Dyer County, Tennessee
Obituaries

Robert C. Beecham - Services for Mr. Robert C. Beecham were Monday, January 7 at Finley Pentecostal Church with burial in Fairview Cemetery. Mr. Beecham, who was 73, died Saturday, January 5, at Methodist Healthcare in Dyersburg. Mr. Beecham was a self-employed painter and a member of Finley Pentecostal Church.
He leaves his wife Shirley Beecham; two daughters, Dellona Johnson of Camden, TN and Teresa Welch of Dyersburg, TN; one son Scott Beecham of Olive Branch, MS; six sisters Bonnie Perry, Peggy Bowman, Shirley Dean and Patsy Wilson, all of Lexington; Linda Rogers of Millington, TN and Brenda Townsend of Townsend, TN; four brothers, Dale Beecham of Dyersburg, TN; Cloyce Beecham, Bobby Beecham and Gary Beecham, all of Lexington; seven grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren and two step great-grandchildren.
The Lexington Progress, January 9, 2002 – transcribed by Amanda Jowers

Frances Byrn - DIED, In Dyer county, Ten. Mrs. Frances Byrn, wife of J. P. Byrn.
National Banner and Nashville Whig (11 Sept. 1834) - transcribed by Marla Zwakman

Judge W. A. Fowlkes, Jr. - Strong, true men are always public benefactors and the good they do through the inspiration of their presence and example cannot be measured by any finite gauge or standard of value. When death takes any such men, even though he be at the time of his summons, full of years and of honors, his demise is a public calamity, because by it the country loses not only his active energy but the stimulus and productive power of his personal influence. The death of Judge W. A. Fowlkes, Jr., came as a severe shock to the city of Dyersburg, when on Thursday morning, September 1, 1921, a message came from Clinton, Kentucky, with the sad news. For some months previous to his demise the Judge had been in poor health and he was returning home from a month's visit with his daughter in De Soto, Missouri. Together with his wife and daughter, son and daughter-in-law, he had motored to Clinton, Kentucky, Wednesday afternoon and, being in better spirits and in better health than in the few days previous, he was anxious to continue the journey home. His wife, however, prevailed on him to remain over in Clinton, to get a good night's rest in the hotel, and the following morning he was taken suddenly ill, his death occurring shortly afterward.
Judge Fowlkes was connected with one of the oldest and most prominent pioneer families of West Tennessee and his birth occurred here on the 16th of January, 1858. His grandfather was one of the earliest settlers in this state, coming here from Virginia. His father was James Henry Fowlkes. In the acquirement of his education Judge Fowlkes attended the common schools of his native county and from an early age he was a factor in the upbuilding of the community.
Throughout life the Judge gave his political allegiance to the democratic party and took an intense interest in political affairs. Because of his interest he was frequently favored with public office and though spending the best years of his life as a servant of the people, he never lost the confidence and respect of his friends and fellowmen. A man of great courage and unbending integrity he was ever anxious to do his duty as he saw it, regardless of the opinion of political friends or political foes. He held that every public office was a public trust and acted accordingly. For eight terms the Judge was mayor of Dyersburg and during his administration many progressive measures were inaugurated and brought to completion. He was a man of keen foresight and many of those who opposed his policies as a waste of time and money, have lived to see them make Dyersburg a place of which all citizens are proud. The ownership of the water and light plant of Dyersburg by the city was one of the serious political issues in the '80s, the Judge and his followers finally coming out victorious. Today Dyersburg has one of the best water and lighting systems in the state. Judge Fowlkes was also a factor in the establishment of a sewer system and, although the expense of the project brought much opposition, he succeeded in putting the measure over with the result that Dyersburg is one of the healthiest of the small cities of Tennessee. For more than twenty years he was city magistrate and he was county chairman for some ten or twelve terms. He was the best informed man in the county on its financial affairs and because of this he was prevailed upon by his friends to accept the office of county judge, when it was vacated by the resignation of Judge Anderson. He was anxious at that time to retire from public life, but, being the only man equipped to take over the affairs of his county at a most crucial moment, he consented to again take up the reins and devote himself to the interests of the community. He was one of the most active good roads boosters in Dyer county and he took a prominent part in putting the county on the map as the most progressive in the state.
On the 20th of September, 1883, Judge Fowlkes was united in marriage to Miss Ora Anna Clampitt, a daughter of George Washington and Catherine (Blue) Clampitt. Her parents were natives of Brenham, Washington county, Texas, and prominent citizens of that community. Mrs. Fowlkes is a true southern gentlewoman and for many years she has been prominent in the club and social circles of Dyersburg. Beside his widow, the Judge is survived by four sons and three daughters: W. A., Jr., III, extended mention of whom is made elsewhere in this work; Oliver and Burgie, of Dyersburg; Jefferson Davis, further mention of whom is made on another page of this work; Mrs. Ernest Finney and Mrs. Guy Holt, of Memphis; and Mrs. J. T. Matthews of De Soto, Missouri. The Judge also leaves five brothers, John, of Arizona; James, a resident of Memphis; Joe, who is living in California; and P. T. and Sept of Dyersburg, and two half-sisters, Mrs. Mary Featherstone of Tatumville and Mrs. Maggie Howell of Newbern.
Judge Fowlkes was a consistent member of the Methodist church throughout life and fraternally he was identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. Funeral services were held at the family residence on Church avenue, conducted by Rev. J. V. Freeman, and interment was made in Fairview cemetery. Members of the Dyer County Bar, of which he was an esteemed member, attended the funeral in a body.
Judge Fowlkes was a liberal and broad-minded man and his life may be fitly epitomized in Hamlet's description of his father: “He was a Man. Take him for all in all, We shall not look upon his like again.”
Tennessee, The Volunteer State, 1769-1923, Vol. 2 -- transcribed by, Amanda Jowers

