OBITUARIES - Tipton County, TN

Farmer, (Infant)
Farmer, Jerry Bradley
Farress, Elizabeth A
Faulk, Emma
Faulkner, Mollie and Grier
Ferrell, Ruth Wright
Finnie, Lena Mae
Fisher, Louarie
Fisher, Shirley "Uncle"
Fisher, Philip A.
Fisher, Sophia Flowers
Fitshue, Unknown
Fitzhue, Joroine
Fitzhue, Mariander
Fleming, "Infant"
Fleming, Neal
Fleming, Paul D.
Forrester, Eliza
Foster, "Infant"
Fowler, Tim
Franklin, Mayona
Fuller, Ruth
Fuller, W. A.
Fultz, William & Mother

FARMER, (INFANT) - On Wednesday, infant child of Mr. Farmer. (Randolph Recorder, Saturday, July 5, 1834)

FARMER, JERRY BRADLEY - Jerry Bradley Farmer, aged three years, daughter of Mr. M. J. Farmer, of the Mt. Carmel vicinity, died Sunday morning at 10 o'clock. The funeral services were held Monday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the residence, and the burial took place at Munford cemetery.

FARRESS, ELIZABETH A. - Departed this life, in Covington, in this county at the residence of Samuel A. Holmes, on the 16th inst., at 3 o'clock P.M. of bilious fever, Miss Elizabeth A. Farress, aged 18 years, daughter of the late Rev. Mr. Farress of Hardeman county, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In thus paying the last tribute of respect to the memory of a young friend, it is with feelings of gladness to us that her bereaved relatives and friends can enjoy the happy consolation, that the deceased was perfectly resigned, and gave up the Ghost with a surety of being ere long received into the arms of her Lord and Savior. The grief that is felt for her loss is not the grief of despair. For "Though silent and dark is the tear that we shed, Like the dew-drop that falls in the night o'er her head, Yet the dew-drop that falls thos' in silence it weeps, Shall cover with verdure the Grave where she sleeps. And the tear that we shed, though in secret it rolls, Shall long keep her memory green in our souls." (Randolph Recorder, Tuesday, September 23, 1834)

FAULK, EMMA - Mrs. J. P. Faulk, wife of Sheriff Faulk, died at her home in this city Monday evening at 5 o'clock and was buried at Charleston Cemetery in the Fifteenth District Tuesday, Rev. Charles G. Elliott conducting the funeral services. Mrs. Faulk was a daughter of Mr. A. A. Waddell, of the Fifteenth District, and was thirty-six years of age. She was a member of the Baptist church and was a consistent Christian woman, an affectionate wife and kind, gentle and loving mother. Mrs. Faulk leaves three small children, the youngest being an infant only about three months old. The bereaved husband has the sympathy of the entire community in his sad affliction.

FAULKNER, MOLLIE and GRIER - Followed Husband to Grave in Less Than Week - Mrs. Mollie Faulkner, wife of the late Grier Faulkner, died at her home in the vicinity of Idaville Thursday evening about 6 o'clock. The funeral services were held Friday afternoon, conducted by Rev. W. E. Snipes. Burial in Salem cemetery.

Mrs. Faulkner was taken ill with the measles, and pneumonia developed a few days before her death and was the cause of it. Her husband died from the same causes and preceded her to the grave some hours less than a week. They left surviving them three children, a son and two daughters, the former the oldest, being about 10 years old.

The children are all very seriously ill from measles. They were being looked after by friends and neighbors until after the death of the mother, when Salem and Sharon churches employed a trained nurse to take charge.

