Tennessee, U.S., Delayed Birth Records, 1869-1909
Jennie Bessie Smith, 77, of Memphis, homemaker, died Monday at Delta Medical Center. Services will be at noon Saturday at Ward's Chapel AME Church with burial in New Park cemetery. N.J. Ford & Sons Funeral Home has charge. She was a Baptist. Mrs. Smith, the wife of Robert Smith, also leaves three daughters, Mary N. Williams, Dorothy Ann Shaw and Brenda Joyce, and two sons, Tommy L. Barnes Jr. and Dedrick Smith, all of Memphis, 27 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and 16 great-great-grandchildren.
[Death notice dated February 15, 2005]
Annie Ruthie Story, 85, of Memphis, homemaker, died Friday at her home. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Old Salem Missionary Baptist Church, where she was a member, with burial in New Park cemetery. M.J. Edwards & Sons Funeral Home has charge. Mrs. Story, the widow of Fred Story, leaves three daughters, Theresa Story, Gail Story and Patsy Watson, all of Memphis; four sons, Charles Smith of Tacoma, Wash., Mark Story of San Diego, and Earley Story and Larry Story, both of Memphis; two sisters, Dorothy Carter of Chicago and Jessie Mae Jackson of Elaine, Ark.; two brothers, Osba Lee Patton and Irinza Patton, both of Chicago, 17 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
[Death notice dated February 15, 2005]
James Earl Swearengen, 72, of Memphis, former faculty member of University of Memphis College of Business and retired Shelby County Circuit Court division 4 judge, died Saturday at Methodist University Hospital. Services will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Greenwood CME Church with burial in Galilee Memorial Gardens. J.F. Brittenum & Son Funeral Home in Holly Springs, Miss., has charge. He was an Army veteran, former member of Memphis Park Commission, graduate of Douglass High School, Kentucky State University and Memphis State University Law School, member of Mount Pisgah CME Church, Tennessee Bar Association, NAACP, Memphis Urban League, Beale Street Development Corporation and Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, adviser for Memphis State University Black Student Association and Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, co-creator of Memphis Health Center, and founding member of National Bar Association Ben Jones chapter. He leaves two daughters, Jamita Swearengen and Jana Swearengen-Richey, both of Memphis; three sisters, Dorothy Strong of Olympis Fields, Ill., and Mildred Hayes and Barbara Swearengen-Holt, both of Memphis; a brother, Clarence Swearengen of Memphis, and two grandchildren.
[Death notice dated February 15, 2005]
Freddie Terry, 86, of Memphis, retired maintenance worker for University of Tennessee, died Thursday at Saint Francis Hospital. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at West Tennessee Veterans cemetery. Harrison's Funeral Home Orange Mound Chapel has charge. He was a Navy veteran and a Baptist. He leaves a daughter of St. Louis; a sister, Erma Lee Pegues, and a sister-in-law who took care of him, Clara Lucille Hill, both of Memphis.
[Death notice dated February 15, 2005]
Izear Ward, 84, of Memphis, retired production worker for Wonder Bread, died Saturday at his daughter's home. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Bethlehem Baptist Church on Looney with burial at 1 p.m. in West Tennessee Veterans cemetery. Southern Funeral Home has charge. He was an Army veteran, a Mason and member of Progressive Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Ward, the widower of Bertha Ward, leaves four daughters, Annie L. Douglas, Pauline Ward Garth, Queen E. Ward and Frenchie L. King, and five sons, Izear Ward Jr., Willie L. Ward, Clifford Ward, Leon Ward and Benjamin C. Ward, all of Memphis; two sisters, Earnestine Smith of Memphis and Ruby Jackson of Moscow, Tenn.; two brothers, Fred Dorse and Charles Dorse, both of Memphis, 21 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
[Death notice dated February 15, 2005]
Morgan 'Cricket' Williams, 47, of Memphis, painter for C&S; Construction Co., died Sunday at Atrium of Memphis Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at New Mount Sinai Baptist Church, where he was a member, with burial in Dean's Hill Baptist Church cemetery in Lake Cormorant. N.H. Owens & Son Funeral Home has charge. He leaves his mother, Remell Williams, and a sister, Capucine Smith, both of Memphis, and four brothers, Tracy J. Williams of Viriginia, and Joe M. Williams Jr., Mark S. Williams and Darrell K. Williams, all of Memphis.
