Tennessee, U.S., Delayed Birth Records, 1869-1909
Helen Marie Smiley Verven, age 78, of the Flat Creek Community of Williamson County, died Monday, October 1, 2007 in Nashville, Tennessee. Mrs. Verven was a daughter of the late John Lowry and Marguerite Johnson Smiley. She was a homemaker and former employee of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mrs. Verven attended Edwards Grove Church in the Flat Creek Community of Williamson County. She was preceded in death by her husband, George Owen Verven, who died in October of 2001, a sister, Dorothy "Dot" Austin and a brother, Gordon Smiley.
Mrs. Verven is survived by three sons, Charles Owen Verven, Waldorf, Maryland, David Mark Verven, Columbia, Maryland and Brian Allan Verven, College Grove; daughter, Jean Marie Garrison, Mt. Juliet; sister, Betty Kay Smiley Horton, Thompson Station; three brothers, Joe N. Smiley, Yakima, Washington, John D. Smiley, Lewisburg, Mike E. Smiley, Franklin; granddaughter, Kimberly Ann Verven Conklin, College Grove; great grandson, Bryce Owen Conklin, College Grove.
Lawrence Funeral Home
Jimmie D. Marable, age 91, of the Rocky Glade Community, died September 29, 2007 at Peachtree Nursing Center.
She was born in Rutherford County and was the daughter of the late James Madison and Minnie Jane Hall Clark. She is survived by her brother, Riley Eugene Clark of Murfreesboro.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Champion Marable; her brother, Grady Cecil Clark; her sisters, Minnie Sudberry, Eleanor Lee, Willie Holden and Fannie Rosen. Mrs. Marable and her husband owned and operated the Marable’s Grocery Store in the Rocky Glade Community for many years.
Woodfin Memorial Chapel
Mr. Edward Lee Manier, age 77, of Eagleville died Tuesday, September 25, 2007, in Murfreesboro. Mr. Manier was born in Jacksonville, Alabama and was a son of the late David Lemuel and Nina Lee Manier.
He was retired from the Eagleville Co-Op after 43 years of service, of which he served as the manager for 37 years. In addition, he was also a farmer. Mr. Manier was a 55 year member of the Eagleville United Methodist Church. He was preceded in death by a sister, Evelyn Avaritt.
Mr. Manier is survived by his wife, Marie Smith Manier of Eagleville; daughter Lisa Manier of Franklin; two sons, Glen David Manier and Jerry Lee (Susie) Manier, both of Eagleville; two sisters, Mary Alice (Bobby) Crick of Little Rock, Arkansas, Hazel (Charles) Carlton of Normandy; and two grandchildren, David and Danielle Manier of Eagleville.
Lawrence Funeral Home
David Graham, age 54, of Murfreesboro, died Monday, September 24, 2007 in Nashville after an extended illness. Mr. Graham was a native of Bedford County and served in the United States Army. He was a residential and commercial construction welder. Mr. Graham was preceded in death by a son, Eric Dewayne Graham who died in 1993.
He is survived by a son, Brian David Graham of Liberty; father George Graham of College Grove; mother Maggie Pruitt Barnes of Fayetteville; three sisters, Donna (Ken) Shepherd of Memphis, Dianne (Martin) Johnson of Howell; Gayle Starr of Murfreesboro.
Lawrence Funeral Home
James Robert "Bob" Lester Sr., age 72, passed away on September 22, 2007 at Middle Tennessee Medical Center. He was a native of Grundy County, but lived most of his life in Rutherford County. He was a former employee of Wick s Lumber and worked as a receiving manager. He also was a co-owner and founder of L & H Disposal Company. He was a member of the Baptist Church.
Mr. Lester was preceded in death by his parents, David William and Johnnie Theo Fulghum Lester; brother, Charles Lester. James is survived by his wife, Emma Jean Jones Lester of Christiana; son, James Robert Lester Jr. of Bell Buckle; daughters, Gloria Herman of Christiana and Rebecca Lester of Christiana; brother, Donald Lester of Eagleville; sister, Bonnie Wilson of Jacksonville, Florida; eight grandchildren; four great grandchildren.
Jennings & Ayers Chapel
Myrtle Bellenfant Ray, age 91, of the Rover Community of Bedford County, died Wednesday, September 19, 2007 at the home of her daughter. Mrs. Ray was a native of Bedford County and was a daughter of the late Nicholas Dalton and Mattie Cothran Bellenfant. She was a member of the Kingdom Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Ray retired from Bedford County Nursing Home where she worked as a caregiver. Following her retirement, she also served as a private caregiver for many more years. She was preceded in death by her husband, John William "Bud" Ray who died in 1986.
She is survived by three daughters, Martha Thomas of Smyrna, Annette Burns of Shelbyville, Penny Dunaway of Unionville; two sons, John Wayne Ray of Nashville, Larry Cooper Ray of Unionville; brother Ben Wilson Bellenfant of Brentwood; twelve grandchildren and step-grandchildren; sixteen great grandchildren and step-great grandchildren.
She was a devoted and loving mother grandmother and will be sadly missed by her family and friends.
