Robert Thomas Hicks
Died: 06 - 04 - 2007 Robert “Bob” Thomas Hicks, age 59, of Newport, passed away Monday, June 4, 2007, at his home. He was preceded in death by his parents, Gay and Georgia Hicks, and brother, Bill Hicks. He is survived by his wife, Judy Hicks, of Newport; sons, Robbie Hicks and wife Jamie, and Brad Hicks and fiancée Joni Sane; brother, Ben Hicks; sister - in - law, Argell Hicks; niece, Susan Ball and her husband Riley; nephew, Joey Hicks; grandchildren, Gracie Hicks, Olivia Hicks, and McKala Fox; special friends, Teaberry Lane, Anita Fraley, James Ramsey, and Ronald Raines. Funeral services will be held 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 5, 2007, at Manes Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Cleo Williamson officiating. Burial will be held 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 6, 2007, in Union Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 – 8 p.m. Tuesday, prior to the funeral at Manes Funeral Home. Family and friends may sign the guest register online at www.manesfuneralhome.com. Manes Funeral Home in charge.
Christopher Lee Allen
Died: 06 - 03 - 2007 Christopher Lee Allen, age 35, passed away Sunday, June 3, 2007, at the University of Tennessee Hospital in Knoxville with his mother and other family members at his bedside. As a child, he was baptized into membership at Shady Grove Baptist Church. A private and simple man, Chris was dearly loved by his family and some longtime devoted friends who demonstrated great compassion during his progressive illness and final days. He wished to be remembered for his love of family and loyalty to his friends. His death appeared to be hastened by the heartbreak he felt over the death of his father, Woodrow Allen, just over two weeks earlier. He is survived by his devoted mother, Norma Allen, who stayed by his side for the last weeks of his life; by brother and sister-in-law, Ron and Kathryn Allen, of Knoxville; niece and nephew, Veronica Faith and Joseph Allen, of Knoxville; aunts and uncles, Carol and Jacob Williamson, of Newport; Joanna and Elbert Johnson, of Thomasville, N.C.; Sylvia and Buster Gray, of Newport; Jerry Frazier, of Newport; Sandra Evans, of Newport; Randall Frazier, of Newport; and Ronnie Frazier, of Newport; as well as beloved great aunts and uncles and several special cousins. The family will receive friends from 6 – 8 p.m. Tuesday at Brown Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Brown’s, officiated by the Rev. Fred Cagle and the Rev. Jason Ellison, with burial following at Shady Grove Baptist Church Cemetery. Brown Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Ruel Grady Calfee
Died: 06 - 03 - 2007 Ruel Grady Calfee, 84, of Newport, passed away Sunday, June 3, 2007, at Newport Health and Rehabilitation Center. He was retired from American Enka and served in the U.S. Army as a veteran of WWII serving in the North African and Italian Campaigns. He was a member of Veterans of Underage Military Service, Leadvale Masonic Lodge and Morristown VFW Post #5266. He is preceded in death by his parents, John Henry and Elizabeth Carver Calfee; brothers, Fred, Dillard, Garrett, Bartley, Elbert, and John; sister, Beatrice Booker; and granddaughter, Paula Calfee. Ruel is survived by his wife, Ruby Pearl Calfee; children, Wilford and wife, Janice Calfee, of Morristown, and Phil and wife, Sheri Calfee, of Newport; sisters, Mettie Samples, of Greeneville; Elenor Chambers, of Newport, and Shirley Huskey, of Morristown; grandchildren, Michael and wife, Raquel Calfee, of Moscow, Russia, and Shane Calfee, of Morristown; great - grandchildren, Alexander and Gabriel, of Moscow, Russia; special niece, Wilma Jones, of Newport; and several special nieces and nephews. The family received friends Tuesday, June 5, 2007, from 6 – 8 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home with funeral services following at 8 p.m. with the Rev. Daniel W. Vinson officiating. Family and friends gathered at 10:45 a.m., Wednesday, June 6, 2007, at New Home Cemetery for an 11 a.m. graveside service. Brown Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Toliver Jabo Franklin