[Death notice dated February 15, 2005]
Shirley Pritcard Winningham, 67, of Memphis, retired from University of Tennessee after 40 years, died Sunday at her home. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Memorial Park Funeral Home with burial in Memorial Park. She was a member of Legions Bells. Mrs. Winningham, the widow of Alton Winningham, leaves a brother, Farmer 'Sonny' Black of Coldwater, Miss., and a cousin who took are of her, Martha Ann Hian. The family requests that any memorials be sent to Methodist Hospice.
[Death notice dated February 15, 2005]
Atoka -- Patricia Dianne Bomar Willers, 58, receptionist for Meeman State Park, died Sunday at her home. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Munford Funeral Home with burial in Helen Crigger cemetery. She was a member of Campground United Methodist Church, graduate of Munford High School and former Rainbow Girl. Mrs. Willers, the wife of Rick Willers, also leaves two sons, Brian Phillips and Jeff B. Phillips, both of Atoka; two sisters, Annie Bomar Kirkland and Cammie Bomar Hammett, both of Memphis; three brothers, Walter Lee Bomar Jr. of Memphis, and James Carl Bomar and Kenneth E. Bomar, both of Atoka, and two granddaughters.
[Death notice dated February 15, 2005]
Bolivar -- John J. Woodbury, 20, student at Tennessee Technology Center in Whiteville, died Saturday at Bolivar General Hospital. Services will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Shackelford Funeral Home with burial in Bolivar Memorial cemetery. He was a Baptist. He leaves his parents, Pamela and Frank Woodbury; a sister, Christine Ann Burnett, and a brother, Aaron Micah Woodbury, all of Bolivar, and his grandparents, Mary Norma Woodbury of Bolivar and Patrick E. and Juliet O. Peine of St. Petersbug, Fla.
[Death notice dated February 15, 2005]
Dyersburg -- Floyd D. Baker, 83, retired sign painter for Coca-Cola Bottling Co., died Sunday at Oakwood Manor. Services will be at 1 p.m. today at Halls Funeral Home with burial in Fairview cemetery. He was a World War II Army veteran and member of Church of Jesus Christ. Mr. Baker, the husband of Frances Lee Jones Baker, also leaves a son, James H. Baker of Dyersburg, and a grandchild.
[Death notice dated February 15, 2005]
Dyersburg -- Beatrice Darnell Fields, 89, formerly of Kingsport and Murfreesboro, homemaker and former employee of Tennessee Eastman Co., died Saturday at Dyersburg Regional Medical Center. Services will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at Oak Hill Memorial Park Funeral Home in Kingsport with burial in Oak Hill Memorial Park cemetery. J.W. Curry & Son Funeral Home has charge. She was a 50-year member of Reservoir Road Baptist Church in Kingsport. Mrs. Fields, the widow of Earl Fields, leaves a daughter, Barbara Depew of Dyersburg, and two grandchildren. The family requests that any memorials be sent to Reservoir Road Baptist Church.
[Death notice dated February 15, 2005]
Dyersburg -- Mary Bishop Johnson, 91, homemaker, died Saturday at Dyersburg Manor. Services will be at 1 p.m. today at J.W. Curry & Son Funeral Home. She was a member of First Baptist Church and Republican Party of Tennessee. Mrs. Johnson, the widow of T. Fred Johnson, leaves a daughter, Frances Anne Gwin of Fairfield Glade; a son, Dr. Fred Johnson Jr. of Titusville, Fla.; a sister, Janie McCreary of Stone Mountain, Ga.; a brother, J.O. Bishop of Jackson, Miss., four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. The family requests that any memorials be sent to Mary Bishop Johnson Memorial Fund care of Maple Ridge.
[Death notice dated February 15, 2005]
Munford -- James William Buckley, 71, machinist for Kimberly-Clark, died Monday at Saint Francis Hospital in Memphis. Services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Munford Funeral Home with burial in Helen Crigger cemetery. He was charter member of Munford Baptist Church, and member of Tipton Masonic Lodge and Memphis Scottish Rite. Mr. Buckley was the husband of Sara Jo Buckley. The family requests that any memorials be sent to Munford Baptist Church Building Fund.
