Maurice Lee Griffith

February 13, 2020

Maurice Lee Griffith age 59 of Dowelltown passed away Tuesday February 11, 2020 at his residence. He was born October 31, 1960 to his parents, the late S.B. Griffith and Bobbie Jean Neal Houk. Maurice was a Baptist and a drywall finisher. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by son, Stephan Patrick; step-son, Jerry Lee Estes; 2 brothers, James and Jimmy Griffith; 2 sisters, Marie McBride and Teresa Griffith. Funeral services for Mr. Griffith will be held 1 p.m.
Saturday February 15, 2020 at DeKalb Funeral Chapel and burial to follow in Mt. Ararat Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be held Saturday 10:AM until time of the service at 1 p.m.
Survivors include 2 sons, Matthew and Billy Griffith both of Smithville; 1 granddaughter, Kynlee Griffith; several step-grandchildren; mother of his children, Darlene Jackson of Smithville; 2 sisters, Deborah Page of Dowelltown and Melissa Culwell of Smithville; 1 brother, Charles (Phyllis) Griffith of Alexandria; several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles & cousins also survive. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to DeKalb Funeral Chapel to help with funeral expenses. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

February 11, 2020

Billy Carrol Myers age 87 of McMinnville went to be with the Lord Monday night, February 10, 2020 at NHC HealthCare Center in Smithville. He was born January 30, 1933 in Doyle, TN to his parents, the late Paul Otto and Jennie Bell Davis Myers. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Helen Myers; 4 brothers, Johnny Bradford, James Arnold, Paul, Jr. and Joe Donald Myers; 1 sister, Betty Jane (Bernice) Hubbard. He was a faithful member of New Life United Pentecostal Church, a U.S. Army veteran having served 8 years and he was an Aerostructure Mechanic and Air Conditioning Mechanic with Avco/Textron for 35 years. Bro. Bill as he was affectionately known to many, was a humble God fearing man that study the word of God in depth to grow in knowledge and in his relationship with the Lord. He leaves to cherish his memory, 5 children, Carol Anne (Bruce) Northcutt of Smithville, Brian Keith Myers of McMinnville, Melody Jean (Tim) West of Smithville, Lisa (Virgil) Joines, Jr. of McMinnville and Monica (Jeff) Robinson of McMinnville; 13 grandchildren, Jacob (Whitney) Northcutt, Jesse (Alicia) Northcutt, Jonathan (Courtney) Myers, Brian Thomas Myers, Sarah West, Rebekah West, Joseph West, Adam West, Mark (Erin) Joines, Rachel Joines, Stephen (Heather) Robinson, Matthew (McKenzie) Robinson and Olivia Flanders; 3 great-granddaughters, Bethanie and Gracie Northcutt and Beckley West; 3 brothers, Jackie (Caroline) Myers of Rock Island, Charlie (Brenda) Myers of Bone Cave and Bruce (Beverly) Myers of Murfreesboro; 2 sisters, Judy Ann Rogers of Gallatin and Janice Bowen of California; several nieces and nephews and special friend, Jack Peacock of Atlanta, GA. Funeral services will be 1 P.M. Friday, February 14, 2020 at DeKalb Funeral Chapel with Bros. Dwayne Cornelius and Michael Hale officiating and burial will follow in Scurlock Cemetery with Military Honors conducted by the Veterans Honor Guard. Visitation with the family will be on Thursday 3 P.M. until 8 P.M. and Friday 10:AM until the time of the service at 1 P.M. In addition to flowers, the family asks that donations to be made to the United Pentecostal Missionary Fund or to the Children’s Sunday School department at New Life, in memory of Bill. The Myers family would like to extend a special “Thank You” to the caregivers and staff of NHC and Caris Hospice. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

February 11, 2020

Mrs. Treca Grey Jones Johnson, age 91 of Walling, died on Monday, February 10, 2020.

Treca was born February 14, 1928 in Warren County, Tennessee to Alva and Velma Schrock Jones. Treca worked many years as a teacher’s aide at Central View School in Walling, but the full-time job she most excelled at was as a wife and mother. She was the model of a Southern lady: gentle, soft-spoken, patient, compassionate, and tough as nails. Treca devoted her life to her family, especially to the care of her daughter, Wanda. Later in life she adopted many friends and family as honorary grandchildren. She was everybody’s Ma.

Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Titus Burl Johnson; her daughter, Sheila Joan Aytes; her son, Troy Burl Johnson; sister Gwendoline Jones Pelham and brother-in-law H.T. “Zeke” Pelham, brother Royce Darwin Jones and sister-in-law Shirley Adcock Jones, brother-in-law Jerry Lynn, sister-in-law Anne Jones, and nieces Gayla Pelham Whitlock, Lisa Lynn Abbott, and Jeanne Pelham Roller.

Treca is survived by her daughter, Wanda Joyce Johnson; three grandchildren: Jason (Kate) Aytes, Ryan Aytes, and Whitney (Matthew) Burkhalter; three great-grandchildren Mackenzie Aytes, Cooper Aytes, and Jordan Aytes; siblings: Idell (Gene) West, Lane Jones, and Jane (Bob) Williams; and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 14 at Spring Hill Baptist Church at 11:00 a.m. with interment following in the church cemetery. Nephews will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends Thursday evening at Hunter Funeral Home in Sparta beginning at 4:00 p.m. Mrs. Johnson will lie in state from 9:00am until service time Friday at the church.

