The Lexington Progress, July 9, 2003
WILLIE ERVIN
- Service at Reeds Chapel, Lexington, Dec. 28, 2011 with Bobby Bray officiating. Burial following in Mt. Moriah Cemetery. Mrs. Ervin, age 85 of Lexington, died Monday Dec. 27, 2010 at Briarwood Nursing Home. She was the widow of Maxell Ervin and was predeceased by two brothers and five sisters.
Contributed by 29 Dec 2010
BETTY ESSARY
- Services for Mrs. Betty Jean Essary were Wednesday at Reeds Chapel with the Rev. Onnie Blankenship and E.G. Baker officiating. Burial was in Antioch Cemetery. Mrs. Essary, 27, died Monday at her home near here after a long illness. She was a lifelong resident of the county and a Baptist. She leaves her husband, Carlos Essary; a daughter, Marilyn; her mother Mrs. Lula Fesmire of Lexington; two brothers, James Fesmire and Lloyd Fesmire, both of Lexington; three sisters, Mrs. Clara Mae Renfroe, Mrs. Loraine Dunivant, both of Lexington and Mrs. Lucille Roberts of Chicago; and her grandmother Mrs. Dolly Smith of Lexington. (1940 - 1968)
Photo and Obituary provided by Jimmy White
ERNEST WASHINGTON ESSARY
, was born near the Village of Lone Elm (Chesterfield), eight miles east of Lexington. He had his early educational training in the common schools of the County, after which he entered the Southwestern Baptist (now Union) University at Jackson, where he received his B. A. Degree. He then returned to his native county where he became principal of a school at Lexington. After two years he entered the Cumberland University Law School at Lebanon, Tennessee, receiving his Law Degree there, and was licensed to practice law on May 18, 1896. He then returned to Lexington and formed partnership with S. E. Murray, the style of the firm being "Murray & Essary". This partnership continued for several years after which a partnership was formed with W. H. Denison, the style of the firm being Essary & Denison. This association continued until Denison retired to become Circuit Judge of this Judicial Circuit. In the fall of 1896 he was elected to the Legislature and represented Henderson County two terms. He was then elected Mayor of the Town of Lexington and served one term. In the Presidential Campaign of 1904 Mr. Essary was a Republican Elector from the Eighth Congressional District and in 1908 was sent as a delegate to the National Republican Convention at Chicago from the State at large. From 1910 to 1914 he was State Prison Commissioner. When Hoover was nominated as a Candidate for President, Mr. Essary again represented his District as a Republican Delegate to that Convention at Kansas City, Missouri. Mr. Essary is the present County Attorney for Henderson County and is engaged in practicing law with his son under the style of "Essary & Essary". Mr. Essary was married to the eldest daughter of Dr. W. T. Watson and from that union he had two children, a son Ernest, W. Jr., who is now a law partner with him, and a daughter, Mary Louise, who intermarried with Elmer O. Scates, now residing in Memphis, Tennessee. His father, Mr. William Essary of Chesterfield, is perhaps the oldest citizen in the County. He was a Union soldier during the Civil War and has since been an influential citizen. He has ever been a friend to the poor and has helped many a man purchase a home. He is yet active, driving or riding his horse when he wishes, and is loved and honored by those who know him.
CARLOS RAY ESSARY
, 56, died Sunday at Jackson General. Services will be 2 p.m. today at Blue Goose Pentecostal Church with burial in Independence Cemetery. Reeds Chapel in charge. Mr. Essary, the husband of Betty W. Essary, also leaves a daughter, Marilyn Jowers of Lexington; his mother, Erma Essary of Cedar Grove; a brother, Jerry of Cedar Grove; five sisters, Ruth McKee, Barbara Hutson, Linda Gasaton, Betty McAlexander and Janice Hart all of Cedar Grove and a granddaughter, Jordan Jowers.
Photo and Obituary provided by Jimmy White
MARY ELLEN (ALTOM) ESSARY
, wife of J. Larkin Essary, aged seventy-five years, died March 21st, at her home near Chesterfield. She is survived by her husband and three children, Mrs. W.G. (Dora) Frizzel, Mrs. Florence Lindsey, both of Chesterfield; and Mrs. C.L. (Eula) Jimerson of Ridgely; also a stepson and nephew, S.H. Essary, a member of the faculty of the University of Tennessee. She was the daughter of John and Mary Ann Davis Altom, and has several brothers living in Arkansas, where the family moved years ago. Mrs. Essary was all that can be said of a good Christian woman whose life was centered in her home, and whose kind and neighborly habits won her the regard of a wide circle of friends. She had been a member of Union Church for forty-nine years, where the funeral service was conducted by Revs. Fleetwood Ball and W.F. Boren.
