethel Clark; and one brother, Johnny (Bill) Butler Harris.
Survivors include: two sons, Ralph Townsend and Randy (Cheryl) Townsend, both of McKenzie; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
MABLE SUE ANDERSON WHITSON
1926-2008
HENRY - Mable Sue Anderson Whitson, 81, died Thursday, July 10, at McKenzie Healthcare. Graveside services were Friday, July 11, at 4:30 p.m. at Chapel Hill Methodist cemetery in Huntingdon with Roger Graham officiating.
Mrs. Whitson was born December 19, 1926 in McKenzie to the late Gus Shrader and Jewel Traywick Hamilton. She was a member of Henry Church of Christ. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husbands, Russell Anderson and Sherman Whitson; stepfather, Charley Hamilton; and three brothers, Jerry, Harvey and Fred Hamilton.
Survivors include: two daughters, Russelene Anderson and Retha Sue Anderson, both of Henry; one sister, Helen Marie (Joe Lee) Hamilton of Indiana; two brothers, Paul Hamilton and Loyd (Patricia) Hamilton, both of McKenzie; one stepsister, Maggie Knott; and two grandchildren.
J.C. LOWRY
1948-2008
GLEASON - J.C. Lowry, 60, died Thursday, July 10, at McKenzie Regional Hospital. Funeral services were Sunday, July 13, at 2 p.m. at Gallimore Funeral Home with Terry Griffin and Tony Michael Simmons officiating. Burial followed in West Union cemetery.
Mr. Lowry was born February 4, 1948 in Martin to the late James Eaf and Brooksie Watson Lowry. He was a lab tech at Unimin Clay Company and member of VFW and American Legion.
Survivors include: his wife, Patricia Owen Lowry; one son, Clint (Kim) Lowry of Gleason; three daughters, Chris Lowry, Misty (Jamie) Thomson and Trisha (Britt) McClain, all of Gleason; one brother, R.T. Lowry of Big Sandy; and seven grandchildren.
WALTER REECE "WALT" MONTGOMERY
1924-2008
HUNTINGDON - Walter Reece "Walt" Montgomery, 83, died Thursday July 10, at his home. Graveside services were Saturday, July 12, at 11 a.m. at Oak Hill cemetery. A celebration of life will be held August 2 at First Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Montgomery was born August 3, 1924, in McKenzie to the late William Reece and Ruby Berryhill Montgomery. He was a self-employed recruiter for ManPower, a Mason and a member of the First Presbyterian Church. He and Mary Belle operated an agriculture consulting business known as Walt Montgomery and Associates. He served in World War II and in the 99th Bomber Group of the 15th Air Force.
Montgomery grew up a sharecropper's son and vowed to leave the farm when he grew up. He joined the Air Force and later served in the European Theater during WWII, where he piloted the B-17 Flying Fortress. He flew missions over Europe including one considerably long mission to bomb Berlin. The mission included the bombing of factories, fuel depots, railroads and bridges. The mission was so long, the squadron had to land in Kiev Russia. On one mission from Italy, Montgomery and his crew of nine abandoned a severely crippled aircraft over Yugoslovia when he knew he could not overfly the Alps. They were sneaked into Belgrade in horse-drawn carts, however, he and his navigator were captured. The two were able to escape during enemy crossfire. They were rescued by an American aircraft during a night rescue mission.
His first experience with an aircraft was a bi-wing plane at Holland's Farm in McKenzie. As a five-year-old, his job was to keep the cows shooed away from the bi-wing aircraft parked at Holland's Farm. His reward for his work was a ride in the plane. The die was cast and Montgomery fell in love with flying.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by three sisters, Grace Robbins, Nell Chambers, and Larue Kennon; and one brother, Grailey Montgomery.
Survivors include: his wife, Mary Belle Key Montgomery; two daughters, Debbie Zellner of Forysth, Georgia and Cindy Stea of Nashville; three sons, Billy Bolin of California, Roger Montgomery of Vincennes, Indiana, and Ben Montgomery of York, South Carolina; 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Dilday Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
RICHARD M. LAMAR
1957-2008
MANSFIELD - Richard M. Lamar, 61, died Friday, July 11, at St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville. Funeral services are Wednesday, July 16, at 11 a.m. at Ridgeway Funeral Home with Rex Buford officiating. Burial will follow in New Bethel cemetery in Henry.
Mr. Lamar was born April 28, 1957 in Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. He last worked for Phifer's Construction in Big Sandy, was formerly employed by City of Paris in the sanitation department, member of Fairview Baptist Church and Mansfield Fire Department. He was preceded in death by his mother, Margaret Bell Lamar.
Survivors include: his father, Walter Carson Lamar of Holland, Texas; two sisters, Debbie (Scott) Glaser of Old Fort, North Carolina and Helga (Mark) Singleton of Henry; and four brothers, Robert Linton Lamar of Tiptonville, Raymond Clinton Lamar and Ralph William Lamar, both of Henry, and Randy Lamar of Savanna, Illinois.
BILLY GEAN STIGALL
1939-2008
McKENZIE - Billy Gean Stigall, 69, formerly of Gleason, died Tuesday, June 17, at McKenzie Health Care. Funeral services were Thursday, June 19, at 2:00 p.m. at McKenzie Funeral Home with Bro. Kenny Carr, Bro. Lammie Lammersfeld and Dr. Dale Denning officiating. Burial followed at Hopewell cemetery in Gleason.
Mr. Stigall was born January 18, 1939 in Gleason to the late Arvil and Louise Upchurch Stigall. He was a retired carpenter and builder and a member of Long Heights Baptist Church. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Wilburn Stigall.
Survivors include: his wife of 49 years, Barbara Denning Stigall of McKenzie; one daughter, Jackie (Kenny) Carr of McKenzie; one son, Steve (Mary Katherine) Stigall of Huntingdon; one sister, Sylvia Moody of Gleason; and three grandchildren; Derek Carr and Kelsey Carr, both of McKenzie and Peyton Stigall of Huntingdon.
Memorials may be made to Long Heights Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 545, McKenzie, TN 38201.