The family wishes to extend thanks to Sandy Sloan, Willeen Shelton and the staffs of Kindred Hospice and Home Instead.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Hunter Funeral Home in Sparta.

February 8, 2020

87 year old Julia Louise Foster passed away on Friday, February 7, 2020 at her residence in Lewisburg, TN.
She was born December 22, 1932 in Indianapolis, IN and is a former resident of Smithville. Mrs. Foster was a member of the Riggs Chapel Church of Christ in Chapel Hill and was a retired Laboratory Technician with the VA Hospital in Nashville.

Visitation with the family will be held at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home on Tuesday, February 11, 2020 from 10:00 am until the time of the funeral service at 1:00 pm. Bro. Dan Gulley and Bro. Russell Wyatt will officiate with burial to follow at the Smithville Town Cemetery.

Mrs. Foster was preceded in death by her parents, Albert John and Wenona Gertrude Fink Enders; daughter, Kathrayne Poole; sisters, Joyce Sparks and Jill Wolf; and brother, David Enders. She is survived by her husband of 44 years, Athol “Kay” Foster of Lewisburg, TN; daughter, Kim and Danny Hodign of Fair Hope, AL; son, Kirby Ross Totty of Jasper, TN; granddaughter, Elizabeth Long of Soddy-Daisy, TN; great granddaughter, Iris Long of Soddy-Daisy, TN; a sister, Jacqueline and Kenny Raney of Florida; and half-brother, Joseph Watson of South Carolina.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Smithville Town Cemetery Fund in memory of Mrs. Foster.

February 7, 2020

Mr. Don “Monk” Bain, age 66 of Alexandria, TN, passed away Wednesday, February 5, 2020 at the Alive Hospice in Murfreesboro, TN after a lengthy stay at Summit Hospital in Hermitage, TN.

Mr. Bain was born June 2, 1953 in Lebanon, TN, a son of the late Buddy Bass Bain and Mattie Bell Dodd Bain. He was also preceded in death by Sister; Gladys Anita Hayes and Two Brothers; William Andy Bain and Buddy Otis Bain.

Mr. Bain started working working construction at 18 years old. He was a member of the Laborers International Union of North American Local Chapter #386 for 45 years. He retired from the Gallatin Steam Plant in October of 2015. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. Mr. Bain was a member of the First Baptist Church, Alexandria and attended the Hickman Baptist Church.

Mr. Bain is survived by two Children; Billy Joe (Juli) Bain of Beech Grove, TN, and Christopher Lee (Amanda) Bain of Alexandria, TN. Two Grandchildren; Wyatt Christopher Bain and Jayden Daniel Bain. Five Step-grandchildren; Kenneth Morton, Jr, Richard Dietz, Sean McSwain, Connor McSwain, and Ashley Totherow. Three step great-grandchildren; Jed, Avery, and Addelyn. Two Sisters; Jean (Richard) Hackett of Gordonsville, TN, and Francis Jordan of Mt. Juliet, TN. Mother of his children; Leona Jane Bain of Sykes, TN.

Funeral Services for Mr. Bain are scheduled to be conducted from the Avant Funeral Home on Saturday, February 8, 2020 at 1PM with Bro. Richard Hackett officiating. Interment will follow in the Hillview Cemetery.

Visitation with the family will be at the Avant Funeral Home on Friday from 1PM until 8PM and on Saturday from 10AM until service time at 1PM.

February 7, 2020

Shirley Elizabeth Beckham age 82 of Smithville passed away Thursday night, February 6, 2020 at her residence. She was born May 11, 1937 to her parents, the late Carroll Barr and Goldia Bardmess Barr Hulvey. Mrs. Beckham was preceded in death by 2 sons, Kenneth and Jerry Beckham; 2 sisters, Beverly Rogers and Norma Jean Leadlove and 1 brother, Eugene Barr. She was a restaurant owner, member of the Order of the Eastern Star and Smithville Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Shirley is survived by her husband of 68 years, Marvin Beckham of Smithville; grandchildren, Nikki Beckham, Jennifer Chapman, J.J. Beckham, Chase Beckham, Chesney (Blake) Ayers, DJ Crews, and Matthew Exum; great-grandchildren, Brady Hughes, Carleigh Beckham, Whitleigh Chapman, Lily Beckham and Emma Beckham; adopted daughter, Vickey (Dan) Crews; special family, Debbie Driver of Smithville and Robin Beckham of Cookeville; 2 nieces, Angela (Jeff) Law and Cyndi (Danny) Niles and special caregiver, Stephanie Chivers. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Monday, February 10, 2020 at DeKalb Funeral Chapel with Bros. Larry Steffee and Michael Hale officiating and burial will follow in DeKalb Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Sunday 12 Noon until 8 p.m. and Monday 11:AM until the time of the service at 2 p.m.. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the DeKalb Animal Coalition, in memory of Mrs. Shirley.