72 year old Cordell Walker of Smithville died Wednesday morning at University Medical Center in Lebanon. He was owner and operator of Walker’s Body Shop, Auto Equipment Sales & Rental Service in Smithville. He served two terms as Smithville Alderman and ran twice for Mayor. He was also a member of the Taylor’s Providence Baptist Church in Sparta. The funeral will be Saturday at 3:00 p.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Phillip Luna will officiate and burial will be in DeKalb Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Friday from 10:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until the service at 3:00 p.m. Walker was preceded in death by his parents, Cecil and Maggie Green Walker; two sisters, Melba Walker and Fay Griffin; two brothers, J.B. Walker and Charles (Chuck) Walker; a sister-in-law, Bettye Walker; and brothers-in-law, Landon Arnold and Al Cook. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Ruth Walker of Smithville. Two daughters, Tina Taylor of Smithville and Kimberly Jones of Sparta. Grandchildren, Skyelar Patrick and Keira Taylor of Smithville, Derrick and Dustin Jones of Sparta. Two sisters, Lera Arnold of McMinnville and Shirley Cook of Smithville. Four brothers, Douglas and wife Lois Walker of Smithville, Jerry and wife Patti Walker of Smithville, Dwight and wife Julia Walker of Cassville, Ronnie Walker and Brenda Johnson of Smithville. Sister-in-law, Pat Walker of Sunnyside, Washington. Brother-in-law, George Griffin of Smithville and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Best friends, Jimmy Johnson, Phillip Luna, and Polly Wilkins and their families. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

44 year old Teresa Tucker Knowles of Smithville died Wednesday morning at the emergency room of DeKalb Community Hospital. She was a homemaker and a member of the Yankeetown Freewill Baptist Church in Sparta. The funeral wil be Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Michael Hale and Freddy Copeland will officiate and burial will be in the Tucker Family Cemetery at Silver Point. Visitation will be Thursday from noon until 9:00 p.m., Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until the service at 11:00 a.m. Knowles was preceded in death by her father, James Tucker; grandparents, Willard and Vallie Tucker, William and Louise Agee, and Hebron and Frances Bandy. Survivors include a daughter, Karley Knowles of Smithville. Companion, Melvin Knowles of Smithville. Step-children, Carl Wayne Knowles and Justin and wife Mary Knowles of Smithville. Grandsons, Brayden and Braxton Knowles. Mother and step-father, Jean and Danny Bandy of Smithville. Sisters, Linda and husband David Robinson of Smithville and Dana and husband Jeff London of Smithville. A brother, Kevin and wife Brenda Bandy of Alexandria. Nephews, Heath and wife Tiffany Robinson, Cody Robinson, Caleb London, Zachary and Dawson Bandy. Nieces, Courtney London and Emily Robinson. A great nephew, Conner Robinson. A host of aunts, uncles, and cousins survive. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

84 year old Martha Loudean Preston of Smithville died Saturday at DeKalb Community Hospital. She was a retired factory worker and a homemaker. She was also a member of the People’s Pentecostal Church. The funeral will be Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Bill Shaw and Michael Hale will officiate and burial will be in DeKalb Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Monday from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. until the service at 2:00 p.m. Preston was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Alfha Cripps Bain; a daughter, Pat Tisdale; brothers, Charles, Sammy, Creston, and Boyd Bain; and a sister, Louise Frazier. Survivors include her husband, Charles Preston of Smithville. A daughter, Cathy and husband Don Driver of Smithville. A son, Wayne Tisdale of Hickman. Grandchildren, Sandra Driver and Melanie Caplinger. Great grandchildren, Dakota Clark, Quinton Johnson, Landon Bowman, and Marley Jones. A great great grandchild, Lyren Clark. Step children, Charles A. Preston of Watertown, Nancy Wilson of South Carolina, Pamila Nunnley of Lebanon, Lonnie Preston of Watertown, and Sharon Jonell Dodd of Smithville. Two sisters, Elizabeth Braswell of Georgia and Billie Bates of Kentucky. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

