System Mechanic - Clean, repair, protect, and speed up your PC!Sara E. Harris
Lie-in-State Location: Scales & Sons Chapel
Date: August 20, 2004 Time: 6 - 8 p.m.
Visitation Location: Bradley Creek Missionary Baptist Church
Date: August 21, 2004 Time: 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Funeral Location: Bradley Creek Missionary Baptist Church
Date: August 21, 2004 Time: 2 p.m.
Interment Location: Bradley Creek Cemetery
Sara Elizabeth Harris died suddenly at her home, in Milton, TN, on August 18, 2004.
She was a resident of the close-knit Milton and Lascassas communities and was known as “Miss Sara” to her friends and the community.
Her friendly disposition, her ever-present smile and her warm interest in everyone – even strangers, will be sorely missed by her friends and family.
Sixty-five years ago, she was born to the late Jessie Rankins and the late Sara Loucressie Hicks in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
She was a renowned cook at Brown Store on Lascassas Highway and people would drive for miles, just to get some of her famous and delicious fried chicken, that she made using her very own special recipe.
Even though fried chicken at Brown Store was her specialty, her culinary skills were widely known in the whole county (Rutherford County), in her beloved Bradley Creek Missionary Baptist Church and amongst her many friends, both African-American and Caucasian.
As an expert cook, “Miss Sara” had her special pots to prepare her delicacies and meals and she always had to have a cast iron pot to start with.
Her pace was fast when she cooked and she swiftly moved from the stove to the sink to the refrigerator and back to the stove.
She had a special pot for her turnip greens and a special pan for her jam cake and her cakes and pies were always made from “scratch”.
“Miss Sara” was the kind of cook that got offended if you visited her home and didn’t eat or didn’t take a plate home full of food.
She received almost as much joy watching people enjoy her food, as she did in preparing it.
Her two freezers at home were always stocked with turnip greens and other vegetables and she even stored turnip greens in the freezer at the home of her son, Ronnie.
Her mother, the late Sara Loucressie Hicks McKnight, who was affectionately called “Momma Cressie”, started cooking for an annual banquet that was held at her church (Bradley Creek Missionary Baptist Church).
After “Momma Cressie’s” death, “Miss Sara” continued the ‘Momma Cressie Banquet” that is held on the 4th Saturday in April and cooked the food for that annual banquet.
In addition, any function at church, that involved food was orchestrated by “Mama Sara” and her cooking committee – be it a Christmas program, Easter program, homecoming or pastor’s appreciation.
Cooking was not the only thing she did at her beloved Bradley Creek Missionary Baptist Church.
She dearly loved the church that she grew up in, as a little girl, and as an adult, she was an active member of choir #1 and choir #3 and an advisor for the junior choir.
She was an extremely active church member and had last attended a Sunday service on June 13, 2004.
Cooking was “Miss Sara’s” primary passion, but she enthusiastically enjoyed other things in life.
For example, she loved to talk on the telephone and her phone was generally answered by the second ring, showing her eagerness to engage in yet another conversation.
She also enjoyed coaching male and female baseball teams - from the field as the official coach for over 25 years, from the stands – as the unofficial coach and she was even known to leave the stands and go on the ball field in her church clothes, to give a team member some advice.
Ah yes, she would call ‘time out’ in a minute!
“Miss Sara” relaxed by watching the game show network and by tending the dozens of plants on her porch and her collection of African violets on her kitchen window sill.
Even when “Miss Sara” was too sick to get out of bed, she still made sure that her plants were taken care of.
“Miss Sara” is survived by her beloved friends and family, including daughters, Karen Freeman, of Milton, Felicia (Jesse, Jr.) Fletcher, of Murfreesboro; sons, Ronnie Rankins, of Milton, George Daniels, of Nashville; sister, Bessie Russell, of Nashville, brother, Henry (Clarice) Rankins, of Nashville; 14 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; uncle, Nelson Rankins, of Murfreesboro; aunt, Viola Jakaway, of Murfreesboro, and many other relatives and friends.
In addition to her parents, her son, Patrick Daniels, preceded her in death.
Doris Luefaye Smith
(October 6, 1936 - January 4, 2012)
Doris Luefaye McMillan Smith, age 75, of Murfreesboro, died Wednesday, January 4, 2012.
She was the daughter of Charles Monroe McMillan, Sr. and Lula Jane Murphy McMillan.
Mrs. Smith was a devoted Baptist.
She is survived by her children; Wanda Locker and husband Rocky of Murfreesboro, Clifford Smith of Fayetteville, Belinda Patrick and husband Guy of Fayetteville; sisters, Ima Jene Williams, Jerrie Greve, and Mae Urban all of Florida; brother Charles Monroe McMillan, Jr. of Florida; grandchildren; Reen Locker Baskin and husband, Jamie, Ryan Locker, Celess Locker, Maghan, Mollee, and Macey Patrick; great-grandchild; Camden Locker; and several nieces and nephews.
