Virginia Rhea Cantrell

January 22, 2019

Virginia Rhea Cantrell   September 13, 1937 – January 18, 2019
Virginia was a high spirited woman. She and her husband David moved from their hometown of Smithville, Tennessee to Detroit, Michigan in 1954, where they raised their children Tony and Cindy Cantrell. Virginia was a passionate, accomplished woman who touched the lives of many. After graduating from Wayne State University with a Master’s degree she went on to educate the youth of Detroit as an elementary school teacher for 26 years. Virginia believed strongly in the importance of education and through her role as elected Vice-President and later President of the Detroit Federation of Teachers served as a strong ally to students and teachers alike.  She was a life long member of the Eastern Star and the National Rifle Association. A lover of cats she provided food, shelter and love for many over the years.
Virginia was preceded in death by her mother Elma and father Robert J. Cantrell; husband David Cantrell; son Tony Cantrell; son in law Brian Patrick and brother Glen Cantrell. She is survived by her daughters Cindy Lynne Cantrell and Monica Burks; grandchildren Cosmo, Catherine and Ben; brother Kenneth Cantrell and nephews Ryan (Tina) Tyler and Tanner.  Funeral Services will be conducted 2 p.m. Friday, January 25, 2019 at DeKalb Funeral Chapel with Bro. Michael Hale officiating and burial will follow in DeKalb Memorial Gardens.  Visitation with the Cantrell family will be Thursday 1 p.m. until 7 p.m. and Friday 10:AM until the time of the service at 2 p.m.  DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

January 21, 2019

88 year old Eleaise Estes of Smithville passed away Monday at St. Thomas DeKalb Hospital. She was a homemaker and a member of the New Life Pentecostal Church. The funeral will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Billy Hale and Dwayne Cornelius will officiate and burial will be in Salem Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday from 1-8 p.m. and Wednesday from 9 a.m. until the service at 11 a.m. She was preceded in death by her parents, Bill and Nettie Hicks Cubbins; husband, John Estes; grandson, Nathan Estes; Two brothers, J.C. and Charles Cubbins; and two sisters, Myrtle Taylor and Carolyn Cubbins. Survivors include two sons, Phillip and Billie Grace Estes of Smithville and Russell Estes of Dowelltown. Three grandchildren, Shannon and Amanda Estes, Andy and Emily Estes, and Dustin and Courtney Estes all of Smithville. Five great grandchildren and a sister, Dinah and Phil Cripps of Dowelltown also survive. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

January 21, 2019

73 year old Janie Pruitt Thomason of Dowelltown passed away Sunday at St. Thomas DeKalb Hospital. She was a farmer and a Baptist. The funeral will be Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Chris Moore will officiate and burial will be in the Mt. Holly Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. and Wednesday from 10 a.m. until the service at 1 p.m. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Louise Raymond Winchester; husbands, Billy Pruitt and Paul Thomason; daughter, Barbara Easterwood; son, Bobby Pruitt; two brothers, James E. Winchester, Jr. and Rickey Lee Winchester; and a sister, Mary Sue Clark Chapman. Survivors include three sons, James and Glenda Hale of Woodbury, Jimmy Hale of Alabama, and Billy Pruitt and Elizabeth Redmon of Smithville. Nine grandchildren, Christian and Conner Pruitt of Smithville, Chesley Pruitt of Murfreesboro, Dalton, Whitney, and Dylan Easterwood of Smithville and Michael and Amanda Hale of Sparta, and Jessica Hale. Several great grandchildren. Three sisters, Janice Bratcher of Smithville, Joyce Jacks of Michigan, and Linda and Repsie Pedigo of McMinnville and several nieces and nephews survive. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

January 21, 2019

Jim Dorroh was born May 14, 1926 and left this world on January 18, 2019. He was 92 years old. Without question his greatest love was aviation. He was a Presbyterian and had a long history in the church as a family member. Mrs. Sallie Dorroh donated the land on which was built Dorroh Presbyterian Church of which his family stayed connected. Jim was a strong believer in Jesus Christ.