Died: 06 - 03 - 2007
Toliver “Jabo” Franklin, age 71 of Newport passed away Sunday, June 3, 2007 at Gaston Memorial Hospital, Gastonia, NC. He was born November 17, 1935 in Haywood County, NC, son of the late, Andrew Jackson Franklin and Rachel Matilda Jenkins Franklin; he is all so preceded in death by his brother, Clyde Franklin. He is survived by his brother and sister - in - law, James and Linda Gunther of Gastonia; sisters and brother-in-law, Ruth Jenkins of Gastonia, Willa Mae and Vincent Crackovich of Bridgeton, NJ; aunt, Dorothy Jones of Newport; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Funeral services will be held 5 p.m. Thursday, June 7, 2007 at Greene Funeral Service South Chapel, Gastonia, NC, with Pastor Warner Doles officiating. The family will receive friends from 4 - 5 p.m. prior to the funeral. Graveside services will be held 2 p.m. Friday, June 8, 2007 in Stokely Chapel Church Cemetery. Manes Funeral Home and Greene Funeral Service, South Chapel in charge of arrangements. Family and friends may sign the guest register online at: www.manesfuneralhome.com.
Arthur Renfro
Died: 08 - 05 - 2007 ERWIN–––The Reverend Arthur Renfro, age 76, 135 Scalf Road, Chuckey, Tenn., went home Sunday morning. He was the son of the late Dewey Lattie Renfro and Mary Lee Coffey Renfro of Erwin. In the early 1950s, he served in the U.S. Navy. A well - known pastor and evangelist for the past 43 years, the Rev. Renfro served as pastor of Cherry Hill F.W.B. Church, Limestone; Roan Street F.W.B. Church, Elizabethton; Lowes Chapel F.W.B. Church, Newport; Liberty F.W.B. Church, of the South Central Community; and Friendship F.W.B. Church, Pell City, Ala. In addition to his parents, the Rev. Renfro was preceded in death by two sisters, Virginia Freeman, of Jonesborough, and Lucille Ray, of Travelers Rest, S.C. The Reverend Renfro is survived by his partner, friend, and wife of 54 years, Vivian Renfro, of the home; two daughters, Joan and her husband, John Stuart, Chuckey, Tenn., and Janet and her husband, Billy Osborne, Pell City, Ala.; two sons, Daryl and wife, Janie Renfro, Chuckey, Tenn., and Lee and wife, Patty Renfro, Myrtle Beach, S.C.; four sisters, Anna Mae Tittle, Emma Jean Fowler, Marie Tittle, and Carolyn Haines, all of Erwin; one brother, J.C. Renfro, Erwin; twelve grandchildren and nine great - grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, and cousins, and a host of brothers and sisters in Christ. Visitation will be Tuesday, August 7, 2007, from 6 – 9 p.m. in the chapel of Valley Funeral Home. A Home Going Celebration will be conducted Wednesday morning at 11 a.m. in Liberty F.W.B. Church, South Central Community. Rev. Renfro will lie in state one hour prior to service. Services will be conducted by the Rev. Joe Bible, the Rev. Richard Tittle, the Rev. Gary Norton, and the Rev. Anthony Payne. Music will be provided by Andrew Landers, Gena Martin, and Sheila Balch. The final resting place will be the Bethesda Church Cemetery, Jonesborough, and will follow Home Going Celebration. Pallbearers will be selected from the grandsons, nephew, and special friends of the church. Special pallbearers Kerney Moses and his special wife, Joynel, who stuck with him to the end; Joe Martin and wife, Gena; Jeremy Seatons, “Rev. Renfro’s Mentee,” and wife, Emily. Online condolences may be e - mailed to the family through www.valleyfuneralhome.net. These arrangements are made especially for the family and friends through Valley Funeral Home, 1085 North Main Avenue, Erwin, TN 37650, (423) 743 - 9187.
