Bobbye Ruth Fish

January 1, 2018

Bobbye Ruth Fish age 90 of Smithville, passed away Saturday night, December 30, 2017 at her residence. She was born August 18, 1927 to her parents, the late Robert Taylor and Era Gill Taylor Webb. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Will T. Fish; 2 sisters, Eufaula Turner and Ofala Watson; granddaughter, Torie Danyell Stacey. Ms. Bobby Ruth was a retired shirt factory worker and a member of the Smithville Church of God. She leaves to cherish her memory, 4 children, Galen (Darschell) Fish of Smithville, Michael (Tabatha) Fish of Brush Creek, Diana Fish Clayborn and Regina Malone both of Smithville; half-brother, Robert L. (Jackie) Taylor, Jr. of Lebanon and a beloved sister-in-law, Bobbye Sue Fish of Smithville. Funeral services will be conducted 1 PM Wednesday January 3, 2017 at DeKalb Funeral Chapel with Bro. Chris Moore officiating and burial to follow in Hillview Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be on Tuesday 12 Noon until 8 PM and Wednesday 10 AM until the time of the service at 1 PM. In addition to flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Smithville Church of God, Building Fund in memory of Ms. Bobbye Ruth. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

January 1, 2018

Jackie Mark Mullican age 56 of Smithville, passed away Saturday night, December 30, 2017 at St. Thomas River Park Hospital in McMinnville. He was born November 15, 1961 to his parents, the late Jackie Austin and Jimmie G. Hendrix Mullican. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Phillip Mullican. Jackie was a construction worker. He is survived by his daughter, Tabitha (Bobby Joe) Anderson of Smithville; 2 grandchildren, Nikolas and Macy Anderson; 1 brother, Darrell Mullican of Nashville; 1 sister, Jayrah Hire of Smith County; mother of his daughter, Rebecca Petty of Smithville; several nieces and nephews also survive. There will be a private memorial service held at Petty Cemetery with Bro. Michael Hale officiating. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

January 1, 2018

James “Jim” Glendon Staley, 77, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee passed away on December 30, 2017. He was preceded in death by his parents James Hansford and Mary Magdalene Foster Staley, doting aunt Caroline Foster; brother Otis Staley; and sisters Thelma Staley Kirrane, Carrie Staley Workman, and Dorothy Staley. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Bobbie Nell Allen Staley; daughter Sharon (Robert) Dunn of Cumming, GA, granddaughters Kaitlin Rose Dunn of Seattle, Washington and Rachel Elizabeth Dunn of Cumming, GA, and grandson Alexander Scott Dunn (Tiffany) of Bloomington, IL; son James Allen Staley of Columbia, TN; daughter-in-law Melissa Liggett Staley, and grandson Eli You-Bao Staley of Franklin, TN.
He is also survived by nieces June Ziegenfuss of Portsmouth, VA and Reggie Houk of Smithville, TN, nephew Dennis (Sharon) Staley (Detroit, MI); great nieces and nephews Cathy (Gary) Beltz of Smithville, TN, Glendon Houk of Smithville, TN, and Joy (James) Houk-Raper of Lascassas, TN; great, great nieces and nephews David (Darlene) Griffith (Smithville, TN), Whitney Houk (Smithville, TN), and Carlee and Caroline Hall of Lascassas, TN; and brother-in-laws Willie B. Allen of Donaldson, TN and George Sellars Allen of Alexandra, TN.
Jim was born on June 18, 1940 in Smithville, TN. The youngest of five children and named after his father, he was fondly called ‘Little Jimmy’ or ‘Pops.’ Jim attended Cumberland University where he met Bobbie and was known simply as ‘Staley.’ He went on to attend the University of Tennessee (UT) where he obtained his undergraduate, masters, and PhD in horticulture and developed a passion for UT football which he maintained throughout his life.
Upon graduating in 1970, Jim became the first horticulturist at Memphis State University (MSU). He had a love for horticulture and people and brought the two together as he helped expand and diversify the MSU Physical Plant grounds department and beautify the campus.
In 1977, Jim became Middle Tennessee State University’s (MTSU) horticulturist and joined the faculty as Associate professor in the Agriculture department. In later years he served as Director of both Physical Plant and Murphy Center. Throughout his career, Jim served on various city beautification committees and was a member of Kiwanis. Jim retired in 1998 and he and Bobbie moved to Gallatin, TN where he fulfilled his dream of living on Old Hickory Lake to pursue his love of fishing. In 2016 they moved back to Murfreesboro, TN to be closer to family.
Jim was a dedicated husband, father, and grandfather and was extremely generous with friends, family, and those in need. He was a man of integrity and a devout Christian and served as a deacon and elder at Northminster Presbyterian Church in Murfreesboro and Gallatin Presbyterian Church. Jim struggled with health issues for two decades and will be remembered for his unwavering faith, strength, and will to survive.
Visitation will be held at Northminster on Tuesday, January 2, 2018 at 11:00 with the funeral service following at 1:00 at Northminster Presbyterian Church all in Murfreesboro, TN. Rev. Marshall Gupton will officiate. A graveside service will follow in Talley Cemetery in Alexandria, TN, at 3:00 p.m.
Woodfin Funeral Chapel in Murfreesboro is in charge of the arrangements,

Members of the “Off the Beaten Path Studio Tour” will sponsor their annual “Art for Kids Day” today (Saturday, August 24) at the DeKalb Farmers Market in support of the School System’s Back Pack Program to help feed hungry children.

