74 year old Nancy Ann Seamans of Woodbury died Tuesday at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville from injuries received in an automobile accident. She was a factory worker. Ms. Seamans request was to be cremated and a Memorial service will be held at a later date in New York. She is survived by four children, Sheryl Updike of Cortland, New York, Jim and wife Kim Seamans of Woodbury, Andrew and wife Tracy Seamans of Alexandria, Virginia, and Ryan Seamans of Ottawa Ontario, Canada. Eight grandchildren, one great grandchild and a sister, Gladys. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.
Author Archive: Dwayne Page
Melissa Irene Jackson
51 year old Melissa Irene Jackson of Smithville died Tuesday morning at DeKalb Community Hospital. She was a Baptist. She was also disabled and a former home healthcare nurse. The funeral will be Thursday at 1:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Dewey Dyer will officiate and burial will be in the New Hope Cemetery in Alexandria. Visitation will be Wednesday from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until the service at 1:00 p.m. Jackson was preceded in death by her father, James Thomas Fitts and a sister, Brittany Fitts. Survivors include her husband of over 30 years, Donald Jackson of Smithville. Three special grandchildren, Misty, Riley, and Gregory. Her mother, Gladys Fitts of Brush Creek. One sister, Melinda and her husband Tim Robertson of Brush Creek. Two brothers, Michael and his wife Porta Fitts of Maryland and Mickey and his wife Lori Fitts of Illinois. Several aunts, uncles, brothers and sisters-in-law along with four nephews, two nieces, and two great nephews. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. The family asks that donations please be made to the funeral home to help with burial expenses in lieu of flowers.
Mary Jacqueline “Jackie” Jarman
80 year old Mary Jacqueline “Jackie” Jarman of Thompsons Station died Sunday. She was a retired Suntrust employee, Sunday School teacher and pastor’s wife. She is survived by her husband, Pastor Amos “Jug” Jarman; son, Matt (Kim) Jarman, daughter, Amy (Brent) Bain; brother, Carlton (Brenda) Fordham; sister, Jeri (Alan) McDowell; grandchildren, A.J. Jarman, Brandi Myers & Caleb Cannon. A Memorial Service will be conducted 11:00 AM Saturday at the Spring Hill First Baptist Church with visitation one hour prior to service. Visitation will be 3-8PM Friday at Spring Hill Memorial Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the charity of your choice. SPRING HILL MEMORIAL PARK, FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES is in charge of the arrangements.
Nancy Ann Seamans
74 year old Nancy Ann Seamans of Woodbury died Tuesday at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville from injuries received in an automobile accident. She was a factory worker. Ms. Seamans request was to be cremated and a Memorial service will be held at a later date in New York. She is survived by four children, Sheryl Updike of Cortland, New York, Jim and wife Kim Seamans of Woodbury, Andrew and wife Tracy Seamans of Alexandria, Virginia, and Ryan Seamans of Ottawa Ontario, Canada. Eight grandchildren, one great grandchild and a sister, Gladys. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.
Melissa Irene Jackson
51 year old Melissa Irene Jackson of Smithville died Tuesday morning at DeKalb Community Hospital. She was a Baptist. She was also disabled and a former home healthcare nurse. The funeral will be Thursday at 1:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Dewey Dyer will officiate and burial will be in the New Hope Cemetery in Alexandria. Visitation will be Wednesday from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until the service at 1:00 p.m. Jackson was preceded in death by her father, James Thomas Fitts and a sister, Brittany Fitts. Survivors include her husband of over 30 years, Donald Jackson of Smithville. Three special grandchildren, Misty, Riley, and Gregory. Her mother, Gladys Fitts of Brush Creek. One sister, Melinda and her husband Tim Robertson of Brush Creek. Two brothers, Michael and his wife Porta Fitts of Maryland and Mickey and his wife Lori Fitts of Illinois. Several aunts, uncles, brothers and sisters-in-law along with four nephews, two nieces, and two great nephews. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. The family asks that donations please be made to the funeral home to help with burial expenses in lieu of flowers.
Mary Jacqueline “Jackie” Jarman
80 year old Mary Jacqueline “Jackie” Jarman of Thompsons Station died Sunday. She was a retired Suntrust employee, Sunday School teacher and pastor’s wife. She is survived by her husband, Pastor Amos “Jug” Jarman; son, Matt (Kim) Jarman, daughter, Amy (Brent) Bain; brother, Carlton (Brenda) Fordham; sister, Jeri (Alan) McDowell; grandchildren, A.J. Jarman, Brandi Myers & Caleb Cannon. A Memorial Service will be conducted 11:00 AM Saturday at the Spring Hill First Baptist Church with visitation one hour prior to service. Visitation will be 3-8PM Friday at Spring Hill Memorial Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the charity of your choice. SPRING HILL MEMORIAL PARK, FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES is in charge of the arrangements.
Rick Cantrell Appointed to Fill Unexpired Term on County Commission
The county commissioners Monday night during their regular monthly meeting selected Rick Cantrell to fill the unexpired term of John Green as a member in the fifth district.
Seven votes were needed to get the appointment. Cantrell received eight votes.
County Commissioners voting for Cantrell were Jimmy Poss, Larry Summers, Marshall Ferrell, Wayne Cantrell, Bradley Hendrix, Bobby Joines, Elmer Ellis, Jr., and Mason Carter.