Herman Victor Hall
Died: 08 - 05 - 2007
Herman Victor Hall, 93, of Newport, died at his home Sunday, August 5, 2007. He was retired from the U.S. Navy being a Pearl Harbor survivor. He was a member of English Creek Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ila Mae Hall. He is survived by his sons, Neil Hall, of Knoxville; Gordon Hall, of Newport; daughter and son-in-law, Judy and David Gheen, Newport; grandchildren, Logan Gheen, of Newport, and Landon and Bradley Hall, of Newport. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, August 7, 2007, at the Brown Funeral Home Chapel with funeral service to follow at 8:00 p.m. with the Rev. Stephen Smith officiating. Internment will be Wednesday, August 8, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. at Union Cemetery. Brown Funeral Home in charge.
Veda Ethel Milligan
Died: 08 - 04 - 2007 Veda Ethel Milligan, age 95, of Newport, passed away Saturday, August 4, 2007. She was preceded in death by her parents, Curtis and Eliza Emert Clark; brothers, James and Wade Clark; and cousin, Wanda Buchanan. She is survived by her son, James Milligan, of Newport; cousins, Ruth Spurgeon, of Sevierville, and Rhonda Spurgeon, of Knoxville; nieces, Phyllis Blazer, of Dandridge; Susie Clark, of Florida; and Kay Anders, of Bybee; nephew, Robert Clark, of Florida; special friends, Mike, Vickie, and Michelle Fox, of Newport, and Margaret Thornton, of Morristown. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, August 8, 2007, in Manes Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Freddrick Long officiating. Burial will follow at 2:00 p.m. in Grandview Cemetery, Maryville. The family will receive friends from 6 – 8 p.m., Tuesday, August 7, 2007, at Manes Funeral Home. Family and friends may sign the guest register online at www.manesfuneralhome.com. Manes Funeral Home in charge.
Timmy Darrell Ellis
Died: 08 - 04 - 2007 Timmy Darrell Ellis, 45, of Newport, left behind all worldly burdens and pressures, when in the blink of an eye he joined his Savior in Heaven. There to take his place in a mansion prepared just for him on Saturday, August 4, 2007. Both Tim’s parents, Kenneth and Imogene Styles Ellis, were waiting to welcome his arrival in Heaven. Tim leaves behind a very large loving family, including his daughter, Jessica Rose Ellis; sister and brother-in-law, Tammy and Roger Lewis, and his treasured niece, Gerae Van Dyke; grandmother, Ellie Rose Styles; aunts and uncles, Carolyn and Billy Bob Layman, Steve and Charlene Johnson, Donald and Millie Styles, Loretta and Wayne Ball, Arthur Styles, David and Patty Styles, Theresa Bryant, and Betty Ellis. Tim had many very close cousins and a church family that loved him very much. Tim was a lifetime member of West End Baptist Church. Tim was proud to have served his county in the United States Army as Specialist 4 - 82nd Airborne. He was at the Veterans Hospital in Johnson City where Christ relieved him of duty Saturday. A celebration of Tim’s life and home going will be held Tuesday, August 7, at his church, West End Baptist Church, at 7 p.m., with a time of reflection from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. with his family. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Flag Pole Fund, West End Baptist Church, 116 West End Street, Newport, TN 37821. Family and friends may sign the guest register online at www.manesfuneralhome.com. Manes Funeral Home in charge.
