79 year old Jo Evelyn Underhill of Smithville died Friday at her residence. She was retired from the DeKalb County Health Department where she served as office manager for 36 years. She was a member of the Smithville First Baptist Church for more than 60 years; a charter member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary and she was the 1949 Class Salutatorian at DeKalb County High School. The funeral will be Monday at 1:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Burial will be in Whorton Springs Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Monday from 11:00 a.m. until the service at 1:00 p.m. Underhill was preceded in death by her parents, Herman W. Webb and Clara Calhoun Webb; her husband, Oliver E. Underhill, Jr.; and a sister, Janella LaFever. She is survived by two sons, Roger Underhill and Fiance Rita
Reagan of Livingston and Norman and wife Carol Underhill of Smithville. One sister, Ina Ruth Bess of Smithville. One brother, Ray Morris Webb of Smyrna. One sister-in-law and her husband Nettie Lou and Houston Hefner of Morrison. One niece and eight nephews survive. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

45 year old Teresa Gail Johnson of Murfreesboro died Friday at Alive Hospice at St. Thomas in Nashville. She attended World Outreach in Murfreesboro. Johnson was also a pre-school teacher. The funeral will be Monday at 11:00 a.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Michael Hale will officiate and burial will be in DeKalb Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Sunday from noon until 5:00 p.m. and Monday from 9:00 a.m. until the service at 11:00 a.m. She was preceded in death by her father, Robert Henry Moore; a sister, Stephanie Jill Kennedy; and brothers, Tony and Michael Moore. Survivors include a son, Dustin Johnson of Murfreesboro. A grandson, Eli. Her mother, Mary Pack of Smithville. A sister, Diane Austin of Mount Juliet and a brother, Jason Moore of Smithville. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

80 year old Roy Lewis Knowles of Smithville died Thursday at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. He was a member of the Mount View Primitive Baptist Church and the founder and former owner of Knowles and Sons Nursery. The funeral will be Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Ronald Whited, Jim Judkins, and Elder Lynn Russell will officiate and burial will be in DeKalb Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Saturday from noon until 9:00 p.m. and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. until the service at 2:00 p.m. Knowles was preceded in death by his wife, Irene Knowles; parents, Jim and Maggie Vaughn Knowles; a son, Steve Knowles; brothers, L.D. and Mason Knowles; and sisters, Dollie Foutch and Ollie Womack. Survivors include a daughter Linda Knowles of Smithville. Three sons, Larry and wife Melissa Knowles, Kenneth and wife Tammy Knowles, and Jim “Bear” Knowles all of Smithville. Grandchildren, Dustin Knowles, Hillary Knowles, Stevie Knowles, Martha Knowles, Parker Knowles, Keri Sanders, Maggie Knowles, and Josh Love. Great grandchid, Victoria Knowles. A sister, Macon Judkins of Smithville. Companion, Linda Stone of Cookeville. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

88 year old Mrs. Cecil Billings of Smithville died Monday at Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga. She was a homemaker and a member of the Mount Pisgah Free Will Baptist Church. The funeral will be Thursday at 1:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. David Lee England will officiate and burial will be in DeKalb Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until the service at 1:00 p.m. She was preceded in death by her parents, Jackson and Avo Trapp; two infant daughters; a grandson, Lynn Tallent; and five sisters and four brothers. Survivors include her husband, Melvin Billings; a daughter and son-in-law, Joyce and Leonard Tallent and two grandchildren, Marty and Carol Tallent all of Smithville and Ronald and Andrea Tallent of McMinnville. Four great grandchildren, Brandon and Martelia Tallent of Smithville and Alex and Aaron Tallent of McMinnville and a brother, Clifford Trapp of Sparta. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

64 year old Brenda Gale Foutch Taylor of Smithville died Monday at her residence. She was employed by Moog Automotive and was a member of the Calvary Baptist Church. The funeral will be Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Kenneth Tramel will officiate and burial will be in DeKalb Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Tuesday from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. until the service at 11:00 a.m. She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Ruby Lee Lawrence Foutch and three brothers, Robert, Jackie, and Larry Foutch. She is survived by a son, Brad and his wife Melinda Taylor of Smithville. A daughter, Gina and her husband Riki Howard of Brentwood. Three sisters, Ann Summers of Smithville, Pat Keith of Smithville, and Judy and her husband Larry Parsley of Lenoir City. One brother, Danny and his wife Charlene Foutch of Mount Juliet. Four grandchildren, Allison and Slater Howard of Brentwood, Lindsey Taylor and Kendal Taylor both of Smithville. Several nieces, nephews, and friends also survive. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

