75 year old J.M. Cantrell of Smithville died Friday at the Summit Medical Center in Nashville. He was a member of the Smithville Cumberland Presbyterian Church and a farmer. The funeral will be Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. David Mahan and E.H. Denman, Jr. will officiate and burial will be in DeKalb Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Sunday from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.; Monday from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.; and Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 2:00 p.m. He was preceded in death by his parents, Herbert Aaron and Maggie May Messick Cantrell and a brother, Herbert Cantrell, Jr. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Jean Cantrell of Smithville. Three children, Jada, Stefan, and Kyle Cantrell all of Smithville. Two grandchildren, Delena and Sayla Cantrell. Two sisters, Bessie Delene Webb of Smithville and Mary Priest of Crossville. Several nieces and nephews and a special friend, Hoyte Hale of Smithville. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.
Tag Archives: 2008
Adelyn Jackson
79 year old Adelyn Jackson of Brush Creek died Thursday at DeKalb Community Hospital. The funeral will be Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at the Hickman Baptist Church. Donald Elmore and Robert Dewitt Agee will officiate and burial will be in the Brush Creek Cemetery. The Jackson family will receive friends at Avant Funeral Home on Saturday from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Sunday at the Hickman Baptist Church from 12:30 p.m. until the service time at 2:00 p.m. She is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Marily and James Gorski of Murfreesboro and Elaine and Charles “Bud” Inman of Brush Creek. Four grandsons, Joshua and Brandi Morgan of Fort Lewis, Washington; Jonathan Morgan of Murfreesboro; Chris and Leann Inman of Riddleton; and Brent Inman of Cookeville. Great grandchildren, Briona Inman and Drew Inman. Step great grandchildren, Hali Woodard and Hunter Woodard. Two brothers and sisters-in-law, Larry Ford and Lillia Mae Thomas of Columbia and Lewis Carol and Mary Lou Thomas of Pennsylvania. Avant Funeral Home in Alexandria is in charge of the arrangements.
Karl Lee Gothard
74 year old Karl Lee Gothard of Smithville died Friday at his residence. He was retired from the L & N Railroad and he ran a cattle operation for many years. He was a member of the Smithville First Baptist Church and the Tennessee Limousine Association. The funeral will be Sunday at 3:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Burial will be in Whorton Springs Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 3:00 p.m. He was preceded in death by his parents, W.L. “Lee” and Athon Taylor Gothard and two sisters, Sarah Frances Chamberlain and Georgia Johns. Survivors include a son, Randy and his wife Joy Gothard of Cookeville. Two daughters, Martha Jane Partridge of Lebanon and Sarah Smith of Brentwood. Six grandchildren, Brittany Gothard of Kodak, Adam Gothard of Cookeville, Matthew Beard of Lebanon, John and Luke Partridge of Lebanon, and Abby Smith of Brentwood. One brother, Walter Gothard of Nashville. Two sisters, Alice McClairy of Nashville and Lillian Rice of Smithville. Several nieces and nephews also survive. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. The family has asked that all donations please be made to the Smithville First Baptist Church building fund, in lieu of flowers.
Virginia Bland Patton
84 year old Virginia Bland Patton of Knoxville and formerly of Watertown died Wednesday at Parkwest Hospital in Knoxville. Born in Watertown, she was a homemaker and a member of the First Presbyterian Church. The funeral will be Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at Hunter Funeral Home in Watertown. Dr. Paul Rader will officiate and burial will be in the Jones Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Wilson Patton and parents, Clark and Virgie Hubbard Bland. Survivors include a son, Perry and his wife Dorothy Patton of Nashville. Three daughters, Sharon and her husband Raymond McCord of Knoxville, Marilyn and her husband Mark Willoughby of Alexandria, and Celeste and her husband John Whaley of Knoxville. A sister, Joyce and her husband Neil Lokey of Murfreesboro. Grandchildren, Charlie and Sarah Patton, Terrie Patton Johnson, Amanda Corley, Rachel Patton McCord, Andrew Whaley, Brittany Willoughby, and Luke Willoughby. Great grandchildren, Rocky Johnson, Brandon Johnson, Summer Patton, and Conner Patton. Hunter Funeral Home in Watertown is in charge of the arrangements.
Harrison Lee Hale
54 year old Harrison Lee Hale of Lafayette died Thursday at the University Medical Center in Lebanon. Born in Murfreesboro, Hale was a Chef and a member of the Gladeville Missionary Baptist Church. The funeral will be Sunday at 3:00 p.m. at Hunter Funeral Home in Watertown. Robert McFarland will officiate and burial will be in the Jones Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday from 10:00 a.m. until the service time. He was preceded in death by his parents, Selmer and Dorothy Carter Hale. Survivors include a companion, Melissa Wright of Lafayette. Two sons, Daniel and Timothy Hale. Two brothers, James Hale of Rockvale and Dewey Hale of Murfreesboro. Three aunts, Bea and her husband Kenneth Christian of Watertown, Lucille Ferrell of Alexandria, and Dellia Mae and her husband Richard Poston of Smithville. An uncle, L.W. Hale of Alexandria. Hunter Funeral Home in Watertown is in charge of the arrangements.