A private family graveside service will be held Friday at Evergreen Cemetery.
Woodfin Funeral Chapel, Murfreesboro is in charge of arrangements.
Claudette Batts
Visitation Location: Bird Street Church of Christ
Date: August 12, 2004 Time: 12 noon - 1
Funeral Location: Bird Street Church of Christ
Date: August 12, 2004 Time: 1 p.m.
Interment Location: Hillcrest Cemetery
Claudette Batts was born on January 19, 1958 in Shelbyville, Tennessee, at the Bedford County Hospital.
She was the daughter of JoAnn Smith and the late Jasper Batts, Jr.
She departed this life on August 8, 2004 at the Life Care Center of Tullahoma, Tennessee.
Claudette attended Thomas Elementary and Central High School in Shelbyville, Tennessee.
Claudette liked music, reading, flowers and cooking.
Her friends gave her the nickname of "Big Bird" and she had a style of her own.
She hated wearing socks, but she loved to wear dresses and large dangling earrings.
She leaves to cherish her memories: her mother, JoAnn Smith of Shelbyville, Tennessee; a devoted twin sister, Claudia Batts of Shelbyville; two sons, Anthony Batts and Brian McCroskey, both of Shelbyville; grandchild, Dominique Ridley of Shelbyville; play sisters, Marie Porter and Gladys Hiles, both of Shelbyville; devoted aunt, Joyce Cullum of Shelbyville; devoted uncle, Mitchell Smith of Shelbyville; aunts and uncles, Samuel and Emma Smith of Gary, Indiana, Willie and Rubye Smith of Chicago, Illinois, Jimmy Smith of Johnsonville, North Carolina, Willie T. Batts, Virgil Wright and Ethel Batts, all of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; great-aunt, Iannie M. Batts of Los Angeles, California; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Mary Rose Dudek
(August 20, 1938 - January 5, 2012)
Mary Rose Dudek, age 73, died Thursday, January 5, 2012.
Mrs. Dudek is the daughter of the late Francis and Rose Guady McConnaghy.
She is also preceded in death by two brothers.
Mrs. Dudek was a native of Niagara Falls, NY and moved to Tennessee in the 1980’s.
A memorial service will be 11:00 AM Wednesday at St. Rose of Lima’s Catholic Church.
Father Mark Sappenfield will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Rose of Lima’s Catholic Church School Fund in memory of Mrs. Dudek.
Mrs. Dudek is survived by her husband of 53 years, Richard Dudek of Murfreesboro, TN; children Stephen (Sue) Dudek of VA, Mark Dudek of VA, William Dudek of AZ, James (Melissa) Dudek of TN, and Barbara (Kevin) Bliss of IL; six grandchildren; and a brother Ronnie McConnaghy of NY.
A graveside service will be held in Niagara Falls, NY, at a later date.
Woodfin Funeral Chapel, Murfreesboro is in charge of arrangements.
James Harry Minter
Memorial Service Location: H. Preston Scales & Sons
Date: August 10, 2004 Time: 6:00 p.m.
Mr. James Harry Minter was born on April 9, 1939 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and died at his residence on Wednesday night, August 4, 2004, surrounded by his beloved family.
The majority of his career was spent in the automotive industry.
He worked for the American Motors Corporation (AMC) and later for the Chrysler Corporation, until he retired.
Retirement from Chrysler was not a retirement from work because he continued to stay active and busy by maintaining the grounds at the Evergreen Graveyard in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
He did everything at Evergreen Cemetery, from erecting the sign to maintaining the grounds.
Mr. Minter was well known at the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Department and knew almost all of the Rutherford County police officers.
Mr. Minter was very creative and could sketch out a portrait of a person that would have the likeness of a real photograph.
He also used his creativity to design and hand craft all sorts of woodworking projects for his friends and family.
He had custom built curios, china cabinets, grandfather clocks, plaques, telephone stands, video cassette storage cases and many other items.
"Mimmie", as he was fondly called by some family members and friends, is best remembered for his kindness and helpfulness and his gentle, loving personality.
He was always ready, willing and able to lend a helping hand to anyone in need.
He was a also an animal lover and he spent many years caring for and nurturing his rottweilers, "Dutchess" and her daughter, "Roxie".
Both of his beloved dogs were extremely protective of Mr. Minter, until the last few days of his life.
When he was extremely ill, 'Dutchess" and "Roxie" let their guard down, and allowed the Hospice caregivers and other people easy entrance into Mr. Minter's home so they could take care of him in a way that "Dutchess" and "Roxie" were unable to do.
