Obituaries

Brenda Pelham Davis

November 21, 2023

Brenda Pelham Davis, a resident of Cookeville, TN, passed from this life on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, at the age of 67. The youngest of four siblings, she was known for her organizational skills and attention to detail. In the kitchen her specialties were homemade carrot cake and “noodles and gravy” – a German recipe she learned from her mother. Ms. Davis was a homemaker who loved the snow and wintertime, collecting books and jewelry, and was a huge fan of herbal remedies. She was a lifelong learner and obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Liberty University in 2013.

Preceding her in death were her parents Fred Wiley & Ruth Anneliese (Augustin) Pelham of Smithville, brother Fred Robert Pelham of Murfreesboro, son Michael Pelham of Smithville, grandson Brannon Rochefort of Manistique, MI, nephew Glen Waggoner of Cookeville, and nephew Jonathan Lewis of Smithville, and her beloved dog and companion Rosie.

Ms. Davis is survived by her son and his wife Jeremy & Jacki Davis, daughter Amber Orlando (Pelham), 3 grandchildren Jacob Davis, Jaidyn Davis, Brady Rochefort, 3 great-grandchildren Cadence Rochefort, Quinn Rochefort, and Abel Rochefort, and 2 sisters Margaret Waggoner and Helen Lowry – in addition to several nieces and nephews.

Arrangements are being made by Dekalb Funeral Chapel. A small graveside gathering will be held at Gaither Cemetery in Woodbury, TN on Monday, November 27th @ 11am for those who wish to attend. In lieu of sending flowers, the family is requesting attendees bring their own flowers to be placed on Brenda’s final resting place.




Jack D. Underhill

November 21, 2023

84-year-old Jack D. Underhill of Alexandria died Monday at Alive Hospice of Murfreesboro. He was retired from DTC after 34 years and then worked with Anderson Funeral Home for 21 years and Close and Paschal Auction and Realty. Underhill was born in the Pea Ridge Community of Cannon County. He was also a member of the Upper Helton Baptist Church in Alexandria and the Alexandria Lions Club. The funeral will be Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Chapel of Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria. Jimmy Arms will officiate and burial will be in Hillview Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday from 10 a.m. until the service at 6 p.m. He was preceded in death by his parents, S.V. Underhill and Cora Owen Patterson and brothers, John and Ellis Morgan Underhill. Survivors include his wife of 49 years Faye Underhill of Alexandria. Children, Angie and Larry Ashford of Alexandria, Mark and Martha Underhill of Lebanon, and Edwin and Teresa Bogle of Alexandria. Grandchildren, Casey and Joey Agee, Heather and Blake Satty, Dustin and Brittany Bogle, Bradley and Lauren Campbell, Lydia Ashford, and Austin and Angel Underhill. Twelve great grandchildren and one great great grandchild and sisters, Joyce and JT Crook and Pat and Barry Turner. Anderson Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations may be made to the DeKalb County Fairgrounds.




Linda Gail (Estes) Strasburg

November 21, 2023

A memorial service for the late Linda Gail (Estes) Strasburg of Sparta, will be held on Sunday, December 3, 2023, at 2:00pm at the Robinson Chapel Presbyterian Church in White County. Bro. Larry Wilmoth will officiate at the service.

Mrs. Strasburg passed away on Friday, November 17, 2023, at Signature Healthcare of Putnam County.

Linda was born on July 22, 1940, in Smithville, TN to the late Albert and Kate (Sullivan) Estes. She was a teacher for the White County school system. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her  Husband, Pete Strasburg, Daughter Beth McKee Waggner, Two Brothers: Don and Bass Estes, and one Sister, Sylvia Estes Redmon.

Her surviving family includes her daughter: Vicki (McKee) McClanahan and Husband Steve; Three Grandsons: Kris Waggoner, Dain and Alec McClanahan. And one Sister: Dora Estes (James Brazier).

Linda passed away from a stroke complicated by Covid-19.

Whitson Funeral Home in Charge of Arrangements




Arthur Eidman, III

November 20, 2023

Arthur Eidman, III passed peacefully at Our Lady of the Lake in Baton Rouge, LA, at 1:28am on October 30th, 2023. Art was 79 years old and is survived by his loving wife Jo Carolyn Eidman, his daughter Kristen Eidman Stokes, his granddaughter Caroline Whittington Stokes, and his son in law James Neal Stokes Jr. He was the son of the late Margret Whittington Eidman and Arthur Eidman, II. Also, brother to the late Christopher Eidman. Born and raised in Greenwood, Ms.