In addition to his many aviation endeavors Jim worked for the original Carribean airline of Miami, Florida called Mackey Airlines. The airline was formed by Colonel Joseph Mackey in 1946 and was eventually merged into Eastern Airlines in early 1967. Jim stayed with Eastern Airlines as an engineer until he retired. In his aviation career Jim became a licensed multi-engine, instrument rated commercial pilot; a licensed Airframe and Power-Plant Aircraft Mechanic and a Commercial Flight Engineer. Being in aviation for so many years, Jim worked on and flew a huge number of aircraft types and met many notable people in the aviation world.

Jim was a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 1378 based at Upper Cumberland Regional Airport in Sparta, where he loved sharing his aviation experiences and offering much advice to other aircraft enthusiasts.

In his last years if you went looking for Jim Dorroh you would find him at the Smithville Airport where he was based for many years. There Jim hangared several aircraft.

Another love that Jim had was Thornwell Home for Children in Clinton, South Carolina. Over the years Jim cared for this children’s home was very much where he regularly donated to its maintenance to help orphaned and abandoned children.

Jim was a well-known and well liked fellow. The more you knew Jim Dorroh the more you had to love and admire him. He will be greatly missed.

Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. A memorial service will be announced at a later time.

January 21, 2019

Mr. Thomas L. “Tom” Cripps age 88 of Alexandria, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday night, January 19, 2019.  He was born April 22, 1930 to his parents, the late Livie and Pearl Elledge Cripps.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers, Ray Cripps and Carl Cripps; sisters, Hilda Cripps, Allene Keith, Opal Jones, Josephine Cripps and Opha Turner.  Mr. Tom was a Deacon and faithful member of Elizabeth Chapel Baptist Church since 1974.  He served in the U.S. Army in the Korean Conflict and was a farmer and retired shirt factory worker.  He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Georgie Cripps; daughter, Tammye (Gary) Whitaker; grandchildren, Matthew (Lindsey) and Tyler (Rebecca) and great-grandchildren; brother, Lloyd (Jessie) Cripps; sisters, Corinne Clark and Doris Rowland.  Funeral services will be conducted 11:AM Tuesday, January 22, 2019 at DeKalb Funeral Chapel with Bros. Bill Robertson and Joel Wood officiating and burial will follow in DeKalb Memorial Gardens with Military Honors conducted by the Veterans Honor Guard.  In addition to flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Elizabeth Chapel Baptist Church Building Fund, in memory of Mr. Tom.  Visitation with the family will be on Monday 2 P.M. until 7 P.M.and Tuesday 9 AM until the time of the service at 11AM.  The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to Avalon Hospice, Adoration Home Health, St. Thomas DeKalb Hospital, Family Medical Center, VA Tennessee Valley HealthCare System, NHC and the caregivers: Valerie, Frances, Belinda and Gail, for the wonderful care and love shown to Tom during this time.  DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. 

January 20, 2019

Eugene Joseph O’Neil age 86 of Smithville and a native of New York, passed away Friday night, January 18, 2019 at his residence.  He was born February 17, 1932 to his parents, the late Joseph and Alice Fraser O’Neil.  He was a Roman Catholic, a real estate surveyor and former City of Smithville building inspector, member of the Tennessee land surveyors association.  Mr. O’Neil was a retired Major with the United States Army, retiring in 1992.  He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Nancy O’Neil of Smithville; 2 sons, Matthew (Greta) O’Neil of Acworth, GA and Patrick (Heather) O’Neil of Woodstock, GA; 3 grandchildren, Miranda, Keily and Liam O’Neil; sister, Joan Taylor of New Bern, NC.  The O’Neil family has chosen a direct cremation and there will be a Memorial Prayer Service and Military Honors held 12 Noon, Friday, January 25, 2019 at DeKalb Funeral Chapel.  Visitation with the family will be on Friday 11:AM until the time of the service at 12 Noon.  DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.