JACKIE RAY ESSARY
- Services for Jackie Ray Essary were Sunday at Reeds Chapel with burial in Farmville Cemetery. Jackie, 15, was electrocuted when he came into contact with a high voltage wire while playing near his home in Jackson last Friday. He was a student at Jackson Jr. High. He belonged to the Church of Latter Day Saints. He leaves his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Raymodn Essary and a sister Marilyn all of Jackson.
Lexington Progress 01 Dec 1966
LUDA B. ESSARY
, age 86, of Lexington died THursday April 1, 2010 in Lexington. She was retired from Johnson Controls and was a member of the Center Ridge United Methodist Church. She is survived by three daughters, Janice (Charles) Johnson, Joy Wilkerson and Faye 9Kim) Blankenship, three sons, Charles, Daniel and David; a brother Buster Hamilton and 11 grandchildren. All survivors are of Lexington. She was preceded by her husband Bob Essary and a grandchild April Brown.
Lexington Progress 7 Apr 2010
MARTHA JANE ESSARY
- Services for Mrs. Martha Jane Essary were Wednesday afternoon at Mt. Gilead Baptist Church with the Rev. James L. Spain officiating. Burial was in Spain Cemetery with Pafford Funeral Home in charge. Mrs. Essary, 93, died Monday at her home near Cedar Grove. She was a Baptist. She leaves three sons, Ephie Lindsey of Gobler MO, F. Lindsey of Lexington and Fielder Fortner of Cedar Grove; four daughters, Mrs. Frances Carneal of Gobler MO, Mrs. Glora Drinkard of Lexington, Mrs. Lucille Carneal of Ridgely and Mrs. Opel Lee Kirk of Cedar Grove; a brother, Charlie Fortner of Chesterfield and 30 grandchildren.
Lexington Progress 10 Nov. 1966
SAMUEL WESLEY ESSARY
- Services for Samuel Wesley Essary, Henderson County's oldest citizen, were conducted Monday afternoon from Union Baptist Church, near Chesterfield by the Rev. Floyd Rogers andthe Rev. G.W. Kolwyck. Mr. Essary, who would have been 100 years old on Aug. 22, died Sunday morning at the home of a great-niece, Mrs. R.L. Park. Mr. Essary,formerly a farmer and stock dealer, had been in steadily declining health for the past two months. This afternoon Uncle Wesley Essary was laid to rest. He failed to reach the coveted age of 100 by just 30 days. A friend of his commented beautifully on his life, then said, "Wesley will still have his birthday but in a far happier and more beautiful place than this old world." I like to think that he will see and hear all the lovely things that he was not privileged to hear and see while living.
We would like to mention all the ones from a distance who attended his funeral but they were so many this is impossible. A son of the Lte Nathan C. and Hannah Ingram Essary, "Uncle Wesley was born in Henderson County and spent his entire life within a mile of his birthplace. Mr. Essary never married and for 42 years had made his home with a niece, Mrs. Dora Frizzell. For the past 84 years, Mr. Essary was a member of the Union Baptist Church. Immediate survivors are two sisters, Mrs. Louise Dennison of Chesterfield and Mrs. Belle McCall of McLemoresville. Pallbeareers were Carl, Roy, Guy, Dent, John L. and Rex Frizzell. Burial was in Union Cemetery with Wright-Timberlake Funeral Home in charge.
Lexington Progress 7/27/1951
JUANITA (FUGATE) ETHERIDGE
- Funeral services for Mrs. Juanita Fugate Ethridge were Tuesday April 8, 2008 in the chapel of Pafford Funeral Home in Scotts Hill. Mrs. Ethridge age 60, died Saturday in Savannah. She was preceded in death by one brother, Willard Fugate, two sisters, Gladys and Hazel Fugate. Survivors include two children, Jimmy Ehtridge Jr. of Saltillo and Annette Rushing of Jackson; three brothers, Don Baker, Ray and Wendell Fugate of Clayhole KY>
Lexington Progress 9 April 2008
VAN BUREN ETHERIDGE
- Services for Van Buren Ethridge were Friday at Scotts Hill Pentecostal Church with the Revs; Cleo Kelly, E.J. Grimsley and J.W. Hanna officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery (Temple Holiness - Decatur County) with Scotts Hill Funeral Home in charge. Mr. Ethridge, who was 74, died Wednesday at Decatur County Hospital. He was a retired farmer. He leaves his wife, Mrs. Mae Heath Ethridge of Scotts Hill; a daughter, Mrs. Mary Ann Chessor of Savannah and three grandchildren.
