OBITUARIES - Chester County TN

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EDITH (KING) BAILEY - Services for Mrs. Edith Bailey were Tuesday, June 4 at 2:00 p.m. at Leon Johnson Funeral Home in Henderson. Burial was in Unity Cemetery.
Mrs. Bailey, age 53 passed away Saturday, June 1 at her home. She operated Nobles Bar-b-que for 18 years and later worked at Magnetek in Lexington.
She leaves her husband; Donald "Duck" Bailey of Jacks Creek, one daughter; Rita Cary of Lexington, her mother; Alice King of Henderson, one brother; James Edward King, and three grandchildren.
Leon Johnson Funeral Home was in charge of the services.
The Lexington Progress, June 5, 2002

FRED BAILEY - Services for Fred Bailey were held Thursday, November 20 at Pafford Scotts Hill Funeral Home in Scotts Hill with burial at Pussers Cemetery in Enville.
Mr. Bailey, age 70, died Tuesday, November 18 at Decatur County General Hospital.
Survivors include 3 sons, Tony Bailey of Rensselaer, IN, Teddy Bailey of Scotts Hill, and Mark Bailey of Decaturville; 4 brothers, Thomas Bailey of Reagan, Floyd Bailey of Peoria, IL, Donnie Bailey of Clinton, MO, and Dwight Bailey of Fayetteville, NC; 4 sisters, Ruby Dyer and Lucille Hart of Reagan, Axie Harris of Scotts Hill, and Laverne Goodrich of Clinton, MO; 7 grandchildren; and 2 great-grandchildren.
The Lexington Progress, November 26, 2003

LULA E. (VETETO) BAILEY - Services for Mrs. Lula Bailey were Sunday at the Church of Latter-day Saints at Jacks Creek with Newsom Jones officiating. Burial was in Bailey Chapel Cemetery with Morgan Funeral Home of Henderson in charge.
Mrs. Bailey, who was 81, died Friday at her home near Jacks Creek of an apparent heart attack. She was born in Henderson County and was a member of the Church of Latter-day Saints.
She leaves her husband, Bob Bailey of Jacks Creek; three daughters, Mrs. Izeal Johnson, Mrs. Inez Johnson and Mrs. Inell Ross, all of Jacks Creek; a son, Ivy Bailey of Jacks Creek; a sister, Mrs. Bessie McCormick of Lexington; two brothers, Adam Veteto and R. C. Veteto, both of Lexington; 16 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.
The Lexington Progress, November 25, 1881

MINNIE ESTERLEE (SMITH) BAILEY - Services for Minnie Smith Bailey, 96, were Friday at Pafford Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. John Adams and the Rev. Fred Ward officiating. Burial was in Unity Cemetery.
Mrs. Bailey, a teacher and homemaker, died early Thursday morning at her home.
She was a member of Clarks Creek Primitive Baptist Church and was a 4-H Club leader for many years.
Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Estelle Helm of Jackson and Mrs. Mary Turner, Huron; a sister, Miss Martha E. Smith of Jacks Creek; two grandchildren, Steve Turner and Carol Helm; and two great-grandchildren.
The Lexington Progress, July 9, 1986

ROBERT EDWARD BAILEY - Services for Robert Edward Bailey were Sunday at the Unity Baptist Church with the Rev. Floyd Rogers and the Rev. H. B. Burress officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. Mr. Bailey, who was 71, died Friday night in his home near Jacks Creek after a long illness. He was born and reared in Henderson County. He served with the army in World War I and was engaged in farming near Huron. He had lived in the Unity Community since 1925 and was a member of the American Legion, Chester County Farm Bureau and Bethel Methodist Church. He leaves his wife, Mrs. Alice Wilson Bailey, his step-mother, Mrs. Josie Bailey of Henderson; three sons, Robert Bailey of Knoxville, Roy Bailey of Henderson and Lance Bailey of Jacks Creek; four daughters, Mrs. Edward Pitts of Henderson, Mrs. Edward Harvey and Mrs. Norma Jean Morris, both of Luray, and Mrs. Wendell Joyner of San Diego, Calif.; two brothers, Ernest Bailey of Huron and James E. Bailey of Memphis; two sisters, Mrs. Marjorie McAdams of Jacks Creek and Mrs. Mary Wadley of Luray; 15 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
The Lexington Progress, December 29, 1960