Cantrell was among four applicants for the position. The others were Steven Cantrell, Eugene LaFever, and James Young. All were interviewed by the county commission during an All-Committees meeting Thursday night at the courthouse.
Two members of the commission, Jeff Barnes and Jerry Adcock voted for James Young Monday night.
Commissioners Jerry Scott and Jack Barton voted for Eugene LaFever.
Cantrell, born and raised in the fifth district, has served on the DeKalb County Regional Planning Commission since 1995. “I have lived in DeKalb County all my life. I went to school here. I have worked for BFN Operations for thirty eight years, formerly Knowles & Sons Nursery. It’s in the fifth district. I am one of the managers there,” said Cantrell during his interview Thursday night.
“One thing I’d like to throw out there is that I have no vendetta. I am just here to work with you all for the whole county,” continued Cantrell during the interview. “I have no personal gains or reasons whatsoever involved here. If I feel like I am correct (on an issue) and it’s the right thing to do, that’s the way I’ll vote,” he said
When asked if he would run for the office in the next election during the interview, Cantrell replied “That’s a possibility. If the people of the 5th district ask me to, I would. I will address that when the time comes,” he said.
County Mayor Mike Foster announced Monday night that Cantrell will be sworn into office September 1. Green’s term expires August 31, 2014.
Green resigned from the county commission in April announcing that he had moved his residence to White County. He had served on the county commission for eleven years, having first been elected in 2002. He was then re-elected in 2006 and 2010.
At the beginning of Monday night’s meeting, County Mayor Foster recognized Green and on behalf of the county commission, presented him a plaque for his years of service to his district and the county.
Knox Arrested After Leading Deputy on Slow Speed Pursuit
A 41 year old man who led a sheriff’s deputy on a slow speed pursuit on Short Mountain Highway before going off the road in a ditch on Sunday, August 18 has been arrested for a third offense of driving under the influence.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said Robert Edward Knox of Foster Road, Smithville is also charged with reckless endangerment, felony evading arrest, and resisting arrest. His bond is $19,000. He was further issued citations for violation of the implied consent law, failure to maintain his lane of travel, Violation of the financial responsibility law (no insurance), and no registration on his vehicle.
According to Sheriff Ray, a deputy saw Knox driving on Highway 146 (Short Mountain Highway) and he appeared to be impaired. The officer turned on his emergency equipment and initiated a slow speed pursuit to get Knox to stop but he refused to pull over.
According to the deputy, Knox left the road several times, running up onto the sidewalk and then coming back onto the highway toward on-coming traffic almost forcing other vehicles off the road.
The pursuit continued for about four miles until Knox ran over a spike strip which had been put down on the highway by a Trooper of the Tennessee Highway Patrol. After some of his tires were flattened by the spike strip, Knox’s vehicle ran into a ditch and stopped.
After refusing to get out of the vehicle, Knox had to be forcibly removed.
The deputy noticed that Knox’s eyes were bloodshot and glossy. He was very incoherent and a white foam was coming from his mouth. Due to his level of intoxication, Knox was not able to perform field sobriety tasks and he could not understand the terms of the implied consent law. Because it was his third DUI offense, a search warrant was executed to obtain a blood draw.
DeKalb EMS took Knox to the hospital for medical treatment and he was arrested the following day on Monday, August 19.
Alice Smith Wells
79 year old Alice Smith Wells of Murfreesboro died Saturday. A native of Frankewing, TN, she was the daughter of the late Lee and Bessie Coble Smith. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Joe M. Wells.
Mrs. Wells is survived by her sons, Frank Wells and his wife Trudy of Murfreesboro, TN, and Tom Wells and his wife Cassie of Indianapolis, IN; sisters, Joyce Mitchell of Nashville, TN, Karita Johnson of Georgetown, TN, and Darlene Guider of Chattanooga, TN; four grandchildren, Emily Wells Madison, Graham Wells, and Joshua and Adam Shanks, and six great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held Tuesday from 9:00 AM until 11:00 AM at Woodfin Memorial Chapel in Murfreesboro with a memorial service to follow at 11:00 AM. Chris Madison will officiate.
Mrs. Wells was a member of the Baptist Church and former owner of ABTS Tax and Bookkeeping Service in Smithville.
This information provided as a courtesy of DeKalb Funeral Chapel.
Ella Ethlene Cripps
100 year old Ella Ethlene Cripps of Dowelltown died Monday at DeKalb Community Hospital. She was a member of the Smithville First Baptist Church, a retired shirt factory worker and a homemaker. The funeral will be Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Michael Hale will officiate and burial will be in Whorton Springs Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday from noon until 8:00 p.m. and Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until the service at 2:00 p.m. She was preceded in death by parents, Henry and Novella Braswell Stanley; a granddaughter, Malissa Joe Cripps; a sister, Myrtle Vanatta; and a brother, L.D. Stanley. She is survived by two children, Bobbie and husband Wayne Foster of Lebanon and Billy Joe and wife Ann Cripps of Smithville. Five grandchildren, Phillip Foster, David Foster, Joey Cripps, and Steven and Bobby Anderson. Eight great grandchildren, Joshua, Sabrina, Marcus, and Alex Cripps, Haley, Kelsea, Briston, and Zaylyn Anderson. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.