83 year old Joycie Elizabeth Kirby of McMinnville died Wednesday at her residence. She was a homemaker and a member of the New Town The Baptist Church. The funeral will be Friday at 1:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Visitation will be Thursday from noon until 9:00 p.m. and Friday from 9:00 a.m. until the service at 1:00 p.m. Kirby was preceded in death by her parents, Andy and Lilly Rigsby Roberts; her husband, Edward Kirby; and a brother, Kenneth Roberts. Survivors include a daughter, Donna Kirby of McMinnville. One son and daughter-in-law, Jerry and Debbie Kirby of Ooltewah. Four grandchildren, Andrea Prince of Cleveland, Ava Kirby, Curt Templeton of Colorado, and Amanda Sheppard of McMinnville. Thirteen great grandchildren and four great great grandchildren. Two sisters, Evelyn Young Love of McMinnville and Martha Louise Webb of Jefferson. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

55 year old Tammy Cook Knowles of Smithville died Wednesday night at her residence. She was a retail manager and had worked for UCHRA. She was also a member of the Salem Baptist Church in Liberty and attended the Bright Hill Methodist Church. The funeral will be Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Dr. John Carpenter and Michael Hale will officiate and burial will be in DeKalb Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Friday from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.; Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m., and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. until the service at 2:00 p.m. She was preceded in death by her father, Hoyt Cook. Survivors include her husband, Kenneth Knowles of Smithville. A daughter, Hillary Knowles. Her mother, Billie Cook of Smithville. Special caregivers, Dean Johnson and Bridgett Sink. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to Huntingdon’s Choroa Foundation and the Bright Hill Methodist Church in memory of Tammy.

95 year old John Edward Hale, Jr. of Liberty died Wednesday at DeKalb Community Hospital. He served as Mayor of Liberty for 42 years. He was a board member with UCHRA and the Upper Cumberland Development District. Hale was also a Deacon at Salem Baptist Church. He was a retired Attendance Supervisor for the DeKalb County School System. The funeral will be Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at Salem Baptist Church. Dr. Bill Northcott will officiate and burial will be in Salem Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday from 1:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Love-Cantrell Funeral Home and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until the service at 2:00 p.m. at Salem Baptist Church in Liberty. He was preceded in death by his parents, John Edward Hale and Sadie Hale and two brothers, Dr. Jerre Hale and James Hale. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Gloria Hale of Liberty. Two sons, Tom Hale of Kentucky and Jamie and wife Carol Hale of Liberty. One daughter, Sally and husband Randy Baskin of Mount Juliet. Four grandchildren, Jacob Hale of Liberty, Leah Schitter of California, Anna Baskin of Mount Juliet, and Jonathan Baskin of Mount Juliet. Two great grandchildren, Lucas Hale and Livy Schitter. One sister, Betty and husband Harry Henderson of Martin, Tennessee. Five sisters-in-law, Betty Hale of Smithville, Mary Herbert of Nashville, Judy Sandlin of Alexandria, Jo Hobson and Barbara Hobson of Nashville. Several nieces and nephews survive along with a large loving church family. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. In addition to flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to Salem Baptist Church or Cemetery.

90 year old Ophie Lee Hayes of Smithville died Monday night at NHC Healthcare Center of Smithville. She was a retired shirt factory worker and a member of the Covenant Baptist Church. The funeral will be Thursday at 4:00 p.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Bernard Houk and Michael Hale will officiate and burial will be in Salem Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until the funeral at 4:00 p.m. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ray and Evie Walden Keith; her husband, Floyd Hayes; and two brothers, Donald Keith and T.D. Keith. Survivors include a daughter, Shirley and husband David Driver of Smithville. Two sons, Donald and wife Dimple Hayes of Watertown, Joe and wife Helen Hayes of California. Eight grandchildren, Sue Shelton, Bill Hayes, Jenny Nelson, Eugene Driver, Gail Hall, Randy Hayes, Jim Hayes, and John Hayes. Six great grandchildren. Six great great grandchildren. A brother, Houston Keith of Smithville. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

