Obituaries

Melvin Ray Willis, 79, passed away on Sunday, January 31, 2021 at his home in Readyville.  He was born in Dearborn, MI.

He is survived by his children, Lisa (Jeff) Davis of Woodbury and Terry (Lynn) Willis of Readyville; grandchildren, Steven (Lindsey) Davis, Zachary (Amanda) Davis, Kelly (Ian) Frazee and Lane Willis; great grandchildren, Hunter, Montana and Zaden Davis and John Blake Frazee; sister, Kay Harris of Petersburg; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Robbie Cawthorn of Beech Grove, James Hill of Smithville, Billy Hill of Manchester, Bobby Hill of Christiana, Diane Green of Christiana, Jeff Hill of Bradyville.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Hoyte Ray Willis and Ruby Masel Paschal Willis; his wife of 55 years, Phyllis Willis and brother-in-law, Wendell Hill.

A member of Elkins church of Christ, Mr. Willis was a veteran of the Army where he was a paratrooper.  He was a retired machinist from Hennessy. Melvin was a big man with a big heart.  He loved his family and never met a stranger.  He lost the love of his life, Phyllis, in August 2019 and was very devoted to her. When she was a residence at Woodbury Health and Rehab, he never missed a day to see her. Melvin enjoyed working with his hands making anything from metal including crosses, roses and horseshoe art. 

Funeral services will be 2 pm Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021 at the Chapel of Woodbury Funeral Home with Bro. Bryan Hayes and Bro. Charles Eaton officiating.  Burial will follow at Gilley Hill Cemetery.  Visitation with the family will be after 4 pm Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021.  

For those wishing to do so, donations may be made to Gilley Hill Cemetery.

Woodbury Funeral Home, 615-563-2311 or to leave condolences for her family, please visit www.woodburyfuneralhome.net  

David Kenneth Bailiff, age 53, passed away suddenly at his home on January 28, 2021. He was a native of Bradyville,TN but called Murfreesboro home for more than 35 years. He is preceded in death by his parents, Gid Bailiff & Naomi Hutchinson Baililff; & his niece, Jennifer Kemp Mulligan.

He is survived by his sisters, Deborah (Michael) Parks and Thresia (Terry) Horn, all of Woodbury; his nieces, Emily (Charles) Haynes, of Woodbury & Anna (David) Rowland of Murfreesboro; his great nephews, Madden and Teller Haynes; and great niece, Olivia Mulligan.

While attending MTSU, he began his banking career as a courier, working his way to branch manager and later found his true path in mortgage lending.  Not only did David succeed because of his wealth of knowledge in the industry, but his level of customer service was unsurpassed. He was very well known in the community and in the industry.

David had a true passion for collecting antiques and attending estate sales.  While tough on the surface, David was known to be a generous man with a huge heart that was always willing to help someone in need. He was very beloved and will be truly missed.

Visitation with the family will be from 4 PM to 8 PM Monday, February 1, 2021 at Woodbury Funeral Home.  A private graveside service will be held.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in David’s memory to the American Heart Association or the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Woodbury Funeral Home, 615.563.2311, www.woodburyfuneralhome.net

Robert Knox passed away Wednesday, January 27, 2021, a day after his 101^st birthday at Woodbury Health and Rehab. A native of Cannon Co., he lived in Murfreesboro. 

He is survived by his children, Joy (Steve) Knox-Ritchie of Louisville and Dale (Mary Kay) Knox of Harrison Township, MI.; grandchildren, Jennifer (Jeremy) Nikodym, Jonathon (Leticia) Smith, Adam (Laura) Knox, Danny (Melissa) Knox and Larissa Knox-George; great grandchildren, Elliana Smith, Kaitlynn George, Sarah & Hannah Nikodym and daughter-in-law, Esta Knox.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe Turner Knox and Media Frances Rogers Knox; his wife of 72 years, Delia Arnold Knox, his son, Roy Knox and siblings, Pauline Rogers, James Knox, Fred Knox and Ruby Gay Knox.

Mr. Robert was a member of the church of Christ and a veteran of the United States Army where he served in World War II.  He is retired from Allen Park Veteran’s Administration Medical Center in Allen Park, MI.  He was a loving husband, father and grandfather who loved to garden.

Funeral services will be 11:00 am Monday Feb. 1, 2021 at the Chapel of Woodbury Funeral Home with Bro. Wayne Lankford officiating.  Burial will follow at Riverside Gardens.  Visitation will be from 9:00 am until time of service Monday.

Woodbury Funeral Home, 615-563-2311 or to leave condolences for her family, please visit www.woodburyfuneralhome.net  

Deborah Lynn Gannon, 58, passed away Monday, January 25, 2021 at St. Thomas Rutherford.  A resident of Woodbury, she was born in San Diego, CA. to her parents, Don Holland Reese and Mildred Thomas Reese.

She is survived by her son, Matt Gannon of Murfreesboro.  Also surviving are many extended family and friends. 

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Don Holland Reese, Jr.

Deborah was a member of the church of Christ.  She was a homemaker and loved to babysit.