Douglas M. Hammitt
Died: 08 - 03 - 2007 Douglas M. Hammitt, age 65 of Newport died Friday evening in the Morristown Hamblen Hospital. He attended the Bridgeport Freewill Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his father, Leo Joshua Hammitt. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Geneva and Jim McGill of Newport; mother, Geneva Hammitt of Newport; sisters and brother-in-law, Debbie Hammitt of Newport and Wanda and Fuller Moore of Mtn. Home, N.C.; brothers and sister-in-law, Walter and Renee Hammitt of Campabello S.C., James Hammitt of Candler, N.C. and Jeff Hammitt of Newport; two grandchildren, Amber Goddard and Hannah McGill of Newport; two special nephews, Chris Hammitt and Josh Spurgeon of Newport; also several other nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and many special friends. Funeral service will be 8 p.m. Sunday at the Brown Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Hal Kirk officiating. Family will receive friends from 6 til 8 p.m. prior to the service. Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Monday at the Fairview Cemetery, Hot Springs, N.C. Pallbearers will be Russell Gentry, Chris Hammitt, Josh Spurgeon, Patrick Sanderson, Jim McGill and Armando Fontes. Brown Funeral Home in charge.
Larry Randall Smith
Died: 08 - 03 - 2007
Newport native Larry Randall Smith, 59, died at his Hopkinsville, Kentucky home August 3, 2007, with his loving family and friends by his side. His death ended a year and a half battle with cancer. Larry was born August 2, 1948, the only son and eldest of three children of I. Jay and Evelyn (Neas) Smith of Newport. The Smiths were prominent business owners in Newport, operating Smith Hardware for over 50 years. Larry was reared in the Lutheran faith. Following his graduation from Cocke County High School in 1966, he entered Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville to play football and to pursue an engineering degree. In the spring of 1967, he transferred to University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and that summer married his high school sweetheart, Ann Overholt. For six years, beginning in 1967, he served in the Army Engineering Corps in Greeneville, Tenn. He also worked for Stokely Van - Camp as a field manager. In the fall of 1968, he purchased his first truck, a step that saw the beginning of Smith Trucking Services, a business he owned and operated until 2006. He hauled tobacco for local warehouses and then started hauling cattle for Wilson Livestock Market, delivering materials for local industries, and later hauling groceries for Cocke County Wholesale Grocery Company. In March, 1990, the Smiths purchased a 500 - acre farm in Western Kentucky. Larry loved to ride horses, raise cattle, grow crops, and work on the farm. He and his son had been cultivating over 1000 acres until his recent illness. Preceding Larry in death were his father, his father-in-law and mother-in-law Connie and Marjorie (Correll) Overholt, and a sister-in-law, Patricia (Ramsey) Overholt. Larry is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Ann (Overholt) Smith, of the home; daughter and son-in-law Jennifer (Smith) Eisenhower and Brian and grandson, McKinley Smith Eisenhower, Newport; son and daughter-in-law Leejay Smith and Ashley and granddaughter Emily Claire Smith, Hopkinsville, Kentucky; his mother, Evelyn (Neas) Smith, Newport; sister and brother-in-law, Sharon (Smith) Styles and Jimmy, Newport; sister and brother-in-law, Robyn (Smith) Floyd and Mark, Knoxville. Other survivors include his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Joe and Charlotte Overholt, Newport; brother-in-law, Robert Overholt, Newport; nephew Chuck Styles and his daughters Tonya and Sonya Styles, Newport; niece and husband Sheri (Styles) Donaldson and Darrell and their son Kolbe, Canton, North Carolina; nephew Matthew Floyd, Memphis; nephew, Michael Floyd, Knoxville; nephew and wife Mike and Lisa Overholt and children Allison, Allen, Alex, and Allie, Newport; niece and husband Susan (Overholt) Drinnon and Allen and their children Ridge and Danielle, Lake City, Florida; nephew and wife Dan and Dr. Candi Overholt, Winston - Salem, North Carolina; nephew James Overholt, Dandridge; and nephew John Overholt, Newport. Larry is also survived by countless friends. Larry bequeathed his body to the University of Louisville School of Medicine, so that even in death, he was able to carry on his tradition of helping others. To honor Larry, his family will hold a memorial service Saturday, August 11, 2007, at 5 p.m. at First Baptist Church, Newport, Tennessee. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 140 Lincoln Avenue, Newport, TN 37821, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, c/o Larry Randall Smith Memorial, or Christian County Literacy Council P.O. Box 609, Hopkinsville, KY 42240.