FERRELL, RUTH WRIGHT - Mrs. Ruth Wright Ferrell, 42, machine operator for Design Systems in Munford, died Thursday night at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Tipton in Covington. Services will be at 1 p.m. today at Munford Funeral Home with burial in Randolph Cemetery. Mrs. Ferrell, the wife of Homer Thomas 'T.' Ferrell, also leaves two daughters, Mrs. Shelia Ann Fletcher of Drummonds and Mrs. Brenda Gail Harrison of Burlison; two sons, Roger Lynn Ferrell and Bobby Darrell Ferrell, both of Drummonds; her moth er, Mrs. Gladys Reed Wright of Covington; a sister, Mrs. Margaret McFerson of Burlison; nine brothers, Gordon Wright and Thomas Wright, both of Memphis, Robert Wright of Burlison, Terry Wright, Billy Wright, Bay Wright, Raleigh Wright and Willie O. Wright, all of Drummonds, and Clarence Maness of Arlington, and three grandchildren. (The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, Saturday, July 21, 1990)

FINNIE, LENA MAE - COVINGTON - Mrs. Lena Mae Finnie, 91, of Millington, formerly of Tipton County, died Wednesday at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Tipton in Covington after a long illness. Services will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at Mt. Herman AME Church in Dixonville, where she was a member, with burial in the church cemetery. Barlow Funeral Home has charge. Mrs. Finnie, the widow of Arthur Finnie, leaves three daughters, Ms. Lizzie Hayes and Ms. Ida Gardner, both of Dixonville, and Ms. Georgia Webb of Memphis; three sons, Rev. Arthur Finnie Jr. and Jimmie Finnie, both of Memphis, and Joshua Finnie of Dixonville, 43 grandchildren, 84 great- grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren. (The Commercial Appeal - Saturday, February 16, 1991)

FISHER, LOUARIE - COVINGTON - Mrs. Louarie Fisher, 65, died Friday at her home. Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday at St. Matthews MB Church in Stanton, where she was a member, with burial in the church cemetery. Barlow Funeral Home has charge. Mrs. Fisher leaves six daughters, Ms. Dorothy Davis, Ms. Emma Dowell and Ms. Sharon Reed, all of Millington, Ms. Juanita Davis of Arlington, Ms. Ida L. Austin of Memphis and Ms. Clara Hurd of Drummonds; two sons, Robert Fisher of Memphis and J. C. Fisher of Germany; a sister, Ms. Parlee Marshall of Tchula, Miss., 23 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. (Commercial Appeal, The - February 14, 1991)

FISHER, SHIRLEY - Uncle Shirley Fisher, possibly the oldest man in Tipton County, dies at his home in Covington last Sunday night.

Shirley Fisher, colored, one of the oldest man in Tipton county, died of paralysis at his home in this place last Sunday night and was buried the following day at Hall graveyard near this place. His burial was attended by a large concourse of people of his own race, as well as by some white descendants of his former master in slavery days.

As nearly as can be reckoned by the direct descendants of his former master, Uncle Shirley, as he was familiarly called by everybody, was in his ninety-seventh year at the time of his death and it is fully believed by several of them that he had at last reached the century mark or was even older than that. Uncle Shirley came to this county as the slave of the late Daniel A. Dunham in the year 1823 and it is known that he was then a grown man. (Paper is damaged in this area and can not be read) ________ the earliest settlers of this portion of slaves from Nashville in the above named year. The trip was made in an old-time flatboat and the party landed at a point on the Big Hatchie river now known as Pilljerk. Most of the country was then a wilderness and a roadway had to be cut through the virgin forest from that point to this place in order that the party could make the journey. Uncle Shirley cleared off the ground here for the pitching of a tent under which was sold the first merchandise ever handled in Covington and on this spot the first storehouse in the town was erected. He also helped to clear off the ground for the building of the first courthouse in Tipton county. Uncle Shirley dug the first grave in Munford cemetery, where now sleeps the remains of enough people to make a city almost if not quite as large as Covington. He had often been heard to say that he had killed many deer in the timber which then stood about the Town spring. Uncle Shirley was personally acquainted with that famous pioneer, David Crockett and before he came from Nashville, knew and worked for Andrew Jackson, or "Old Hickory," as he always called him. Back in the early thirties he was at one time stolen by the gang of the great outlaw, John A. Murrell, who had reached some point down in Mississippi with him on their way to New Orleans to sell him, when he succeeded in making his escape and returned to his old master in this place.