Services for Ms. Gannon will be held at a later date.

 Woodbury Funeral Home, 615-563-2311 or to leave condolences for her family, please visit www.woodburyfuneralhome.net  

Frances Fletcher Haley, 86, passed away January 18, 2021 at Signature Healthcare in Cookeville, TN.
 
Frances was born January 3, 1935 in Auburntown, TN., the youngest of four children of the late Culley and Mary Odom Fletcher. 
 
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Robert Byford Fletcher, J.D. Fletcher; sister, Mary Etna Ingalls; children, Vicky West Heady and Kevin West and husband, John Ransom “Hank” Haley.  She lost her parents at an early age and went to live with her grandmother Odom and her aunts in Nashville.  While there she attended Litton High School. 
 
She is survived by her grandchildren, Garrett Heady (Shannon) and Jessica West Carrasco (Manuel), great granddaughter, Ella Heady; special niece, Mary Ann Britnell, cousin, Carolyn Odom Thiel, 3 nephews and 2 more nieces. 
 
Frances was a member of the Algood Church of Christ.  She loved the outdoors and thought of herself as a tomboy.  A farm girl at heart, her neighbors and others who passed by her house on Fisk road will remember seeing her in her old-timey bonnet mowing the grass, chopping brush or hauling branches that she picked up.  She was still walking 2 to 4 miles a day at 82 in her hilly neighborhood.
 
She loved God’s creations, especially the birds.  Until the hawks spotted her birdfeeder, she always had nibbles for her feathered friends.
 
Frances was a crackerjack waitress in her younger days often head hunted by other restaurants.  She was also in later years an in-demand Nanny working for several families in the Nashville area. 
 
She didn’t drive for many years but when she did get “wheels” it was a bright yellow Dodge Dakota pickup.  Just her style, bright, independent, and facing life head on.
 
To her loving neighbors and the nurses at Signature Healthcare the family wishes to thank you so much for caring for her as a feisty old lady and then comforting her in her last days.
 
There are no services planned at this time.
 
Woodbury Funeral Home, 615-563-2311 or to leave condolences for her family, please visit www.woodburyfuneralhome.net 

Ms. Sheila Ruth Lookabill, 75, of Readyville passed away on January 22, 2021.  She was born in Thomasville, NC on July 1, 1945.  Preceding her in death were her parents, John Frank Lookabill and Eunice Inez (Gibson) Lookabill.

She is survived by her children, Ben Watts of Asheville, NC, Jeff Watts, Jr. of Statesville, NC Larry Warren Jackson, Jr. of Murfreesboro, TN, Sidnie Marlette (Joshua) Buckingham of Readyville, TN, Susie Owen of Pleasant View, TN, Dejah Jackson (Lee Daniels) of Christiana, TN, and Alicia “Nikki” Feragola of Lavergne, TN.  She is also survived by her siblings, Terry (Paula) Lookabill of Ocean Isle, NC Tony (Karen) Lookabill of Hickory, NC, Angie (Charles) McWells of Oak Island, NC, and Gloria Cox of Winston- Salem, NC, 18 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren.

In her earlier years, Ms. Lookabill was a hair model. Later on, she made the transition to an interior designer and finished her working years as a bookkeeper. A talented seamstress, if she didn’t have a suit for work, she made her own. She also had a love for singing and the voice to match it, singing in a band, at the Plantation Supper Club, and even at her daughter Nikki’s wedding. She lived the life of a single mother gracefully. Determined to do her best, she worked hard to take care of and provide for her children with a mother’s passion Her time off was spent going to visit Papaw Lookabill or being with her children. Not much came before her family, except God. A Christian, she attended Franklin Road Baptist Church with her daughter when she was able.

Visitation with the family will be held at Franklin Road Baptist Church on Thursday, January 28 from 11 am-1 pm.  Funeral services will be held directly after 1 pm.  Pastor Mike Norris will officiate.  The family will hold a private graveside service.  Share condolences and memories with the family at www.smithfuneralhomewoodbury.net    Smith Funeral Home, 303 Murfreesboro Rd. Woodbury, TN (615)-563-5337                  

Kizzie Lou Vance, age 92, of Woodbury passed away Thursday, January 21, 2021 at her daughter’s home.  She was a native of Auburntown in Cannon County.

Survivors include her daughter & son-in-law, Janice & Charles Ritchey of McMinnville; Grandchildren, Edwin & Sloane Ritchey of Princeton, KY and Kelly & Eric Walker of Adams, TN; and Great Grandchildren, Easton Walker, Avery Ritchey, Harper Ritchey, Jake Walker, & Sutton Ritchey.  Numerous nieces & nephews also survive.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James E. Vance; Parents, Bill & Lizzie Allison Fann; Brother, Lytle “Buddy” Fann; and Sister, Agnes Gunter.

Ms. Vance was a member of the Auburn Baptist Church and was a supervisor at Colonial Corporation in Woodbury & Auburntown.  Ms. Kizzie Lou enjoyed spending time with her family & being a grandmother and a great grandmother.  She loved her flowers, especially her irises and taking care of her farm.