Ione Spencer Calhoun
94 year old Ione Spencer Calhoun of Smithville died Thursday at DeKalb Community Hospital. She was a teacher for 40 years with the DeKalb County School System, a member of the Retired Teachers Association, Smithville Businesses and Professional Women’s Club, and a member of the Smithville First Baptist Church. The funeral will be Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Burial will be in DeKalb Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Saturday from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 12:30 p.m. until the time of the service at 1:30 p.m. She was preceded in death by her parents, Willie and Sarah Foutch Spencer; three brothers, Willie Jewel, Dewey, and Rhenix Spencer; three sisters, Sally Elledge, Pauline Taylor, and Beuna Vaughn. Survivors include one daughter, Lynn Rooker of Murfreesboro. One grandson, Stephen Ashburn of Smithville. Several nieces and nephews also survive. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. The family has asked that donations be made to the Smithville First Baptist Church building fund, in lieu of flowers.
Bessie Lola (Thompson) Smith
87 year old Bessie Lola (Thompson) Smith of Cookeville died Monday at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. The funeral will be Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. at Crest Lawn Funeral Home in Cookeville. Charles Jones and James Eidson will officiate. The family will receive friends Tuesday from 2:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Wednesday from noon until 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, three brothers, Freeman, Sherman, and Clifton Thompson; two sisters, Veechel Stringfellow and Mary Lou Katong; and two sons-in-law, Bobby Huffines and Johnny Harris. She is survived by five daughters, Mary N. Huffines of Cookeville, Betty Ann Harris and Linda R. Cronk of Gallatin, Myrl S. Dyer of Cookeville, and Hazel Jean Greenwood of Gainesboro. Two sons, Robert Morris Smith of North Highland, California and Raymond Carl Smith of Cookeville. Five sisters, Trudy Zilphia Barlow of Cookeville, Norma Jean Smith of Gainesboro, Ruby Smith of Cookeville, Villa Maxwell of Hillham, and Marcella Lancaster of Livingston. She is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, and other friends and relatives. Crest Lawn Funeral Home in Cookeville is in charge of the arrangements.
Sosa Pleads Guilty to Abuse of a Corpse
Lillian Elezabeth Sosa will be released from jail on Monday.
The 18 year old woman who gave birth to a stillborn child on October 26th at the El Rancho Restaurant on West Broad Street where she worked, pleaded guilty by information to “abuse of a corpse” Tuesday in DeKalb County Criminal Court.
Judge David Patterson sentenced Sosa to two years, all suspended to time served. She was given credit for the 130 days she has been in custody from October 26th, 2007 to March 4th, 2008. She will be released on Department of Corrections probation Monday, March 10th.
Sosa was represented by April Craven, Assistant Public Defender, and Ben Day served as the court interpreter for Sosa, who speaks little or no English.
Sosa was initially charged with second degree murder in the death of her child, but the charge was dropped after an autopsy revealed that the infant was stillborn. Instead, Sosa was charged with abuse of a corpse, which is a class E felony.
According to Smithville Police Chief Richard Jennings, Sosa apparently locked herself in the ladies restroom of the restaurant and gave birth to the child on Friday night, October 26th. She then came out of the restroom, told her boss that she needed to leave because she was sick, and called for someone to give her a ride home. Sosa’s aunt reportedly came to the restaurant and picked her up.
Jennings says the child was discovered around 9:20 p.m. by a waitress, Karla Leon, who went into the ladies rest room to clean up, as staff were preparing to close the restaurant for the night.
Leon then reported her discovery to the manager and they called 911. Customers had already left the restaurant when she discovered the body.
Agents Billy Miller and Dan Friel of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation were notified and joined the Smithville Police Department in the investigation later that night, and after interviewing employees, decided they needed to talk to Sosa.
After discovering where she lived, Sheriff Patrick Ray went to the address on Talley Road and picked her up around 4:00 a.m. Saturday. She was brought to the Smithville Police Department, where she was interviewed by the TBI agents.
During the questioning of Sosa through an interpreter, agents determined she was a likely suspect in the case and took her to DeKalb Community Hospital for an examination. The emergency room doctor found that she had recently given birth and suggested that she undergo emergency surgery, because she had suffered some potentially life threatening complications during the delivery.
Sosa was then transported to the Cookeville Hospital early Saturday morning, October 27th. She came through the surgery fine and was released on Monday, October 29th after which she was taken into custody.
The infant, a male, fully developed child, weighed 5 pounds, 14 ounces, and was 19 inches long. Chief Jennings says it appears the mother carried the child about eight months.
EMS personnel initially thought the baby was alive but Bill Locke, Assistant District Attorney General, says the autopsy concluded that the child was dead at the time of birth.
Meanwhile, in other cases, 44 year old Denise Juareqi pleaded guilty to criminal impersonation and will be on supervised probation for six months. She must perform 25 hours of community service work. She was given credit for time served since December 28th, 2007.
