Eddie Lawrence

December 21, 2020

Mr. Eddie Lawrence, age 88, of Alexandria, TN, passed away on Sunday, December 20, 2020.

Mr. Lawrence was born June 22, 1932 in Sykes, TN, a son of the late Millard S. Lawrence and Lula Kyle Lawrence. He married Loni Faye Parkerson Lawrence on December 23, 1960 and she preceded him in death in January of 2004 after 44 years of marriage union that produced four children. He was also preceded in death by second wife, Mary E. Lawrence. Eddie was a 1950 graduate of Gordonsville High School. He worked for 32 years at DTC until his retirement. He was a member of the New Hope Baptist Church where he served as a deacon. Mr. Lawrence was an avid farmer.

Mr. Lawrence is survived by four children; Pam (Joe) Lipari of Flower Mound, TX, Donna (David) Phillips of Alexandria, TN, Jerry Lawrence of Alexandria, TN, and Charlie (Tracy) Lawrence of Alexandria, TN. Grandchildren; Kristen Lawrence, Emily Lipari, J.P. Lipari, Caitlyn Lawrence, and Rebecca Lawrence. Wife; Lucy Lawrence.

Funeral Services for Mr. Lawrence are scheduled to be conducted on Wednesday, December 23, 2020 at 1PM at Avant Funeral Home. Interment will follow in the New Hope Cemetery.

Visitation with the family will be at Avant Funeral Home on Tuesday from 2PM until 7PM and on Wednesday after 11AM until service time at 1PM.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the New Hope Cemetery, Northside Fund.

December 21, 2020

Mr. Athol Kay Foster age 86 of Lewisburg, TN and Dekalb County native passed away Saturday, December 19, 2020 at the Maury Regional Medical Center.

Kay, as he was better known, was born January 7, 1934 in DeKalb County, TN to his parents, the late Athol J. & Cleo Vandagriff Foster. Also preceding him in death is his wife, Julia Foster. Kay was retired from the United States Army as an MP and was a helicopter pilot. He entered the Army in 1954 and served for over 20 years. During his service time he was in Vietnam and was a highly decorated war hero. After he retired from the Army, he went to work at the United States Post office until the mid 1990’s. Kay was a member of the Riggs Church of Christ in Chapel Hill, TN.

Graveside Services will be held on Tuesday, December 22, 2020 at 1pm at Smithville Town Cemetery with military honors provided by the Veterans Honor Guard. There will be no visitation held at the funeral home. Family and friends will gather at the cemetery just prior to the services at 1pm.

Survivors include a Daughter, Monie Foster Cyr of Nevada & a Son, Garry Foster of Nevada. 2 Sisters, Sammie Foster George of College Grove, TN & Sue Foster Smiley of Dickson, TN. Several Nieces & Nephews also survive.

Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

December 21, 2020

Mrs. Jo Doris Baker Washer, age 89, of Brush Creek, TN, passed away on Sunday, December 20, 2020.

Mrs. Washer was born February 1, 1931 in Brush Creek, TN, a daughter of the late Joe Lewis Baker and Allie Kyle Baker. She married Buil James Washer on December 23, 1948 and he preceded her in death on November 4, 2000. She was also preceded in death by Son-in-Law; Billy Walker.

Mrs. Washer was a 1949 graduate of Gordonsville High School. She worked at the Alexandria Shirt Factory for a short period. Mrs. Washer was a member of the Brush Creek Baptist Church. She was a wonderful mother and grandmother. She will be remembered as always being kind and having a smile.

Mrs. Washer is survived by Daughter; LaVonne Walker of Watertown, TN. Grandchildren; Julie (Kent) Beasley of Watertown, TN, Jill (Tim) Chappell of Watertown, TN, and Cindy (Kelsey) Evert of Watertown, TN. Great-grandchildren; Brady Chappell, Lola Klaire Chappell, Jack Walker Beasley, Ben Thomas Beasley, James William Evert, and Camille Evert. Sister; Linda (Wayne) Greene of Mt. Juliet, TN, and Brother; Jerry Baker of Brush Creek, TN.

Funeral Services for Mrs. Washer are scheduled to be conducted on Tuesday, December 22, 2020 at 2PM at the First Baptist Church, Alexandria with Bro. Billie Friel officiating. Interment will follow in the Brush Creek Cemetery.

Visitation with the family will be at the First Baptist Church, Alexandria on Tuesday from 10AM until service time at 2PM.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Billy Walker Memorial Fund at First Baptist Church, Alexandria.

Avant Funeral Home in Alexandria is in charge of the arrangements

December 21, 2020

Ms. Wanda Faye Cantrell, age 70 of Dowelltown, TN passed away on Sunday, December 20, 2020 at the Cookeville Regional Medical Center.

Wanda was born on March 1, 1951 in Lebanon, TN to her parents, the late Elijah & Lera Culwell. Also preceding her in death was her Husband, Lewis Cantrell & Brothers, Boyd, Floyd & Furman Culwell & Sisters, Tincey Arnold, Frances Culwell & Evie Culwell. She was a Homemaker & was of the Freewill Baptist faith.