Lexington Progress Feb. 2, 1977
MAUDIE J. (LINDSEY) EUBANKS
- Services for Maudie Lindsey Eubanks were Monday at Pafford Funeral Home with David Sellers officiating. Burial was in Independence Cemetery. Mrs. Eubanks, who was 91, died Saturday at NuCare Nursing Home. She was the widow of Charlie S. Eubanks and a member of the Church of Christ. She leaves three daughters, Mrs. Clara Rhodes, Mrs. Ethel Mae Clark, both of Lexington and Mrs. Ruby King of Jackson; a son, Joseph A. Eubanks of Jackson; 12 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
The Lexington Progress, October 7, 1987
BOBBY GENE EVANS
- Services for Bobby Gene Evans were Saturday, April 11, at Reed’s Chapel with the Revs. Guy Dickson and Phil Mitchell officiating. Burial was in Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Mr. Evans, who was 40, died Thursday afternoon at Jackson General Hospital. He was a car dealer and a Baptist. He leaves a daughter, Amy Bivens of Sardis; two sons, Robert Evans and Chris Evans, both of Bragg City, Mo.; his mother, Joe Ethel Scott of Cedar Grove; a sister, Imogene Collins of Rochelle, Ill.; two brothers, Terry Evans of Cedar Grove and Billy Evans of Lexington.
Contributed by Joy Beth Campbell - The Lexington Progress April 15, 1992
Headstone Photo
ELLIS MARTIN EVANS
- was born April 9,1874 on a farm near old Moores Hill, in the northeastern part of the county. He was one of the five children of the late J. M. and Eliza Davis Evans. He spent his early life at the place of his birth and he got his early education at the Moores Hill school. When he was five years of age, his mother died, but his father remarried in a few years to the sister of his first wife and the young boy was reared by this good woman, scarcely knowing the difference from his real mother. When he was 11 years old, his father moved to Lone Elm and here he finished his education. Alter the railroad was built, his father again moved to the town of Chesterfield, where he has made his home since then, with the exception of six years. Soon after coming to Chesterfield, the young Mr. Evans started out for himself. He was first employed as a clerk in a general store. He then moved to Beacon where he worked for his uncle as a clerk for six years. He then accepted the position as agent for the N.C.&St.L. railroad at Chesterfield and served in this capacity for 35 years until the agency was removed in 1931, and he is still caretaker for said company. He was postmaster at Chesterfield from 1900 to 1934. In 1900 he was married to Miss Olivia Essary. He was a partner in the mercantile business with O. L. Wallace for two years, who later sold to John T. Moore. This partnership continued until 1930 when other duties made it Impossible for him to continue, and he sold his business to said Mr. Moore, who still runs the store. By an Act of Legislature, he was made district road commissioner in 1922, and continued in this capacity until the death of H. E. Graper in 1924. He was then made chairman of the Highway Commission and served In this office throughout the dark days of the Henderson County roads when the county was wrapped up in debt and remained to see the county road warrants worth 100 cents in the dollar. He served as Chairman of this Commission until the legislative act of 1931, which abolished same.
He has been a member of the County Board of Education for 13 years and served as chairman of this august body for several years. This has always been Mr. Evans pet hobby, as he has always been a strong advocate of better teachers and better schools. In his own section of the county he was instrumental in getting nine new school buildings, all of which were two and three teacher schools except two. He has likewise been as progressive for other sections of the county. He is now back at his favorite occupation as merchant. He, together with his sons, is still in the mercantile business at Chesterfield. He was a member of the State Executive Committee of the Republican party for eight years. E. M. Evans has made a success of his own business which qualifies him to look after the business of the public.
JAMES RAY EVANS
- Funeral services for James Ray Evans were held Sunday at Parsons Mortuary Chapel. Internment was held at Mazies Chapel Cemetery. Mr. Evans, 76, died April 2 at Decatur County General Hospital. He is preceded in death by his wife, Aline Evans. Survivors include a step-son and step-daughter, Dennis Hale of Parsons and Nadine Box of Chesterfield; a brother, Jerry Evans of Parsons; two sisters, Ruby Thomas of Humbolt and Jewell Duke of Parsons; and a very special friend, Maggie Mae Moore of Decaturville.
The Lexington Progress, April 7, 2004
Headstone Photo
MALANIA EVANS
- Services for Mrs. Malania Evans were Sunday afternoon at Ridge Grove Baptist Church with Rev. Onnie Blankenship officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery with Reeds chapel in charge. Mrs. Evans, 83, died Thursday afternoon at Lexington Hospital. She was a lifelong resident of Henderson County and a Baptist. She leaves a son, Herman Evans of Lexington; a daughter, Mrs. Lula Mae Cottrell of Marked Tree AR; two brothers, Edward Garrigus of Fulton KY, Calvin of Martin; Two sisters, Mrs. Kate Smith of Alma TX and Mrs. Gertrude Allen of Memphis; 12 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and one gg- grandchild.