Graveside Services will be 11 AM Saturday, January 23, 2021 at Riverside Gardens Cemetery.

Always thinking of others, Ms. Kizzie Lou’s request was to have no public visitation and graveside services only due to the spread of Covid-19.  Masks and social distancing will be required at the graveside.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Auburn Baptist Church, Riverside Gardens Cemetery, or Duggin Cemetery.

Woodbury Funeral Home, 615.563.2311, www.woodburyfuneralhome.net

Harry Lee Smith, 99, passed away Wednesday, January 13, 2021 at his home in Morrison.  He was a native of Cannon Co.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Darla LaRue Wright Smith of Morrison; children, Warren (Lennieann) Smith of Gallatin, Charles (Billi Jo) Burnette of Waverly, Steve (Gail) Burnette of Mt. Juliet and Vicky Burnette Smith of Morrison.  Also surviving are 13 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren and 9 great great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John McAdoo Smith and Mandy Jane Haley Smith and siblings, Etta Seaton, Mina Smith, Jodie Atwood, Bob Smith, Maurice Smith, Herman Smith, and Alice May Sanders.

A member of the Woodbury 7th Day Adventist church, he was a veteran of the United States Marine Corp and served in WWII. During the Korean conflict, he entered the Army National Guard where he served as a Criminal Investigator in Germany and later retired from the National Guard.  At the time of his passing, he was the oldest living veteran in Cannon Co.  

Mr. Smith lived a full life and held many jobs and hobbies.  Those included, being one of the first TN Wildlife Resource Officer and a gunsmith.  He was a member of the Masonic Lodge #774 where he was Past Master, Shriners and Scottish Rites. His greatest joy in life was playing his guitar. He got to perform with Grandpa Jones, and he would come to Mr. Smith’s house to go fishing.  

Mr. Smith’s granddaughter, Theresa Carter never left his side the last 3 days of his life and came to take care of him everyday.  His daughter, Vicky Smith moved in to take care of him after his last procedure in March 2020.  His great grandson, Nicholas Barrett moved in next door after he was discharged from the Army.  Nicholas spent the last few years, spending time daily with his Paw listening to his stories about life and helping take care of him.

Memorial services will be held in the Chapel of Woodbury Funeral Home at 6 pm, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021 with Pastor Dennis Clark officiating.  Visitation with the family will be from 4 pm until 6 pm.  

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Woodbury Funeral Home to help the family with expenses.

Woodbury Funeral Home, 615-563-2311 or to leave condolences for his family, please visit www.woodburyfuneralhome.net  

Stephanie Martha Lynn Pohl, 47, passed away Monday, January 18, 2021 at her home in Bradyville after battling leukemia. She was a native of Davidson Co., Tn. 

She is survived by her husband of 29 years, Jimbo Warren of Bradyville; parents, Steve & Dorothy Dabbs Pohl of Lake Murray, FL.; children, Staci Warren of Bradyville and Christopher Pohl of Smyrna; grandchildren, Kennedi Campbell and Hunter Warren; brother, Michael Pohl of Lake Murray, FL.; father-in-law and mother-in-law, James L. Warren and Teresa Warren; sister-in-law, Christy (Manuel) Sierra and their children, Brianna and Angelica Sierra.

Stephanie was a former teacher’s assistant at Stewartsboro Elementary in Smyrna and Cannon Co. High School.  She loved her family dearly and enjoyed helping her husband in any way she could.

Graveside services will be 2 pm Friday, January 22, 2021 at Woodlawn Memorial Park, 660 Thompson Lane, Nashville, Tn.  37204.

Visitation with the family will be from 4 pm until 8 pm Thursday, January 21, 2021 at Woodbury Funeral Home, 504 W. Main St. Woodbury, Tn.  37190

Woodbury Funeral Home, 615-563-2311 or to leave condolences for her family, please visit www.woodburyfuneralhome.net

Rose Holt, 78, McMinnville, died Sunday at St. Thomas River Park Hospital following a sudden illness.   She was a native of Cannon County.     

Ms. Holt is survived by daughter and son-in-law, Sherry and Bruce Nunley of McMinnville, TN; three sons and daughters-in-law, Brian and Lisa Holt of McMinnville, TN, Shawn Holt and fiancée, Kim Skinner of Spencer, TN, and Eric and Michelle Holt of McMinnville, TN; eleven grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Treva and Walkup Warren of Woodbury, TN and Reta and Danny Barney of Murfreesboro, TN; two brothers and sisters-in-law, David and Pam Prater and Buford and Getta Prater, both of Woodbury, TN; many other family members also survive.

A retired hostess and waitress from Ryan’s of McMinnville and a member of the Church of Christ,

Funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 21, 2021 in High’s Chapel.  Burial will follow in Centertown Cemetery in Warren County, TN.  Visitation will be Wednesday from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and from 11:00 a.m. until time of service on Thursday at High’s.  The family respectfully require that face masks be worn.         

Online condolences may be made at www.highfuneralhome.com.

High Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.