The above are only a few of the important incidents of Uncle Shirley's life back in the pioneer days -- what he had seen and was familiar with would no doubt would make a good sized book filled with thrilling and interesting happenings. He had seen generation after generation come and go, had successively taken care of his master's children, their children and their children's children and was a grown-up man before our very oldest citizens were born.

Daniel A. Dunham was the father-in-law of the late Dr. Charles G. Fisher, who came into possession of Uncle Shirley some time in the twenties. The old man was devoted to Dr. Fisher and to all of his descendants and the emancipation proclamation did not abate his love and devotion to them.

Uncle Shirley was one of the most straight forward, upright and honest of men and withal he was a man of fine common sense, quickness of perception, and a rare sense of the ridiculous. He was also an excellent Christian man and a lifelong member of the Methodist church and a power in the church. The colored people regarded him as a patriarch and looked up to him as a man possessing supernatural powers. By the white people he was universally held in the very highest esteem.

Uncle Shirley was taken sick some five or six weeks before his death, and during this time was able to do but little work. The stroke of paralysis came Friday night and the end came at the time above stated. Up until recently he was unusually active for one of his years, and was still able to do a fair day's work.

FISHER, PHILIP A. - Friends of Mr. Phillip A. Fisher in this place were shocked and surprised to hear of his death which occurred at his home in Memphis Sunday night, after a comparatively short spell of pneumonia. Mr. Fisher was reared in Covington and was a son of the late Charles G. Fisher, one of the pioneers of this county. He was a young man when the Civil War broke out and joined Company I of the the Seventh Tennessee regiment, Dr. L. Hill, Sr., as captain. Mr. Fisher was second lieutenant of the company and a gallant soldier. He returned home at the close of the war in 1865 and during the year went to Sardis, Miss., where he married Miss Kate Ridgeway. He lived in the vicinity of Sardis until 1867, when he moved to Independence, MO. There and in Lafayette county of that State he lived until 1879, when he again moved to Covington, following the profession of teaching. He was also county superintendent of public schools for several years and made a most efficient official. In 1887 he moved to Memphis, engaging in the insurance and real estate business. Mr. Fisher would have been sixty years old next November, but his genial, social disposition made him appear to be a much younger man. To his kind words of encouragement many a boy in Tipton county owes his inspiration to accomplish something nobler and higher in life. His influence on the educational interests of Tipton county were productive for much good. He inaugurated the present system of public examination and conducted the first successful normal schools for the teachers of the county. Mr. Fisher's pupils will learn with regret of his death and deeply sympathize with his family and relatives in their bereavement. He leaves a wife and five children, all of whom were with him when he died. His children are Drury A. Fisher, Mrs. James Blanker and Allen and Misses Virgie and Kate. The funeral services were held at the family residence at 463 Lauderdale street Monday afternoon. The services were conducted by Rev. W. F. Hamner, of Memphis, assisted by Rev. J. M. Northrop of this place.

FISHER, SOPHIA FLOWERS - Mr. T. R. Flowers has received news of the death of his eldest sister, Mrs. Sophia Fisher, which occurred at her home at Navasota, Tex., on February 27. Mrs. Fisher was the widow of the late Dr. W. D. Fisher, of this city, and was 82 years of age at the time of her death.

FITSHUE - Eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Fitshue, of Cholera. (Randolph Recorder, Friday August 1, 1834)

FITZHUE, JOROINE and MARIANDER - On the 15th, Joroine, infant son, and Mariander, youngest daughter of Mr. Fitzhue. (Randolph Recorder, Friday, August 22, 1834)

FLEMING, "Infant" - The infant child of Dr. J. J. Fleming, of Atoka, died at noon Sunday.

FLEMING, NEAL - Neal, the year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Anson Fleming, of Clopton, died under an operation at 5 o'clock Monday afternoon, and was buried at Salem cemetery Tuesday afternoon at 3 o'clock.