W. W. Glass - Death of Well Known West Tennessee Editor - A dispatch from Dyersburg to the Commercial Appeal, under date of January 25, carried news of the death of W. W. Glass, editor of the Newbern Tennesseean, at his home Friday morning at an early hour, after an illness of six months, as a result of a nervous breakdown. Mr. Glass was, perhaps, the oldest active newspaper man in West Tennessee. He was born in Trenton 59 years ago and entered the newspaper business as a young man. He founded the Newbern Tennesseean 29 years ago and made it one of the best loved country weeklies in the state. With his newspaper he was ever active in pushing the welfare of his town and was always on the right side of all moral questions. He was a member of the Episcopal church. He is survived by his wife; two brothers, Louis T. and P. T. Glass, of Trenton; one sister, Miss Nannie C. Glass, of Trenton; three sons, Quintard and Leon, of Newbern, and Charles, of Trenton.
(The Covington Leader, Thursday, February 1, 1917), contributed by, Rita Morgan

D. B. Johnston - Mrs. A. D. English received the sad intelligence Wednesday of the death of her brother, D. B. Johnston at Fort Worth, Texas, where he had been for the past several months on account of failing health. His remains will be brought to his home at Dyersburg, Tenn., for interment.
Dickson County Herald, March 25, 1910

William & Martha Nash - DIED, in Dyer county, William Nash, Esq., aged 77 years, 7 months and 7 days; a soldier of the Revolution, and one of the first settlers of Davidson county. He lived an honest man, and died in the triumph of faith in Christ the redeemer. Also, Martha Nash, consort of William Nash, dec’d. in Dyer county, aged about 60, the companion and partner of his life.
National Banner and Nashville Whig (13 Mar. 1835) - transcribed by Marla Zwakman

Johnnie Lloyd Williams – Services for Mr. Johnnie Lloyd Williams are today June 26, 2002 at 11 am in the Chapel of Curry Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Dyer County Memorial Gardens. Mr. Williams age 88, passed away Sunday June 23, 2002 at Methodit LeBonheur Healtcare. He attended the CHurch of God of Prophecy and was a US Army Veteran and a Security Guard for Murray Guard for 16 years. He is survived by three daughters; Margaret Ray of Parsons, Janita Ingam of Lexington, Judy Smith of Dyersburg, one son: Johnny Williams of Dyersburg; one sister Lorena Autry of Newbern TN and 18 grandchildren.
The Lexington Progress, June 26, 2002 - Contributed by, Christine Walters