Lawrence Funeral Home
Ronald Earl Brackin, age 63, of Rockvale died Sunday, September 16, 2007. He was born in Cairo, Illinois, and retired after serving in the U.S. Army. Following his retirement, he also was a convenience store manager. Mr. Brackin was preceded in death by his father, Robert Thomas Brackin.
He is survived by his wife, Linda Marie Brackin of Rockvale; daughter Nadine Marie Brackin of Eugene, Oregon; mother Ruth Dotson Coyle of Nashville; and sister Ann Stewart of Smyrna.
Lawrence Funeral Home
Sarah Dossett Brantley, age 102, of Shelbyville, formerly of Sharps Chapel, died Saturday, September 15, 2007 in Shelbyville after an extended illness. Mrs. Brantley was the oldest member of Oak Grove Church of Sharps Chapel, Tennessee. She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Brantley, son Delona Brantley and Daughter Gniece Brantley.
Mrs. Brantley is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Barbara and Tom Lamb of Rockvale; son and daughter-in-law, Wayne and Mamie Brantley of Maryville; two sisters, Eva Dalton of Kokomo, Indiana and Goldie White of West Jefferson, North Carolina; nine grandchildren; nineteen great grandchildren; and five great-great grandchildren.
Cookes Funeral Home, Maynardville, Tennessee
Jimmy Willard Criss, age 66, of Unionville, died Friday, September 14, 2007 at his residence following an extended illness. Mr. Criss was born in West Virginia and was a son of the late Clinton Elmer and Margaret Lucas Criss. He was a retired truck driver for C & L Service and Supply in Huntley, Illinois and was a member of Rover Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Helen Criss of Unionville; 4 daughters, Maggie (Andy) Sorrells of Franklin, Stacy (Alvion) Fields of Unionville, Jalisa and Ashley Criss of Unionville; 3 sons, Steve (Renee) Criss of Crystal Lake, Illinois, Michael and Gabriel Criss of Unionville; sisters, Alice Criss and Denise Smith of Mt. Hope, West Virginia; brothers, Jay and Lee Criss of Mt. Hope, West Virginia, Mark Criss of Richmond, Virginia and Michael Kessinger of Mt. Hope, West Virginia; step-mother, Ruby Kessinger of Mt. Hope, West Virginia; 6 grandchildren; 3 great grandchildren.
Lawrence Funeral Home
Coleman "Cole" Randall McMahan, infant son of Michael and Miranda Council McMahan of Arrington, died September 8, 2007, at Centennial Hospital. He was born in Nashville. He is also survived by his brother, Alan McMahan; two sisters, Mary Abigail McMahan and Morgan Allyson McMahan; grandfather, Hubert R. Council of Arrington; great grandfather Hubert E. Council of Arrington.
Woodfin Chapel
Elizabeth Whittenburg, age 84, of the Flat Creek community of Williamson County died Friday, September 7, 2007. A native of Marshall County, Mrs. Whittenburg was a daughter of the late Luther B. and Iona Eady Edmonson. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Ralph Whittenburg, who died in 1993. Mrs. Whittenburg was a homemaker and was retired from Georgia Boot Company with 26 years of service. She was a member of the Flat Creek Community Club and the Flat Creek Home Demonstration Club, Edwards Grove United Methodist Church and Chapel Hill United Methodist Church. In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by a sister, Claudleen Vaughn, who died in 1999.
Survivors include her two daughters and sons-in-law, Faye and Philip Brown of Madison and Rhonda and Greg Holton of Chapel Hill; a brother, R.C. (Dorothy) Edmonson of the Flat Creek community of Williamson County; grandchildren, John (Stephanie) Brown of Madison, Becky (Tom) Ruban of Canton, Georgia and Will Holton of Murfreesboro; and great-grandchildren, Alex and Audrey Brown; Elizabeth and Caroline Ruban.
Lawrence Funeral Home
Annie Weaver Williamson, 75, of Unionville died Monday, September 3, 2007, at Middle Tennessee Medical Center in Murfreesboro. She was a native of Bedford County, a homemaker and a member of the Fosterville Baptist Church.
She was the daughter of the late Ike and Dora Brown Weaver and the wife of the late Billie Williamson. She was preceded in death by her two brothers, Merrel and Donald E. Weaver and a sister, Emma Young.
She is survived by her two daughters, Betty Fuller of Shelbyville, Linda Christian of Unionville and Terry Williamson of Christiana; a brother, George W. Weaver of Bell Buckle; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Hillcrest Funeral Home
Maira Lamb, age 84, of Eagleville, Tennessee, died Sunday, September 2, 2007. Mrs. Lamb was a native of Rutherford County and was a daughter of the late Oscar and Mary Hay Floyd. She was a homemaker and was a secretary for many years with Herman Clark Water Wells of Eagleville, Tennessee. Mrs. Lamb was a very active member of the Eagleville United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Nathaniel Condra Lamb and by a daughter, Maribeth Tegarden.
Mrs. Lamb is survived by a son, Bill Lamb, Eagleville; seven grandchildren, Shane Lamb, Rockvale, Tiffany Lamb, Brandon Lamb, Chelsea Lamb and Candice Haggard, all of Eagleville, Kristina Barnfield, Murfreesboro, Trey Barnfield, Goodlettsville; great grandchild, Isaiah Haggard, Eagleville.
Lawrence Funeral Home