His memory will be cherished by his children, Maria V. Smartt, of Oak Park, MI, Nina Minter Hicks, of Murfreesboro, TN and Vincent D. (Rebecca) Minter, of Murfreesboro, TN; mother, Anna Mary Minter, of Murfreesboro; sister, Mary Kathryn Alverodoro, of Ocala, FL; brother, Henry L. Minter, of Zion, IL; 5 grandchildren; 1 great-grandson; Mrs. Cornelia Minter Whyte and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Dr. Robert C. LaLance, Jr.
(December 8, 1939 - January 6, 2012)
Dr. Robert C. “Bob” LaLance, Jr., age 72, died Friday, January 6, 2012 after a long battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease.
He was a native of St. Albans, WV, and the son of the late Robert Charles LaLance, Sr. and Ernestine Kathryn Bartels LaLance.
Memorial service will be 11:00am Monday at First Presbyterian Church.
Rev. John A. Hinkle, Jr. will officiate.
Honorary pallbearers will be Harry Wagner, Ken Chambers, Norman Martin, Tom VanDervort, Paul Cantrell, Harold Smith, Billy Henry, and J.O. Gist.
He is survived by his wife, Martha Lou LaLance, son, Robert C. “Chuck” LaLance, III and wife Amy D., daughters, Wendy White and husband Marty, Amy Nance Walker and husband, Rusty, all of Murfreesboro, brother, Dick LaLance and wife, Jan of Murfreesboro, sister, Barbara Anne Kelly and husband, Terry of Loudonville, NY, grandchildren, Ragen White, Katie White, Robert C. “Rob” LaLance, IV, Will LaLance, Ben LaLance, Haley Nance, Wesley Nance, and Thomas “Tommy” Nance.
Dr. LaLance was a member, ruling elder, and choir member of First Presbyterian Church.
He was a graduate of St Albans High School in West Virginia, Junior State Archery Champ, Eagle Scout, received BS Degree from West Virginia University in 1962, Mountain Ranking Mens Honarary at WVU, received Masters Degree from University of Tennessee in 1963, and received Doctorate Degree from MTSU in 1974.
He had a long-standing relationship with Middle Tennessee State University where he was Vice President for Student Affairs from 1975 until his retirement in 1998.
He was an Instructor and Assistant Professor, Dept of Health, Physical Education and Recreation and Director of Intramural Sports 1963-1965, Resident Hall Director from 1965-70, Dean of Men 1969-70, Dean of Students 1970-75.
Dr. LaLance was inducted into the West Virginia University Hall of Fame, Department of Physical Education in 2005.
He was presented the John Jones Award for outstanding performance as a Dean by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators.
He was a member of the American Association of Higher Education, National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, Southern Association of College Student Affairs, Phi Delta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, and Golden Key National Honor Society.
He held a number of positions with the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, Region III, including National Task Force to study Fraternity/Sorority/Institutional Relationships 1983-84, 1984-85, Local Arrangements Chair for NASPA Conference 1981 and 1985, Program Presenter, Conference, Washington, DC, 1979 and 1991, Executive Committee, 1978-79, 1985-86, and State Director for Tennessee 1978-79, 1985-86.
Dr. LaLance was affiliated with Beta Theta Pi Social Fraternity, Order of Omega Honorary Society, Sigma Delta Psi, Founder’s Club and Signal Society with MTSU Foundation, Blue Raider Athletic Association, Chair, MTSU 75th Anniversary Committee in 1986, President, Board of Directors, and Chairman of Public Service Division with United Way of Rutherford County, Leadership Rutherford Graduate, and President of Oaklands Kiwanis Club.
He was an avid tennis player, golfer, duplicate bridge player, and fisherman.
He took delight in family especially his eight grandchildren.
The family of Dr. LaLance would like to thank Dr. Frank Carter, Dr. Bryan Lewis, and Dr. Peter Dinofrio, the staff of SunCrest Home Healthcare, and the staff of Caris Hospice.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to MTSU Foundation, First Presbyterian Columbarium Fund, and Caris Hospice.
Visitation will be from 2:00 until 7:00pm Sunday at Woodfin Funeral Chapel, Murfreesboro, 615-893-5151.
Annie D. Charlton
Visitation Location: Sand Hill Church of Christ
Date: August 7, 2004 Time: 11:00 a.m. - 12 noon
Funeral Location: Sand Hill Church of Christ
Date: August 7, 2004 Time: 12 noon
Interment Location: Sand Hill Cemetery in LaVergne, TN
Mrs. Annie D. Charlton, a native of Smyrna, Tennessee, died on August 2, 2004 at the Bordeaux Nursing Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
She was born 85 years ago to the late Albert Johnson and Charity Buchanan and was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Irvin Charlton.
She was a homemaker and a devoted member of Sand Hill Church of Christ in LaVergne, Tennessee.
Her memory will be cherished by her godson, Terrance Gray; her devoted friends, the Ferguson Family and her church family.