60 year old James Robert Barrett of Lebanon died Sunday in Franklin, Kentucky. He was born in Alexandria. Barrett was also a mechanic. The funeral will be Thursday at 2:00 p.m. at Hunter Funeral Home in Watertown. Danny Sellars will officiate and burial will be in the Brush Creek Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until the service at 2:00 p.m. He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter Hatton Barrett and Laura Catherine Barrett and brothers, Don and Dewey Barrett. Survivors include his wife, Wanda Brewington Barrett of Lebanon. A son, Robert Dale Barrett of Hollywood, California. A daughter, Catina Marie Barrett of Watertown. Step-children, Thomas Zielenbach and Frank R. Schofield both of Franklin, Kentucky, and Lisa Lovett and Aaron Lovett both of Summertown. Grandchildren, Holly N. Beckman, Timothy Casey Wright, and Diana G. Wright all of Lebanon. Great grandchild, McKenzie M. Barrett. Sisters, Christine Hale of Murfreesboro and Marie Linnear of Lebanon. Hunter Funeral Home in Watertown is in charge of the arrangements.

After 28 years, the remains of Betty Ruth Davis of the Prosperity community have been returned home for burial. The body will be buried near her father and mother at the Prosperity Cemetery. Members of the Prosperity Baptist Church and the community will gather at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday for a graveside service. Don Rigsby will officiate. She died in 1982. Her parents were the late Jefferson H. Davis and Hallie Robinson Davis. She was also a member of the Prosperity Baptist Church. The family wishes to express their appreciation to Wilson County Sheriff Terry Ashe and the Wilson County Sheriff’s Department for their efforts in returning the remains of Ms. Davis for burial. Hunter Funeral Home in Watertown is in charge of the arrangements.

87 year old Ruby May Lawson of Smithville died Sunday at NHC of Smithville. She was a homemaker and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ. The funeral will be Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. David Lawson will officiate and burial will be in the Coleman Cemetery in Rutherford County. Visitation will be Monday from 11:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. until the service at 1:00 p.m. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lemmie Lawson; parents, Robert and Hassie Anderson Estes; two children, James and Louise Lawson; a brother, Grover Estes; sisters, Lorine George and Louise Taylor; and grandchildren Danny Hobbs, Christopher Lawson, and Penny Lawson. Survivors include two daughters, Frances Shultz and Janie and Delmer Spurlock; eight sons, Robert and wife Betty Lawson, Jim and wife Betty Ruth Lawson, Jerry and wife Patricia Lawson, Charlie and wife Ruth Lawson all of Smithville; Billy Lawson of Woodbury, and Javin and wife Cindy Lawson; and Terry and wife Evelyn Lawson all of Watertown; and Daniel (Buck) and Kimberly Lawson of Liberty. Twenty six grandchildren, forty eight great grandchildren, six great great grandchildren. A brother, Freelin Estes of Smithville. Special friends, Virginia Hayslip and Linda Judkins and a special niece, Cindy Travis. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

70 year old Charles Rayburn Nokes of Smithville died Saturday at NHC Healthcare Center of Smithville. He was a member of the Snow Hill United Methodist Church and he worked in retail sales. The funeral will be Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Royce Martin and Doyle Slager will officiate and burial will be in DeKalb Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Monday from 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. until the service at 11:00 a.m. He was preceded in death by his parents, Shelia and Gertrude Derting Nokes. Survivors include a son, Charles and his wife Kristie Nokes of Smithville. A grandson, Justin Nokes. Step-granddaughters, Olivia and Lyndsey Miller. A brother, Clyde Nokes of Short Mountain. Sisters, Oleda Bullard and Dorothy Bell Bryant both of Murfreesboro. Companion, Jean Goodwin of Dowelltown. Nephews, Gerry Nokes, Nick Nokes, Bill Nokes, Jeff Nokes, and Derrick Bryant. Nieces, Linda Dockery and Lisa Bryant. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. The family asks that donations be made to the Snow Hill United Methodist Church in memory of Rayburn, in lieu of flowers.

55 year old Jackie Eugene Thomas of Dowelltown died Saturday at DeKalb Community Hospital. He was a member of the Dowelltown Baptist Church and a nursery worker. The funeral will be Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. David Frazier and Wayne Malone will officiate and burial will be in the Thomas Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday from 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. until the service at 2:00 p.m. He was preceded in death by his parents, Willie Eugene and Jesse Vada Atnip Thomas; and a sister, Barbara Dean Hicks Thomas. Survived by companion Patsy Gibbs of Dowelltown. Two sisters, Mary Lou Hale of Smithville and Mary Elizabeth and husband Mark Hale of Dowelltown. A brother, Jessie and wife Becky Thomas of Dowelltown. Five children, Barbara Ann Thomas of Woodbury, Michael Thomas of Lebanon, Misty Thomas, Jackie Bernal Thomas, and Shannon Thomas all of South Carolina. Thirteen grandchildren, five step-grandchildren, and one step-great grandchild. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.