ROBERT OSCAR "BOB" BAILEY - Services for R. O. "Bob" Bailey were Saturday at Re-Organized Church of Latter-Day Saints with burial in Bailey's Cemetery. Leon Johnson Funeral Home of Henderson was in charge.
Mr. Bailey, who was 94, died Thursday morning at Regional Medical Center in Memphis from injuries in a house fire at his home in Jacks Creek.
He leaves a son, Robert Ivey Bailey of Jacks Creek; three daughters, Mrs. Izeal Johnson, Mrs. Inez Johnson and Mrs. Inell Ross, all of Jacks Creek and a sister, Mrs. Winnie Pollock of Lexington.
The Lexington Progress, March 24, 1993

THEODORE MAX BAILEY - Services for Max Bailey were Saturday, July 22, at Leon Johnson Funeral Home with Elder Dwight Jones officiating. Burial was in Bailey Cemetery, Jacks Creek.
Mr. Bailey, who was 86, died Thursday, July 20. He was a retired farmer and carpenter.
He leaves five sons, Jessie M. Bailey, Duck Bailey, both of Jacks Creek, Curtis Bailey of Oakfield, Clark Bailey of Huron and Ronald Bailey of Lawrenceville, Ga.; two sisters, Winnie Pollock of Lexington and Vera Beecham of Huron, 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
The Lexington Progress, July 1995

MILDRED LUCY (FARROW) BARHAM - Services for Mildred Barham, age 83, were January 31, 3:00 p.m., at Leon Johnson Funeral Home, with Rev. Ronnie Sells and Rev. Neal Hinson presiding. Burial took place at Unity Cemetery.
Mrs. Barham died on January 29 at Chester County Healthcare. She was a member of Holly Springs United Methodist Church. She enjoyed cooking and quilting.
She was survived by her husband, Albert Barham of Henderson; a daughter, Ramona Browder of Selmer; a son, Tim Barham of Henderson; a sister, Lois Rhodes of Huron; 11 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.
The Lexington Progress, February 5, 2003

MINNIE RAY (BAILEY) BEECHAM - Services for Mrs. Minnie Bailey Beecham were Wednesday at Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints with Elder Newsome Jones officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery with Pafford Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Beecham, who was 79, died Tuesday at Decatur County General Hospital. She was a retired factory worker.
She leaves a sister, Mrs. Winnie Pollock of Lexington and two brothers, Robert O. Bailey of Reagan and Max Bailey of Huron.
The Lexington Progress, January 6, 1993 - transcribed by AJ

TRAVIS LEE BEECHAM - Services for Travis Lee Beecham are today, Wednesday, November 14, 2:30 p.m. at Pafford Funeral Home. Burial will be in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery.
Mr. Beecham, who was 68, died Monday, November 12, at his home of cancer. He was a retired employee of MagneTek.
He leaves his wife Mrs. Virginia Beecham of Lexington; three daughters, Leona Avery of Jackson, Lisa Conger of Lexington and Debbie McPeake of Henderson; six sisters, Peggy Bowman, Bonnie Perry, Shirley Rushing, Patsy Wilson, all of Lexington, Linda Rogers of Millington and Brenda Townsend of Townsend, Tn.; five bothers, Bobby Beecham of Lexington, Cloyce Beecham, Gary Beecham, both of Huron, Dale Beecham and R. C. Beecham, both of Dyersburg, five grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, four great grandchildren and five step-great-grandchildren.
The Lexington Progress, November 14, 2001 - transcribed by AJ

WILSON DORSEY BEECHAM - Graveside services for Wilson Dorsey Beecham were Monday, June 15, at Bailey Cemetery in Chester County with Elder Dwight Jones officiating. Pafford Funeral home was in charge.
Mr. Beecham, who was 78, died Saturday morning at Lexington Methodist Hospital. He was a retired farmer and employee of the Tennessee Highway Department. He was a Mason.
He leaves two daughters, Mrs. Gayle Bartholomew of Huron and Mrs. Hazel Cook of Paducah; a brother, Earchle Beecham of Goshen, Ind.; a sister, Mrs. Lula Mae Butler of Lexington, six grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
The Lexington Progress, June 1992 - transcribed by AJ