Charlene Nolen Ramsay
(May 20, 1925 - January 7, 2012)
Charlene Nolen Ramsay, age 86, of Athens, GA, died January 7, 2012 at home.
Mrs. Ramsay was a native of Old Hickory, TN, and daughter of the late Charles A. and Nancy Wray Nolen.
Funeral services will be Sunday, January 8, 2012 at 3:00 PM at First Baptist Church, Athens, GA, with Dr. Paul Baxley officiating.
Burial will be in Oconee Memorial Park, Watkinsville, GA.
Mrs. Ramsay is survived by her husband of 64 years, Jack Ramsay, sons, Chuck (Kit) Ramsay of Murfreesboro, TN, and Carter (Kim) Ramsay of Watkinsville, GA; grandchildren, Kati Ramsay, Charlie (Amanda) Ramsay, and Victoria Ramsay.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Bill Nolen, and two sisters, Betty May and Nancy Vantrese.
Mrs. Ramsay was a 1944 graduate of DuPont High School in Old Hickory, TN.
During World War II, she worked in Oak Ridge, TN, for The Atomic Energy Commission.
She was a member of First Baptist Church in Athens, GA.
Visitation will be from 1:30 - 3:00, prior to funeral at First Baptist Church in Athens.
Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, Athens, GA.
Susie Bell Vaughn
Visitation Location: H. Preston Scales & Sons
Date: August 4, 2004 Time: 6:30 p.m. - 8:30
2nd Visitation Location: Cedar Grove Missionary Baptist Church
Date: August 5, 2004 Time: 11:00 a.m. - 12 noon
Funeral Location: Cedar Grove Missionary Baptist Church
Date: August 5, 2004 Time: 12 noon
Interment Location: Locust Ridge Cemetery
Mrs. Susie Bell Vaughn, age 65, died on August 1, 2004 at her beloved church, Cedar Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Eagleville, Tennessee.
Mrs. Vaughn was born in Triune, Tennessee, and raised her family in College Grove, Tennessee.
Just 6 weeks ago, she was preceded in death by her son, Timothy Vaughn and her husband, Virgil "Oneal" Vaughn, preceded her in death in 1999.
Mrs. Vaughn is survived by her daughter, Venessa Vaughn, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; her sons, Maurice (DaMita) Vaughn and Chris Vaughn, all of College Grove, Tennessee; her sisters, Annie L. Osborne, of College Grove, Tennessee, and Mary F. Claybrooks, of Franklin, Tennessee, her brother, Thomas (Mary) William Claybrooks, of Nashville, Tennessee; aunts, Ada Claybrooks and Eula Pearl Sheffield, both of Franklin, Tennessee, and Eva Claybrooks, of Triune; and her grandchildren, Kason, Marquites, Karrington, Montai, Kenan, Santorria, Keosha, Keiara and Damauria and a host of other relatives and friends.
She will be buried alongside her husband, "Oneal" in Locust Ridge Cemetery.
Samuel W. McGee
(July 8, 1924 - January 7, 2012)
Samuel W. McGee, age 87, died Saturday, January 7, 2012.
Mr. McGee was the son of the late Robert “Bob” and Mary Nokes McGee.
He is also preceded in death by his brother-in-law Elvie “Jr.” Keith.
Mr. McGee is survived by his wife of 64 years, Elizabeth Grizzle McGee of LaVergne; sons, Eddie McGee of Smyrna and Wayne (Barbara Youngblood) McGee of LaVergne; brother, Aubrey (Virginia) McGee of Cookeville; sister, Josephine McGee Keith of Smithville; grandchildren, Randy (Melissa), Corey (Tabitha), and Jordan McGee; six great-grandchildren Devon, Dustin, Abigail, Will, Tyler, and Brooke; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral service will be 1:00 PM Tuesday at Woodfin Funeral Chapel, Smyrna.
Bro. Russ King and Bro. Jesse Melton will officiate.
Burial will follow at Roselawn Memorial Gardens.
Active pallbearers are James Ducey, Jimmy Keith, Danny Washer, Randy McGee, Corey McGee and Gary Smithson.
Honorary pallbearers are great-grandsons Dustin and Tyler McGee.
Mr. McGee served in the U.S. Army Company B, 37th Infantry Battalion.
Later, he retired from the Road and Bridge Construction Industry where he was employed by Brinkley, McDowell-Saltsman, Rogers-Saltsman and in later years was co-owner of McGee-Litton Construction.
He was a 44 year member of Rural Hill Church of Christ.
During his retirement, Mr. McGee enjoyed being active outdoors gardening, farming and had a local lawn mowing business.
He enjoyed spending time with his family and spoiling his grandchildren.
Visitation will be 4:00 – 8:00 PM Monday at Woodfin Funeral Chapel, Smyrna.
Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, or Alive Hospice in memory of Mr. McGee.