Art and Joe lived in Smithville during the 1980s and operated the former Pizza Inn and original Sonic drive-in restaurants during those years. Jo was also a teacher at Smithville Elementary School.

Art served in the United States Army as a medic and was also classified as a sharp shooter during the Vietnam War. After serving in Vietnam, he received a degree in Business from University of Southern Mississippi. He moved to San Francisco, California and worked with Del Monte Corporation. He later moved to New Orleans and opened a waterbed factory and retail store. He and his wife also lived in Guatemala, after living on a 44 foot sail boat and traveling the world. They then moved to Smithville, TN, owning multiple restaurants. Art eventually obtained a master’s degree in teaching Spanish within a high school classroom setting. For almost two decades, Art impacted the lives of his students with his love for Mexico and South America. Art and his family traveled the world across the globe as he wanted his family to experience different cultures and to appreciate the different aspects of life from each culture. Art believed the more a person understood about one’s culture the more a person could humanize that country. Art valued global experiences as people are all the same…wanting to feel wanted and most importantly to be loved. Art loved the soul of every person he came across throughout his life and often found this relevance within his love for music. One of his last requests was to have Ripple by the Grateful Dead played at his service. If you knew him, it truly served him well.

Art’s graveside service will be held at The National Cemetery in Natchez, MS, on Monday, November 6, 2023 at 11:00 am. A celebration of life service will be held at The Pub at Dunleith from 4-6 this Sunday, November 5, 2023.




Danny Raye Phillips Sr.

November 18, 2023

Mr. Danny Raye Phillips Sr., age 66 of Smithville, passed away on Thursday, November 16, 2023 at his residence in Smithville. He was retired from Nissan and a Baptist.

Mr. Phillips was born on October 4, 1957 in Smithville, TN to his parents, Billy League Phillips, Sr. and Minnie Elizabeth Griffith Hurd.

Public visitation will be on Wednesday, November 22, 2023 from 9am-1pm and visitation with the family will be from noon until the time of service at 1pm with Bro. Jonathan Young officiating. Burial will follow in DeKalb Cemetery.

He was preceded in death by his father, Billy League Phillips, Sr.; 1 brother, Billy League Phillips, Jr.; stepfather, William Hurd; mother-in-law Pettie Bridges; and sister-in-law, Anita “Peaches” Bridges Pope.

Survivors include his wife Libby Bridges-Phillips of Smithville; 1 daughter, Cherise Phillips of Smyrna; Danny “June Bugg” Phillips of Cookeville; 2 stepsons, Jametric Wimbley of Clarksville and Nicholas Wimbley of Knoxville; Mother, Minnie Hurd of Smithville; 9 grandchildren, Adaeze Nwogbo of Smyrna, Adanna Nwogbo of Smyrna, Aysiah Roberts of Cookeville, Cory Wimbley of Smyrna, Courtney Wimbley of Smyrna, Jamir Wimbley of Smyrna, Kal’el Wimbley of Knoxville, Damian Wimbley of Knoxville and Selene Wimbley of Knoxville; 1 sister, Julia Owens of Smithville; 2 stepbrothers, Gerald (Karen) Hurd and Vincent (Sabrina) Hurd all of Lebanon; 1 stepsister, Lisa (Robert) Seay of Lebanon;1 goddaughter, Kortni Reed of Knoxville; 4 sisters-in-law, Deedy Cason of Knoxville; Arhonda Cason of Florida; Tracy Miller of Knoxville; Sue Carr of Sparta; 5 nephews, Tracey Phillips of South Carolina, Ike (Donda) Phillips of Murfreesboro, Tryone Owens of Smithville; Michael Chad Owens of Smithville, and Darrick Dibrell; Uncle, Walter Phillips of Smithville; Aunt, Shirley Griffith of Lebanon; Very special auntie, Beaulah Reed of Knoxville; host of other nieces, nephews, and cousins.

If you choose to make a contribution to a charity in memory of Mr. Phillips, the charity of choice of the family is the American Heart Association.