Lexington Progress 01 Dec 1966
NEDRA MAE (ELLIS) EVANS
, age 84, went to be with the Lord, Wednesday March 9, 2011 at Jackson-Madison Hospital surrounded by her children and dear Christian family members. Services were held Sunday March 13, 2011 at Independence Church of Christ. Burial was at the Church cemetery. Mrs. Evans was born Feb. 28, 1927 in Mongomery Co. TN to the late Arthur Wm. and Bertha (Griffith) Ellis. She was the 2nd child of 3 born in the family. She graduated from Clarksville High School and was selected as 1 of 2 students to go to telegraph school in Columbus GA. DUring WW II she worked as a telegraph operator for Western Union in various cities including Louisville KY. Included in that job, Nedra received and sent telegrams , galanced the daily accounts and deposited funds. Her compassion was utilized when she arranged delivery of the telegrams to the families of fallen soldiers. In 1945, she met the love of her life in Louisville. On Jan. 9, 1946 she married Thomas Wylie Evans of Lexington TN. They made their home in Lexington. She not only made a loving home for her young family, but she also kept the accounting books for Evans Welding Shop and later the Evans Family Farm. Nedra obeyed the gospel and was baptized into Christ. They were faithful members of the Broad Street Church of Christ. In 1963, they moved to the Poplar Springs community where they became a full time farm family. They then began worshipping at the Independence Church of Christ. She taught her love of God to people of all ages and backgrounds. Nedra taught the classes for "little people" at church. Her home was always open with delicious meals. Her hospitality and "doing for others" continued throughout her life with making cookies, sewing pillows and writing cards of encouragement to even people she did not know but read about in the newspaper. In 2007 when Wylie went to be with the Lord, she began a ministry for widows. Her last activity was planning a Valentine party, with the help of her Christian Sisters for the residents of Oak Haven Assisted Living on Feb. 14, 2011. Nedra was preceded by her husband, and sister, Othel Veal, Tullhoma TN. She is survived by a sister, Rena Jean Slate, Alvin TX; a son Arthur David and wife Shelia of Luray TN; 2 daughters, Joan Gateley and husband, Bill of Lexington and Connie Powell and husband Randy of Louisburg KS; 7 grandchildren, David Lane Evans and wife Christy, Kyle Thomas Evans and wife, Cara, Ryan Wade Gateley, Melanie Gateley Bush and husband Joey, Anthony Quinn Powell, Jacob Wm. Powell and Jordan Powell, 3 great grandchildren, Martha Ann Evans, David Wylie Evans and Lauren Carol Bush. Pallbearers to serve are Nedra's 6 grandsons.
Lexington Progress March 16, 2011
PETER SOLOMON EVANS
- The Progress was not apprised last week of the death of Mr. Peter Evans, which occurred at his home at Moore's Hill in the old 15th district on Wednesday, the 14th inst. Mr. Evans was 71 years old and until a short time before his death seemed to be in enjoyment of excellent health. He is survived by his wife and eight children -- three sons and five daughters -- all of whom are married. Mr. Evans was an excellent citizen and had long been a friend and patron of this paper - which fact makes us regret that some friend was not kind enough to give us the news of his death. He was well known in Lexington and all who had come to knowledge of his real character pay tribute to him as a man of high ideals and correct life. He was reared near Chattanooga, East Tennessee, but had come to love the section of the state in which he lived for so many years. We extend to the family the sympathy that we naturally feel in the loss of one who had been for several years a friend both personally and business.
The Lexington Progress, June 23, 1916
RUBY (BLANKENSHIP) EVANS
, beloved wife of Purd Evans, aged 23 years, died Thursday, the 9th inst., at 6:30 o'clock p.m., at the home of her father, John H. Blankenship, on Clifton Street, after an illness of three months with sciatica rheumatism. One child of but seventeen months' age is left too young to realize one of the greatest losses that can befall mortal man. Something like a year ago Mrs. Evans went to Nashville for treatment and underwent an operation, which seemingly restored her to health which continued until last December when she was attacked by sciatica rheumatism from which she got no relief until death set her free from further suffering. The remains were interred Saturday, the 10th inst., at Union Cemetery, near Chesterfield, Revs. Fleetwood Ball and Frank Boren officiating.
Lexington Progress 17 Mar 1911
WILMA (GULLEDGE) EVANS
- Graveside services for Wilma Evans, 86, of Milan formerly of Decatur County will be held at 2:00 P. M. on Sunday, September 30, 2007 at Sweet Bud (Pleasant Grove) Cemetery in Henderson County with Chris Manner speaking. Parsons Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Evans died on Wednesday, September 26 at Milan General Hospital.
She was born in Decatur County on December 28, 1920 to the late Ruby Greenway Gulledge and Tom Gulledge. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Gordon Evans; son, James Floyd (Pete) Evans; a brother, Ralph Gulledge and a sister, Bonnie Larean Fiddler.
She is survived by two grandchildren, James Darrell Evans and Marie Evans; two great grandchildren, James Garrett Evans and Gabrielle Evans and Janie Evans, the wife of the late Pete Evans all of Milan.