Fred Carl Ogle, Sr.
Died: 08 - 02 - 2007
Fred Carl Ogle Sr., of Newport, passed away at his home Thursday morning, August 2, 2007, after a lingering illness just nine days before his 83rd birthday. He was a WWII veteran, a retired electrician from Wall Tube & Liberty Steel in Clinton and known by many for his tireless giving as an active member of the Newport Rescue Squad for over 35 years. He was also a past captain of the Newport Rescue Squad. He was preceded in death by his parents, Davis and Charity Webb Ogle; brother, Paul Ogle, of Georgia; sister, Margaret Snyder, of Ohio; half brothers, Kenneth and George Ogle, of Ohio, and Edert Ogle, of Georgia; and half sister, Alverta Webb, of Newport. He is survived by his wife, Selma Frisbee Ogle, of Newport; son, Fred Ogle Jr., of Florida; sons and daughters-in-law, Edward and Emily Grooms, Harold and Marsha Grooms, of Cosby; daughter, Beverly Ogle, of Florida; daughter and son-in-law, Patsy and Randy Cannon, of Louisville, Tenn.; grandchildren, Chad and Haley Ogle, of Florida; Michael Ogle, of Savannah, Georgia; Jason Grooms, of Hartford; Derek Grooms and his wife Mandy, of Cosby; Luke Grooms, of New York; Joshua Branch, of Knoxville; Spencer and Kolby Grooms, of Cosby; Cayla and Chase Cannon, of Louisville, Tenn.; two great - granddaughters, Rylee Grooms, of Cosby, and Kiera Ogle, of Florida; sister, Ruby Baxter, of Newport; several nieces and nephews; one special nephew, Bill Snyder, of Ohio; and many special friends. The family will receive friends from 6 - 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Manes Funeral Home. Funeral service will be held 8:00 p.m., Saturday, August 4, 2007, in Manes Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Doug Messer, the Rev. Glenn Ball, the Rev. Dennis Renner, and the Rev. Roy Phillips officiating. Graveside service will be held 2:00 p.m., Sunday, August 5, 2007, in Resthaven Memorial Gardens with military honors. Family and friends may sign the guest register online at www.manesfuneralhome.com. Manes Funeral Home in charge.
Fred Ogle
Died: 08 - 02 - 2007 Fred Ogle, age 82, of Newport, passed away Thursday, August 2, 2007, at his home. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Manes Funeral Home. Family and friends may sign the guest register online at www.manesfuneralhome.com Manes Funeral Home in charge.
Edith Louise Reed
Died: 08 - 01 - 2007 Edith Louise Reed, age 85, passed away Thursday, August 1, 2007, at Newport Health and Rehabilitation Center. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Jim Ellis and Millard Reed; parents, C.H. and Edna Inman; son, Jimmy L. Ellis; daughters, Wanda Sutton and Rachel Broadbent; sister, Margaret Ledford. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Helen Aurelia and Donnie Herndon, of Newport; sons-in-law, James Sutton, of Newport, and Earl Broadbent, of North Carolina; brothers, Clarence Inman and wife Jo, of Newport; Nathan Inman and wife Paula, of Newport; Wendell Inman, of Morristown; Cecil Inman and wife Mary Lou, of Ohio; Drew Inman and wife Marty, of North Carolina; sister and brother-in-law, Gladys and Randy Gregg, of Newport; three grandchildren; four great - grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews, and other family and friends. Funeral services will be held 8:00 p.m., Friday, August 3, 2007, at Northport Baptist Church with the Rev. Wade Holbrook officiating. Burial will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, August 4, 2007, in Union Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5 – 8 p.m. Friday at Northport Baptist Church prior to the funeral services. Family and friends may sign the guest register online at www.manesfuneralhome.com. Manes Funeral Home in charge.