ROBERT T. BEENE - He was born in Chester County, the son of the late James Samuel and Sara Elizabeth Floyd Beene. He was educated at Harmony and Finger Schools. He was married to Bessie Cain on Nevember 22, 1930. He farmed until moving to Memphis in 1950, where he was employed by International Harvester as a welder for 25 years, retiring in 1975. Mr. Beene was a member of the Finger Church of Christ. He was preceded in death by Bessie Cain Beene in 1991. He later married Irene Haggard DeBerry and she died May, 23, 2003. Mr. Beene was preceded in death by a son, Charles Arlen Beene in 1980. (Schackleford Funeral Directors)

HAROLD EUGENE BELL - Services for Harold Bell were Friday at Casey Funeral Home with the burial in Unity Cemetery. Mr. Bell, who was 77, died at Jackson General Hospital after a long illness. He was a retired Louisville and Nashville Railroad engineer. He leaves his wife, Mrs. Mary Adcox Bell of Henderson; a son, Randy Bell of Tulsa, Okla.; two brothers, W.T. Bell Jr. and Edwin Bell, both of Lexington; three sisters, Mrs. Edith Rhodes, Mrs. Rachel Mullins, and Mrs. Rebecca Fesmire , all of Lexington; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
The Lexington Progress, 9-10-1986 – transcribed by, Becky Keen

JOE BELL , 79, of Henderson died Aug. 8, 2006, at his home. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Aug. 10 at Casey Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Mickey Carpenter and the Rev. Steve Mischke officiating. Burial will follow in Henderson City Cemetery. He was born at Huron in Henderson County, the son of the late Charles Farris and Mary Sue Wadley Bell. He attended schools in Henderson County and entered the U.S. Navy in the latter part of World War II as a gunner’s mate. He married Geneva Tucker in 1947, and they made their home in Henderson for 59 years. They opened Bell’s Drive-In in Henderson in July of 1954, and had owned and operated the drive-in on South Church Street with their children and grandchildren since that time. He served as a Chester County Commissioner from 1978 to 1998, and was a member of the Chester County Democratic Executive Committee. He was a member of First United Methodist Church. He is survived by his wife, Geneva Mae Tucker Bell of Henderson; three sons, Danny Joe Bell (Glenda), Stan Bell, and Phil Bell, and a daughter, Karen Thomas (Danny), all of Henderson; a sister, Judy Bell Cothren of Henderson; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

NANCY HARSTON BLANTON - Services for Mrs. Nancy Blanton were Thursday, April 23, at Leon Johnson and Son Funeral Home in Henderson with the Rev. Dennis Lunsford officiating. Burial was in Mifflin Cemetery.
Mrs. Blanton, who was 75, died Tuesday at her home at Luray. She was a retired employee of Oakley Fashions in Jackson and was a Baptist. She was the widow of James Edward Blanton.
She leaves two daughters, Mrs. Jane Isbell of Finger and Mrs. Balinda Richardson of Medina; a son, Joe Blanton of Luray; a sister, Mrs. Rosie Wilkins of Luray; a brother, Johnny Harston of Jackson and seven grandchildren.
The Lexington Progress, April 29, 1992 - transcribed by AJ

GUS T. BOLEN - Services for Gus T. Bolen, 61, prominent druggist, will be at 4:30 p.m. today at the Henderson Church of Christ with Jess Wilcoxson and Phil Hefley officiating. Burial will be in Henderson City Cemetery with Casey Funeral Home in charge. Mr. Bolen died Saturday morning at his crook Ave. home in Henderson, after suffering a heart attack. He was born and reared in Wildersville in Henderson County, son of the late Dr. C.E. and Loretta Bolen. He attended Freed-Hardeman College and had operated drugstores first in Wildersville and later in Henderson all his adult life. He was a charter member of Chester County Lions Club secretary of the TB Association in Henderson for many years, served on the Board of Directors for teh Chester County Bank, was a former alderman and served on the West Tennessee Industrial Committee. He was an active member of the Church of Christ. Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Opal Finch Bolen; a brother, Elsworth Bolen of Memphis; two sisters, Mrs. Lucille Wray of Gleason and Mrs. Joe Boswell of Scotts Hill. Pallbearers will be Dr. O.M. McCollum, Carlton Morton, Lattie Averitt, Tom Armour, Willard Smith, Armstead Johnson, Joe Rainey and James Williams.
The Lexington Progress 5/9/1971 – transcribed by, Christine Walters