36 year old Tina Young pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and received a three year sentence, to serve 30 days and then be on Department of Corrections Probation. She must perform 100 hours of community service work.
24 year old Johnny Devault pleaded guilty by information to reckless driving and simple possession of a schedule VI controlled substance. He received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days on the drug charge, suspended to time served and six months probation. He must pay a fine of $250. He was given jail credit from December 12th, 2007 to March 4th, 2008. Devault received a six months suspended sentence on the reckless driving charge.
25 year old Elizabeth Chalfant pleaded guilty to theft and received a two year sentence, all suspended. She must make restitution to the victim in the amount of $1,956 and perform 100 hours of community service work. She was given jail credit from July 19th to August 24th, 2007 and from January 2nd to March 4th, 2008. She also pleaded guilty to sale of a schedule II controlled substance and received a three year sentence, all suspended to six months to serve. She was fined $2,000 and must make restitution of $50 to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department. As part of her sentence, Chalfant will be on probation and or must successfully complete in-house treatment at a facility. Chalfant pleaded guilty to driving on a suspended license and received six months to serve. She also pleaded guilty to casual exchange and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days, all suspended to six months to serve. Chalfant’s sentences will run concurrently, except for the theft case, which will run consecutively with the others.
34 year old Larry L. George pleaded guilty to escape, aggravated burglary, theft over $1,000, evading, and driving on a suspended license. All the cases run concurrently except the escape conviction, which runs consecutively with the others. George received a total sentence of six years to serve one year and then be on probation for five years. He will be on supervised probation by the Department of Corrections, must make restitution to the victim, perform 100 hours of community service work, and pay a $50 fine. He was given jail credit of 131 days.
37 year old Amiee D. Jobe pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and received a 30 day suspended sentence and four months of good behavior probation.
41 year old Lisa Kylene Frazier pleaded guilty to forgery and aggravated burglary. She received a two year sentence on the forgery charge and four years on the burglary offense. The cases are to run concurrently with each other and with cases against her in Macon and Sumner Counties. She must make restitution of $550 to the victims here. Frazier was given jail credit of 231 days.
52 year old Larry Lepley pleaded guilty to attempting to violate the sex offender registry. He received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days, all suspended to probation. He must perform 50 hours of community service work which can be waived if he is unable to complete it due to a disability.
35 year old Bill Bailey Swaner III pleaded guilty to theft and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days to serve 30 days. The case is to run consecutive to a Warren County case against him. Swaner must perform 25 hours of community service work on PSI probation. He is also restrained from going into the Walmart store. Swaner was given jail credit for January 20th through March 4th.
21 year old Kara L. Funk, charged with possession of a schedule II, III, and VI controlled substance for sale and possession of drug paraphernalia, was granted judicial diversion for three years. She will be on supervised Department of Corrections Probation and must perform 100 hours of community service work, and undergo an alcohol and drug assessment and follow the prescribed treatments.
33 year old Charlotte Marie Hill pleaded guilty to theft under $500 and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days. She will be on PSI supervised probation and must perform 25 hours of community service work. She must also stay away from Walmart. Hill was given jail credit of 16 days.
Laney Delaine Knowles
65 year old Laney Delaine Knowles of Smithville died Sunday evening at White County Hospital. He was a member of the Mount Herman Missionary Baptist Church. The funeral will be Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Paul Violet will officiate and burial will be in DeKalb Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Monday from 4:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.; Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.; and Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. until the service at 11:00 a.m. He was preceded in death by his parents, Herman Aaron and Mary Frances Cantrell Knowles; a sister, Judy Carr; and a brother, Eddie Knowles. Survivors include two daughters, Deborah Underwood of Smithville and Cynthia Carter of Texas. Five grandchildren, Alicia and Matthew Foster and Payton France of Smithville, Dustin Hale and Josh Carter of Texas, and two brothers, Danny and Rick Knowles of Smithville. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Imogene Cantrell Crook
69 year old Imogene Cantrell Crook of Liberty died Sunday night at DeKalb Community Hospital. She was a retired factory worker and a member of the Liberty United Methodist Church. The funeral will be Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Wilson Williams will officiate and burial will be in Salem Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday from 4:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.; Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.; and Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until the service at 2:00 p.m. She was preceded in death by her parents, Gentry and Velvo Arnold Cantrell; her husband, Charles William Crook; three brothers, Thomas, Albert, and Eddie Cantrell; and two sisters, Freda Hobbs and Dorothy Cantrell. Survivors include three sons, Wayne and his wife Darnell Crook of Smithville, Billy and his wife Diane Crook, and Ronald and his wife Kay Crook all of Liberty. One daughter, Melissa Reyes of Liberty. Eleven grandchildren, Chris Crook of Cookeville, Bradley, Darrell, Tonya, and Emily Crook all of Smithville, Dakota Ortega, Storm, Xzyver, and Kiara Reyes, Brittni Fisk, and Lindsay Crook all of Liberty. Three great grandchildren. Four sisters, Christine Todd of California, Omega Sue Sanders,Cleta Horn of Smithville, and Betty Ann Vanzina of California. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.