William J. Menzies
Died: 07 - 31 - 2007 William J. “Bill” Menzies, age 73, of Newport, passed away Tuesday, July 31, 2007, at Newport Health and Rehabilitation Center. He was a veteran, having retired from the United States Army, with over 20 years of service. He was wounded during his time in Vietnam, where he received three Purple Hearts, the Bronze Star, and many other citations. He is survived by his wife, Betty Aileen Lee Menzies, of Newport; sons, Patrick Menzies and wife Jania, Pete Menzies; daughter, April Menzies; grandsons, Tyler Menzies, Alec Menzies, all of Colorado; stepson, Stephen Mitchell and wife Tammy; stepdaughter, Tina Wilson and husband Dave; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Fred and Juanita Lee, of Parrottsville, and Bob and Sylvia Lee, of Greenville, S.C.; sister-in-law, Helen Bush, of Newport; loving nieces and nephew, Deborah Boyd, Bonnie Bishop, Burton Lee, and George Lee; special great nephew, Tyler Boyd; special friend, Wanda Hillard; all his friends and nurses at Newport Health and Rehabilitation Center. Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m., Thursday, August 2, 2007, in Manes Funeral Home Chapel, with Dr. Craig Ward officiating. Burial will follow in Union Cemetery, with full military honors. The family will receive friends from 6 – 8 p.m., Wednesday, August 1, 2007, at Manes Funeral Home. Family and friends may sign the guest register online at www.manesfuneralhome.com. Manes Funeral Home in charge.
Glenn Osborne Sprouse
Died: 10 - 11 - 2007
Glenn Osborne Sprouse, age 87 of Morristown, Tn went to be with the lord at his home Wednesday, October 10, 2007. He was a member of the Bible Aires Baptist Church and served in the military during the Korean War and retired from Seabrook Farms as a license engineer. He was preceded in death by his wife, Bernice Fish Sprouse; parents, Neil and Lady Sprouse; brothers, Henry, Robert and Clyde Sprouse; sister, Martha Cockren; grandson, Steven Sprouse and great - grandson, Baby Joshua Christian Garrison and daughter-in-law, Tammy Sprouse. He is survived by his wife, Cora Sprouse; children, Linda and Lowell Mooneyham of Centerton, NJ, William (Buddy) and Laurie Sprouse of Newport, Neil (Kenny) and B.J. Sprouse of Johnson City, TN, Brenda and Jessie Davis of Concord, NC, Betty Jane Sopuch and Dave Hanes of MT Morris, PA, Glenda and Stanley Garrison of Cedarville, NJ and Geraldine (Gerri) and Curtis Jenkins of Morristown, TN; twenty - five grandchildren and forty great - grandchildren. Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, October 13, 2007 at the Manes Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. George Dotson officiating. Interment
will be in the Clark Cemetery at Hartford. The family will receive friends 7 till 9 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Friends and family may sign the guest register online at: www.manesfuneralhome.com. Manes Funeral Home of Newport in charge.
Marvin Keith Stokely
Died: 10 - 08 - 2007 Mr. Marvin Keith Stokely, 41, of Whitesville, N.C., passed away Monday, October 8, 2007. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Stokely and Joyce Shelton; grandparents, Jess Stokely and Verlie Stokely Norton and Jim Ike and Ollie McGaha; infant brother, James Bruce Stokely; and infant sister, Christine Lucille Stokely. Survivors include his children, Brandon Stokely, Shanease Stokely, and their mother, Janice Stokely, all of Whitesville, N.C.; aunts, Doloris Dalton, Pat Thornton, Jodi Norwood, Teresa Reed, Pam Henson, Sue McCauley, Lou Jenkins, and Debbie Sutton; uncles, Roy McGaha and Gene McGaha. Additional survivors include several cousins and friends. Family and friends will meet at 10:15 a.m., Thursday, October 11, 2007, at Stokely Family Cemetery in Del Rio for the 10:30 graveside service with Rev. Tois Seay officiating. Interment
will be in Stokely Family Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m., Wednesday evening, October 10, 2007, at Costner - Maloy Funeral Home. Arrangements by Costner - Maloy.