[Death notice dated February 15, 2005]
Savannah -- Mildred W. Sasso, 78, retired from the Social Security Administration, died Sunday at Park Rest Nursing Home. McPeters Funeral Home in Corinth, Miss., has charge.
[Death notice dated February 15, 2005]
Savannah -- Robert Lee Taylor, 82, insurance agent and owner of Taylor's Fabric Store, died Sunday at Hardin Medical Center. Services will be at 11 a.m. today at Shackelford Funeral Home with burial in Mount Hermon cemetery. He was an Army veteran and attended Hopewell Baptist Church. Mr. Taylor, the husband of Grace Talley Taylor, also leaves a daughter, Linda S. Wolfe of Savannah; two sisters, Mae Loudermilk of Cornelia, Ga., and Faye Stewart of Doraville, Ga., two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
[Death notice dated February 15, 2005]
Somerville -- Laverne Sullivan Scott, 66, retired assistant manager for Longtown Supply Co. after 38 years, died Sunday at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis. Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Peebles Fayette County Funeral Home with burial in Walls cemetery in Braden. She was treasurer for Braden Baptist Church. She leaves a daughter, Carolyn Morrison of Brighton; a son, Raymond 'Sambo' Scott of Bartlett; a brother, James Sullivan of Memphis, two grandchildren and a great-grandson. The family requests that any memorials be sent to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis.
[Death notice dated February 15, 2005]
Jerri Lee Beasley, 16, of Memphis, student at Westside Middle School, died Thursday in Memphis. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Breakthrough Church of God By Faith with burial in McCully cemetery. E.H. Ford Mortuary Services has charge. She leaves her father, Lloyd Beasley of Memphis; two sisters, Natasha Austin of Memphis and Antonette Beasley of New York City; seven brothers, Eddie Lloyd Beasley, James Beasley and Dale Beasley, all of Memphis, Renaldo Murrell of Oakland, Dorsey Murrell Jr. of Jacksonville, Fla., and Robert Beasley and Lloyd Beasley, both of New York City, and her grandfather, Garfield Murrell of Marked Tree, Ark.
[Death notice dated February 16, 2005]
R.E. Beck, 80, of Memphis, retired carpenter, died Monday at his home. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Memphis Funeral Home Poplar Chapel with burial in Memory Hill Gardens. He was a World War II Navy veteran, a Catholic and a former member of Veterans of Foreign Wars. Mr. Beck, the husband of Lucy Beck for 32 years, also leaves six daughters, Barbara Hannon and Robin Beck, both of Bartlett, Debbie Finley of Atoka, Dede Howard and Sherry Howard, both of Grand Forks, N.D., and Patti Moody of Millington; two sons, James Howard of Forrest City, Ark., and Casey Barclay of Southaven, 18 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. The family requests that any memorials be sent to the Arthritis Foundation.
[Death notice dated February 16, 2005]
Clora Mae Cole, 52, of Memphis, retired teacher for Denver Elementary School, died Sunday at her home. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Lord's Tabernacle Holiness Church, where she was missionary board president, with burial in Galilee Memorial Gardens. Superior Funeral Home has charge. Mrs. Cole, the wife of Fines Cole, also leaves a daughter, Kira Wilks, and seven sons, Patrick Cole, Adrian Ivory, Fines Cole, Carlos Cole, Eddis Cole, Demetrius Cole and Kevin Cole, all of Memphis; five sisters, Evelena Walton, Patsey King, Levelle Owens and Gloria Stuckey, all of Memphis, and Edna Busey of Atlanta; four brothers, Curtis Owens and Haven Owens, both of Memphis, Randy Owens of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Rickey Owens of Manchester, Ky., and 19 grandchildren.
[Death notice dated February 16, 2005]
Steve Tracy Cowans Jr., 13, of Memphis, student, died Saturday at the Regional Medical Center at Memphis. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at New Mount Sinai Baptist Church, where he was a member, with burial in New Sardis Church cemetery. N.J. Ford & Sons Funeral Home has charge. He leaves his mother, Tammie Thompson; his father, Steven Tracy Cowans; six sisters, Tamara Thompson, Miana Thompson, Kerriana Thompson, Diaundra Cowans, Tracy Cowans and Jasmane Cowans; a brother, Malik Cowans, and his grandparents, Margaret and Vosker Cowans and Doug Bratcher, all of Memphis.
[Death notice dated February 16, 2005]