14 year old Jacob Davis Billings of Smithville died Sunday at DeKalb Community Hospital after being involved in a bicycle accident. He had just graduated from the eighth grade at DeKalb West School. He played football for the DeKalb Saints and had made the DCHS Tiger Football Team.
The funeral will be Thursday at 1:00 p.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Michael Hale will officiate and burial will be in DeKalb Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Wednesday from noon until 8:00 p.m. and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until the service at 1:00 p.m.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Ammon Billings, Jr.
Survivors include his parents, Trey and Heather Billings of Smithville. Two sisters, Jessica and Tori Billings of Smithville. His maternal grandparents, Eugene and Linda Waggoner of Alexandria. His paternal grandmother, Teresa Billings of Smithville. His maternal great grandmother, Delores Murphy of Liberty. His paternal great grandmother, Willadine Guy of Sparta. Aunts and uncles, Tonya and Kevin Roberts of Alexandria, Scarlett Adcock of Murfreesboro, Tonya Evans of Smithville, Aleisha Fuson of Smithville. Cousins, Brandon, Megan, Zackary, Noah, Emily, Madison, Olivia, and Skylar.
The family asks that donations be made to DeKalb Funeral Chapel to help with funeral expenses, in lieu of flowers. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

79 year old Ms. Willie Jean Bailey of Smithville died Saturday at her residence. She was a member of the Faith Baptist Church and a retired CNA from NHC Healthcare Center. The funeral will be Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Al Mahan will officiate and burial will be in the Goode Cemetery.Visitation will be Monday from 2:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. until the service at 4:00 p.m. She was preceded in death by her husband, Audie Lee Bailey, Jr.; parents, Clinton and Mattie Gordon; two daughters, Glenda Ford and Kathy Guinn; and two grandsons, Michael and Jeff Ford. Survivors include a son, Roger Dale and wife Kathy Bailey of Smithville. Five daughters, Janet Lattimore, Pat Ford and Robert Rowe, Laura Fay and husband Tim Martin, Nancy Bailey, and Reba Scott all of Smithville. Fifteen grandchildren, Julie Vincent, Amanda Ford, Rachael Anderson, Ashley Satterfield, Ricky and Micky Guinn, Brandy Guinn, Chrisey Demonbreun, Jenny Ramsey, Karey Benson, Chelsie Bryant, Terry and Steven Emberton, Lynn Miller, and Tiffani and Heather Scott. Four step grandchildren, Jimmy and Chris Martin, Jennifer Davis and Cassondra Martin. Twenty four great grandchildren, six step great grandchildren, and one great great grandchild. One brother, James and Ruby Vassar of Murfreesboro. Two sisters, Laura Sullins of Woodbury and Grace Parker of Murfreesboro. Special friend, Frances Hayes of Smithville. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

69 year old Phillip M. Vaughn of Smithville died Friday at DeKalb Community Hospital. He was a retired truck driver and he attended the Smithville Church of God until he became disabled. The funeral will be Monday at 11:00 a.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Donnie Kelly, Michael Hale, and Brad Vaughn will officiate and burial will be in DeKalb Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Saturday from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Monday from 9:00 a.m. until the service at 11:00 a.m. He was preceded in death by his parents, Casey and Elizabeth Fuson Vaughn; a sister, Phyllis Fuson Vaughn; and a brother, Thomas Casey Vaughn. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Ina Vaughn of Smithville. Two sons, Brad and wife Tamera Vaughn of Lebanon and Craig and wife Gina Vaughn of Smithville. Grandchildren, Dalton Heath Vaughn and Conner Slade Vaughn. Two acquired grandchildren, Ashley Ivey Smith and Allen Ivey. Two acquired great grandchildren, Anniston Leigh Ivey and Preston James Smith. A brother, Danny Vaughn of Nashville. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.