W. M. BRAY , 90, a thirty-third degree Mason, died Monday morning at his home in Henderson, Tenn., according to word received here by his son, F. J. Bray, 300 South Brighton. Mr. Bray, who had been postmaster at Henderson many years, had been a Mason for sixty-five years and a member of the Baptist Church for seventy-three years. Two other sons from Dallas, W. F. and Eugene M. Bray, were with their father at the time of his death. He also is survived by another son, J. T. Bray of Chicago; fourteen grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, most of whom live in Dallas. Funeral services will be held at Henderson Tuesday afternoon with burial there.
Dallas Morning News, Dallas, Texas, February 6, 1934 – transcribed by Amanda Jowers

JAMES OVID BRITTON - BELLS - James Ovid Britton, 73, farmer, died of heart failure Friday at Crockett County Nursing Home in Alamo. Services will be at 1 p.m. today at Bells Funeral Home with burial in Sweet Lips Cemetery near Henderson. He was a member of the Full Gospel Church. Mr. Britton, the husband of Mary Initha Smith Britton, also leaves two daughters, Brenda Kay Moore and Linda Osborne, both of Humboldt; five sons, James Edward Britton of Jackson, Billy Britton of Trenton, Michael Britton of Alamo, and Jerry Wayne Britton and Lynn Britton, both of Bells; three sisters, Cordelia Taylor of Bells, Betty Sue Britton of Crump and Thena Mae Johnson of Brownsville, 19 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
The Commercial Appeal, (Memphis, TN) - January 25, 1997 - Contributed by Melinda Bell

JOE HENRY BRITTON - Services for Joe Henry Britton were Sunday at Center Point Holiness Church with the Revs. William Duke and Guy Perkins officiating. Burial was in Roby Cemetery in Chester County with Pafford Funeral Home in charge. Mr. Britton, who was 58, was dead on arrival early Friday morning at Lexington Hospital after a long illness. He was a native of the county, a retired welder and a member of the Holiness Church. He leaves his wife, Mrs. Deany Bennett Britton of Sardis; a son, Larry Britton of Union City; a daughter, Mrs. Tina Britton of Rapid City S.C.; three brothers, Robert Lee Britton of Jackson, James O. Britton of Bells and Frank Britton of Mount Pleasant; four sisters, Mrs. Thena Mae Johnson of Brownsville, Mrs. Cordelia Taylor of Bells, Mrs. Willie Bivens of Scotts Hill and Mrs. Betty Sue Britton of Chicago; a three grandchildren.
The Lexington Progress 5/14/1980 – transcribed by, Christine Walters

RICHARD DEAN BRUNTZ, Sr. - Services for Richard Bruntz, 15, were held Sunday at Leon Johnson and Son Funeral Home in Henderson with the Rev. Caby Byrne, chaplain of Methodist Hospital in Memphis, officiating. Burial was in Bailey's Cemetery near Jacks Creek. Mr. Bruntz died Friday at Methodist Central Hospital in Memphis after a long illness. A native of Oak Park, Ill., he worked as an automotive mechanic until 1980, when ill health forced him to stop. Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Linda Bruntz; a son, Richard Dean Bruntz, Jr., of Jacks Creek; his father, Don Bruntz of Jacks Creek; his mother, Mr.s Joyce Golman of Kingston, Ga.; two stepsisters, Mrs. Jim Ahmer of Shaumburg, Ill. and Mrs. Tim Threadgill of Lexington; four brothers, Raymond Bruntz and Russell Bruntz, both of Melrose Park, Ill., Donald Bruntz, Jr. of Henderson and Daniel Bruntz of Carson City, Nevada, and four half brothers, David Golman of California, and Scott Goldman, Glenn Goldman and Gregg Goldman of Kingston, Ga.
Henderson County Times, March 30, 1983
NOTE: The age listed on this obituary is incorrect. The correct age should be 35.

HAIZEL ERNESTINE (PHILLIPS) BULLINGTON - Ernie went to be with her Lord and savior October 7, 2001. Ernestine Phillips Bullington died at Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa, OK from Pulmonary Fibrosis. She was born in Henderson, TN. February 10, 1920 to Ernestine and Lillie Miller Phillips.
The Jackson Sun, October 9, 2001