Graveside Services will be held on Tuesday, December 22, 2020 at 2:30pm at Bohnam Cemetery. Bro. Trent Colwell & Bro. David Lawson will officiate. Visitation with the family will be on Tuesday from 12 Noon – 2pm at Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Family and friends will then gather at the cemetery for the graveside service at 2:30pm. Due to Covid-19 precautions, social distance measures will be observed. We are not accepting food in our kitchen at this time.

Survivors include her Son, Chris Cantrell of Dowelltown, TN. Grandson, Damien Tindell of Dowelltown, TN. Several Nieces & Nephews & a Special Niece, Josie Culwell all survive.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations please be given to help with the burial expenses in memory of Ms. Wanda.

December 21, 2020

Richard Hearon Puckett, age 82, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday afternoon, December 20, 2020, surrounded by his family after a three-year struggle with dementia. He was known to the home folks as Hearon and as Richard in his professional career.

Hearon was the prized and only child of Lou and Harrison Puckett. He was born at home on February 9, 1938, at the mouth of Eagle Creek and Long Branch, which is now at the bottom of Center Hill Lake. This charted his destiny for a 42-year career with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He moved through the ranks beginning as a Ranger at Center Hill Lake in 1963, then to the Nashville District Office, then on to Resource Manager at Old Hickory, Cordell Hull and then finally back home to Center Hill in 1984. He retired in 2005 after 11 years of being Area Manager of the Mid-Cumberland Area, including Cordell Hull, Dale Hollow and Center Hill Lakes and Power Plants.

Hearon was also a longtime Licensed Land Surveyor, having trekked many hills and hollers all across DeKalb County and the surrounding area. Later in life, he became a Licensed Affiliate Real Estate Broker and Licensed General Contractor. He enjoyed many outdoor pursuits, including fishing, hunting and boating. He shared his love of the lake with his daughters and with his unending patience, taught them, along with countless of their friends, how to water ski.

Hearon loved fried okra, homegrown tomatoes, and moon pies. He also loved spending time with people, telling tales, having a good laugh, enjoying a cup of coffee almost any time of the day, and touring people around DeKalb County, either by boat or car.

Hearon was a member of Indian Creek Baptist Church, where he served as Youth Sunday School teacher, Sunday School Director, and Deacon. He was also active in the community by serving as a Gideon; on the DeKalb County Election Commission; as an officer in the Chamber of Commerce, various PTO’s, the DCHS basketball boosters; and as a Board Member of Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County.

Hearon was a star basketball player for Walker’s Chapel School and Pure Fountain High School and played in the State Tournament in 1956 as a senior. He went on to play basketball at Tennessee Tech, where he held the record for most foul-outs in a season, a trait he passed along to his daughters.

Hearon is survived by his wife of 61 years, Martha Ann Nixon Puckett, of Dowelltown; daughters, Tecia Lou Puckett Pryor and Mary Ann Puckett of Smithville; sons-in-law, John Pryor and Bill Harpole; grandchildren, Harrison Puckett Pryor, Tess Annabel Barton, Ben Jackson Barton and Camille Kate Barton; former son-in-law, Jack Barton; a host of special cousins, and a loving team of in-home caregivers. He was predeceased by his parents, Richard Harrison Puckett and Lou Harrison Parsley Puckett, and infant daughter, Kecia Ann Puckett.

Donations in memory may be made to Indian Creek Baptist Church, Gideons International, or to the charity of your choice.

Visitation will be on Monday, December 21, 2020, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Tuesday, December 22, 2020, from 10:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. at Love-Cantrell Funeral Home, Smithville, Tennessee. We are not accepting food in the funeral home kitchen facilities. Masks are required while attending the service and visitation. A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, December 22, 2020, at 12 Noon at DeKalb Memorial Gardens.

December 20, 2020

Marian Ann Read age 81 of Smithville, passed away Saturday morning, December 19, 2020 at Signature Health Care of Putnam County in Algood. She was born February 20, 1939 to her parents, the late John Marion and Vera Katherine Keen Dampier. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, William Burke Read; siblings, J.M. Dampier, Edith Myer and Dolly Dampier. Ms. Read was a homemaker and member of Whorton Springs Baptist Church. She was a former member of the Eastern Star in Florida. She is survived by 3 children, Rita Shows of Mississippi, Clifton Sasser of Cookeville and Andria Gooch of Smithville; 8 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren; 2 sisters, Mary Bison of Waterport, NY and Kaye Stalnaker of Lake City, FL; 1 brother, Kalvin Dampier of Lake City, FL; aunt, Lois Dampier Carter of Louisiana. Graveside services and interment will be conducted 1 PM Monday, December 21, 2020 at DeKalb Cemetery with Bro. Michael Hale officiating. Visitation will be Monday 12 Noon until 12:45 PM at which time Ms. Read will be taken to the cemetery for the graveside service. Due to Covid-19 and social distancing guidelines, we ask for the health and safety of everyone that you please exercise social distancing. The funeral home lounge is closed at this time and no food or drinks are allowed in the funeral home. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.