FLEMING, PAUL D. - Born 1/29/1896 - Died 2/11/1963 - Paul Fleming, farmer and World War I veteran of Covington, Tenn., died at 6:15 p.m. yesterday at Kennedy Veterans Hospital. He had previously suffered two serious heart attacks and suffered a third about 2 p.m. yesterday. He was admitted to Kennedy at 4:30 p.m. He was 67. Mr Fleming was a lifelong resident of Covington and was a Methodist. He leaves his wife, Mrs. Susie Luttrell Fleming; three brothers, Clarence, Tommy and Arlee Fleming of Covington; and three sisters, Mrs. Charles Burlison of Covington and Mrs. Raymond L. Hill and Mrs. Artie C. Smith of Memphis. Maley Funeral Home of Covington in charge.

(The Memphis Press-Scimitar, Memphis, Tenn - Submitted by Leslie Roane and Susan Krall)

FORRESTER, ELIZA - Mrs. Eliza Forrester died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. A. E. Lane, in Memphis, at 7:15 o'clock Thursday evening. Mrs. Forrester, who was 92 years of age, had eaten her supper as usual and was taken suddenly ill immediately after eating and died in a few minutes, her death being due to the infirmities of old age. Her remains were brought to Covington on the 9:21 train Friday morning and were taken to the home of her niece, Mrs. C. E. McFadden. The funeral took place from the McFadden home, the services being conducted by Rev. W. M. White, pastor of the Linden Avenue Christian church, of which church the deceased had been a faithful member for many years, the interment taking place in Munford cemetery. The deceased was born in North Carolina, but the greater portion of her life was spent in Memphis. She leaves surviving her one daughter, Mrs. A. E. Lane, the last surviving member of a family of eight children. Two nieces, Mrs. C. E. McFadden and Mrs. J. E. Walker, reside here.

FOSTER, "Infant" - The infant child of Mr. Jack Foster, of Memphis, a grandchild of Mr. J. D. Morgan, died Friday and its remains were brought here and buried in Munford cemetery Saturday morning, Rev. A. W. Russell conducting the funeral services.

FOWLER, TIM - Mr. Tim Fowler died at his home near Solo at 9 o'clock Saturday night of pneumonia, after an illness of nine days, and was buried at Leigh's Chapel Sunday afternoon. He was 52 years of age, and is survived by his wife and six children.

FRANKLIN, MAYONA - Ms. Mayona Franklin, 89, died June 22 at her home. Services will be at 12:30 p.m. today at Jones Grove MB Church in Atoka, where she was a member, with burial in the church cemetery. Barlow Funeral Home of Covington has charge. Ms. Franklin leaves four nephews. (The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, June 27, 1990)

FULLER, RUTH - Mrs. Ruth Fuller, wife of Mr. Arthur Fuller, died at her home near Gilt Edge, Saturday night at 7 o'clock, after an illness of several weeks from a complication of troubles, and was buried at Elm Grove at 2 o'clock Monday. Mrs. Fuller was 24 years of age and is survived by her husband and three children.

FULLER, W. A. - Mr. W. A. Fuller died very suddenly at his home at Brighton Saturday morning at 10 o'clock, of heart failure. He ate breakfast and seemed as well as usual, but was taken suddenly ill shortly after the morning meal, and died at the hour above named. The funeral was held at the residence Sunday at 1 o'clock, conducted by Rev. R. A. Wood, pastor of Clopton church after which the burial took place at Mt. Carmel cemetery. The deceased had been a member of the Methodist church for many years, was 65 years of age. He is survived by his wife, but leaves no children.

FULTZ, WILLIAM & MOTHER - The burial of Mr. Wm. Fultz and his mother, Mrs. Fultz, a very old lady, occurred in the Randolph graveyard on Wednesday, the services being conducted by Rev. S. R. Forbess. The former died at the home of Mr. Ed Ballard at 1 o'clock Tuesday and the latter at the home of her son, Mr. Ulys Fultz, on the same day.