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




James Ed Rice

November 17, 2023

It is with profound sorrow that the Rice family announces the loss of its beloved patriarch, James Ed Rice, who passed away at home in Smithville, TN on November 17, 2023, at the age of 87.

James Ed was born on June 29, 1936 in Lebanon, Tennessee. He was the oldest of two children of Baxter and Wille Close Rice. He grew up and attended school in Smithville where he was an enthusiastic member of the DeKalb County Tigers football team. He was a member of the First Baptist Church. He is the father of five children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. In addition to his adored wife of 59 years, Lillian Elizabeth Gothard Rice, he was predeceased by his parents and sister, Mary Jane Windham.

His memory will be cherished dearly by his surviving family members – son James Ed Rice, Jr. (Jim Ed) and wife Benni, son Joe Marshall Rice and wife Norma, daughters Trina Rice Graham, Tammy Rice Allen and husband Steve and Terre Rice Puckett and husband Jason; granddaughters Lee Elizabeth Rice Stonestreet (Andrew) and Andrea Austin Rice Davis (Bobby), grandsons James Ed (Jed) Rice III, William Gregory Graham (Katie), Paul James Allen and Daniel Jason Puckett, and great-grandsons Beckett and Ben Stonestreet.

Words cannot convey how deeply we will miss his counsel, encouragement, and support but we can cherish the fond memories of our time with him. The way he motivated and inspired us. The way he uplifted us and made us laugh. Mostly, we will remember how loved and secure he made us feel.

In his younger years he served as a page in Congress before enrolling in the Marion Military Academy in Alabama. He received an appointment to the West Point Military Academy that was cut short because of the potentially life-threatening illness of his mother. He had lost his father at the age of 17. Despite these adversities and a humble beginning, he went on to many accomplishments.

An entrepreneur in every sense of the word, James Ed had a knack for business and was successful at it. He had a gift for connecting with and motivating people. He had a natural magnetism that led people to believe they could achieve more than they ever expected. He was positive, optimistic, and very intelligent. He had a one-of-a-kind personality and people wanted to be around him. He started and ran numerous businesses employing thousands of people and enriching the lives of those with whom he worked. He was a very positive influence in the lives of numerous people.

Starting out with a $300 loan from his grandmother, James Ed began his career selling nursery stock door-to-door and landscaping houses to support himself while attending college at Tennessee Tech and Middle Tennessee State University. His drive and persistence served him well. He was a trail-blazer and a creative problem-solver who relished a challenge. He achieved success with his early endeavors and parlayed it into a janitorial contracting business that eventually encompassed several hundred thousand square feet of federal office buildings in Washington, DC. This business evolved into military logistics and food service contracting, servicing hundreds of contracts and the largest military food service operations in the US.

Along the way, he started and participated in numerous other ventures including a local bank, a chain of fast-food restaurants, real estate investments, and the local DeKalb County hospital among others. He seemed to have a sixth sense of how to make ventures work.

At an early age he was active in local politics on the DeKalb County Commission and was instrumental in its reapportionment and in securing the Model Cities Program designation for Smithville. He was a founding sponsor of a Little League team and remained as one of its longest-term supporters.

James Ed loved his work and his community but more than anything his wife and children were the light of his life. He was devoted to his wife, Lillian, who had been his high school sweetheart. He admired her goodness, hard work, and accomplishments in education and music. He had a zest for life and he enlivened and brightened every room he entered. He will be sorely missed by the many people who knew and loved him.

The family would like to thank our beloved physician, Dr. Hugh Don Cripps, the Family Medical team, and all of our dedicated caregivers, current and former, for the compassionate care and kind attention given to our father. Sincere thanks to current caregivers, Faye Neville, Tina Waggoner, Connie Linder, and Marylin Mashburn. We would also like to thank home health nurse, Brandi Cantrell, and the team at Adoration Home Health.

Visitation will be Sunday, November 19, from 1:00 to 4:00 at Love-Cantrell Funeral Home and Monday, November 20, at the chapel of the First Baptist Church in Smithville from 1:00 until the time of service at 2:00. Dr. Chad Ramsey will officiate. Pallbearers will be James Ed (Jed) Rice III, William (Will) Gregory Graham, Paul James Allen, Daniel Jason Puckett, Robert (Bobby) Wilson Davis, and Randy Gothard.

Interment will follow at DeKalb Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, First Baptist Church, or God’s Pantry.




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