Claudia Lee, local artisan, said all the artwork for this annual event is donated and all the money raised from sales goes to the Back Pack Program.

(Video below is from last year’s event)

IMG_0622 from dwayne page on Vimeo.

“One hundred percent of the money from the sales goes to help fund the Back Pack program which provides supplemental food for kids in DeKalb County who are not getting fed regularly at home. We are one of the organizations that does fund raising for this program,” added Lee.

“The art work is donated by area artists as well as artists from the Appalachian Center for Crafts, and Off the Beaten Path Studio Tour. We do it once a year. It is almost always in August. We collect art work all year long and people look forward to it. They get some great deals. The prices are amazing,” said Lee.

According to Elise Driver of the Coordinated School Health Program, About 6% of the DeKalb County School student population goes hungry on a regular basis with meals provided at schools being their main source of food. “Coordinated School Health began sending bags of food home to children eleven years ago. We began with long weekends and holidays and now we feed them every week during the school year. Funding is not always consistent and we are continuously seeking donations of food and or money to maintain our program, to improve the nutritional value of the food products given to students, and to promote healthy eating habits,” said Driver.

To make a donation, contact Driver at the Board of Education Central Office known as the Ernest Ray Education Center at 615-597-4084.

Meanwhile, the 20th annual “Off the Beaten Path Studio Tour” is scheduled for October 25-27.

Every fall, on the last full weekend in October, when the color is breathtaking and there is a certain crispness in the air, the artists of Off the Beaten Path Studio Tour in DeKalb and Cannon Counties open their studios for a free three day open studio event. Celebrating its 20th year, the tour has grown to include 15 stops with 30 participating artists. Artists will be demonstrating their craft mediums and offering handcrafted shopping opportunities at every stop on the tour. This is a perfect family outing or weekend getaway.

To learn more visit

http://offthebeatenpathtour.com/

Jessica Beth Turner age 38 of McMinnville, passed away Saturday, November 3, 2018 at her residence. She was born October 5, 1980 in Smithville, to her parents, Bruce Turner and Rita Kay Waggoner Koby. She worked in healthcare and was a member of the Pomeroy Chapel Brethren In Christ Church. Jessica leaves to cherish her memory, her son, Garrett Turner of McMinnville; mother, Rita (Mike) Koby of Smithville; father, Bruce (Paula) Turner of Smithville; brother, Chris (Sonya) Turner of Murfreesboro; 3 step-brothers, Ethan (Kendra) Rutledge of Cleveland, TN, Nathan (Daniella) Koby of Watertown, Josh Koby of Chattanooga; 2 step-sisters, Savannah (Eric0 Stewart of McMinnville and Lexi Spry of Smithville; several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins also survive. The family has honored Jessica’s request to be cremated. Memorial services celebrating Jessica’s life will be held 2M Saturday, November 10, 2018 at Pomeroy Chapel Brethren in Christ Church with Bro. Larry Steffee officiating. Visitation with the family will be from 1 PM until the time of the service at 2 PM. In addition to flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the American Diabetes Association, in memory of Jessica. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

Sharon Kay Paschal age 60 of Alexandria, died Saturday evening, July 13, 2019 at her residence. Born June 26, 1959, she was the daughter of Phyllis Anderson Paschal and the late James Carl “Chigger” Paschal. Sharon was a graduate of Dekalb County High School and attended the Baptist church. She was an assistant manager at Prichard’s Foods in Alexandria. Sharon is survived by her mother, Phyllis Paschal of Alexandria; sisters, Pam (Aaron) Huddleston of Alexandria and Lanee (Terry) Young of Mt. Juliet; brother, Ron (Tina) Paschal of Alexandria; nieces and nephews, Brandon (Lauren) Huddleston, Beth (Aaron) Eakes, Lincoln (Amy) Young, Whitney (Hunter) Wharton, Justin Paschal, Jessica (Sean) Leiser and several great nieces and nephews that she dearly loved. Funeral services 2 p.m. Monday, June 15, 2019 at Anderson Funeral Home with Bro. Doug Dillard and Steen Prichard officiating. Visitation 3-8 p.m. Sunday and 10 a.m. till service time on Monday. Pallbearers, Justin Paschal, Sean Leiser, Lincoln Young, Hunter Wharton, Aaron Eakes, Brandon Huddleston, Tyler Hearn and Tim Hearn. Interment at the Paschal Family Cemetery.  ANDERSON FUNERAL HOME, Alexandria  (615)529-2173.