Obituaries

Mrs. Betty F. Billings, 87, of McMinnville passed away on July 27, 2020.  She was born in Woodbury, TN on September 12, 1932.  She was preceded in death by her parents, William “Bill” Powell Milligan and Nannie Vandergriff Milligan, also by nine siblings, Milton “Brown” Milligan, Billy Milligan, Jack Milligan, Sammye Tenpenny, Marjorie Lorance, Rachel Hillstrom, Quixie Carroll, Shirley Tate, and Helon Gentry.

She is survived by her son, Jeff (Laura) Billings of Spencer, TN, grandchildren, Bethani (Todd) Haynes of Chattanooga and Trevor (Natosha) Billings of Knoxville, five great grandchildren, Carter Billings, Reese Billings, Layton Haynes, Rivers Haynes and Crew Haynes, brother, Jimmy (Shirley) Milligan of Port Saint John, FL, her most special friend and companion of many years, Bearl Wiley of McMinnville, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and their families.

Mrs. Betty was a graduate of Woodbury Central High School in the Class of 1950.  She is one of the few remaining members of two special groups, the Milligan Family and “The Greatest Generation”. As a member of these groups she shared the characteristics of both. They put God and family first.  They knew hard times with few material goods but had lots of love to fill in the gaps.  She would think of others first, remained humble and knew how to laugh and brighten your day with her smile. She was truly a caring and giving soul as were her other siblings. They came by it honest.

She owned and operated a community grocery store, Carroll’s Grocery for many years in McMinnville. She loved her customers at the store and would often have family come to visit and spend the afternoon with her.  After selling her store she worked at Super D Drugs in McMinnville for many years too. She was a loving mother to her son, Jeff and loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren just as much.  She was a member of West Riverside Church of Christ.  She and Bearl attended together and were devoted friends and companions.

Due to the continued threat of COVID-19 the family will hold a graveside service at Leoni Cemetery on Wednesday, July 29, 2020 at 2 pm.  They ask all who attend to please wear a mask.  Share thoughts, memories and condolences at www.smithfuneralhomewoodbury.net  Smith Funeral Home, 303 Murfreesboro Rd. Woodbury, TN 37190, 615-563-5337

Khadija Sousen Mingle, 37, passed away Friday, June 24, 2020 at her home in Franklin, KY. following her battle with cancer.  She was born in Morocco, Africa. 

She is survived by her parents, Rahma Mingle of Woodbury and the late Carol Wayne Mingle; her children, Josh Brahim Mingle and Khaliyah Stanback both of Woodbury; siblings, Nora Sousen of France, Rahma Sousen of Morocco, Tammy Myer of WA., and Mike Mingle of CA.

Khadija was a member of the Plainview Baptist church and was a former employee of Nissan where she worked in shipping and receiving.  She was a wonderful artist but most of all she was a loving daughter and mother.

Graveside Services will be 2 pm Mon., July 27, 2020 at Riverside Gardens Cemetery with Bro. Al Bugg, Jr. officiating.  

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

Fay Jernigan Francis, 85, passed away at her home Thursday, July 23, 2020 at her home.  She born in Cannon Co.

She is survived by her sons, Mike (Carol) Francis and Tony (Sharon) Francis all of Woodbury; grandchildren, Kasondra (Will) Vaughn and Felicia (Cody) Brown and great grandchildren, Gracie Lynn and Macie Rae Hancock and Colt Vaughn.
 
She was preceded in death by her parents, Manley and Myrtle Todd Jernigan; her husband, Claymon “Buck” Francis; grandson, Clay Francis and 4 siblings.
 
Ms. Fay was a member of Centerhill Baptist church.  She was a homemaker, farmer and a seamstress at Colonial Shirt Factory.  She enjoyed quilting and fishing with her husband, Buck.
 
Funeral Services will be 2 pm Sunday, July 26, 2020 in the Chapel of Woodbury Funeral Home with Bro. Greg Mitchell officiating. Interment will follow in the Riverside Gardens Cemetery.  Visitation with the family will be from 4:00 to 8:00 PM Saturday, July 25, 2020. 

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

Lemuel Dwaine Prater, 76, passed away at his home July 15, 2020.  He lived in Woodbury and was born in Fl.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Reba Young Prater of Woodbury; children, Connie Caldwell Rigsby and her husband, Greg Rigsby of Hendersonville; Ricky Caldwell of Woodbury; grandchildren, Melissa Lutrell, Candise (Will) Hendricks, Trevor (Emily) Rigsby and Lawanna Holloway; great grandchildren, Makenna Lutrell, Maguire Lutrell, Maci Caldwell, Charlotte Hendricks, Fiona Hendricks, Cora Jo Rigsby, Madelynne Bogle and Samuel Holloway; siblings, Dale (Alice) Prater of Woodbury and Jerry (Joyce) Prater of Manchester.
 
The family would like to acknowledge special family and friends that were close to Dwaine, Maria and Rick Parsley, Kevin Lutrell and Denise Whitlock.
 
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe Prater and Ona Pitts Prater and siblings, Lavada Duggin, Kathy Crouch and Lanny Prater.
 
A loved member of the Woodbury Central Class of 1962, Dwaine was a veteran of the United States Marines and served in Vietnam.  He retired from Bridgestone where he was head of safety and security.  He enjoyed woodworking and raising miniature horses but most of all he enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren as they were his life.
 
Graveside Services will be 10:30 am, Saturday, July 18, 2020 at Leoni Cemetery with Bro. Jerry Gilley officiating.  A private family visitation will be held.
 

Star Melody Blair, age 65, of Lebanon passed away Sunday, July 5, 2020 at Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital.  She was a native of Houston, TX.

Survivors include her husband, Larry Ricky Blair of Lebanon; Father, Gay Inright; Children, Melody McReynolds, Holly, & Jimmy; Brother, John Inright; Sister, Helen; and 18 Grandchildren also survive.

She was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church and a seamstress.

Graveside Services will be at 10 AM Friday, July 17, 2020 at Amity Cemetery.

Woodbury Funeral Home, 615.563.2311, www.woodburyfuneralhome.net

Mr. Lindsay Gene “Lee” Powers, 38, of Woodbury passed away on July 11, 2020.  He was born in Nashville, TN on June 29, 1982.  He was preceded in death by his mother, Peggy Jean (Mason) Powers, aunts and uncles, Mary Honaker, Barbara Hood, Mike Waldrep, and Delton Waldrep.

He is survived by his father, James “Jimmy” (Lisa Davenport) Powers of Woodbury, his loving daughter and her mother, Lindsay Victoria Powers and Leslie McGregor both of Woodbury, his mom, Nina Winfrey of Cullman, AL, sister, Kasie Powers of Murfreesboro, aunts and uncles, Jeff Mason of Lebanon, Richard Keefus, John Powers, Jeff Powers, Dolly Powers Brewer, Ted Powers all of Hohenwald, Yvonne Peak of Nashville, Leacel Waldrep, Theo Waldrep, Remona Adkins all of Alabama, and by his best friend, Leo Lopez of Murfreesboro.

He was born in Nashville and later moved to Murfreesboro and then to Woodbury.  He lost his mother in a tragic accident when he was a small child.  He was raised in the homes of his father and mom, Nina from that point forward.  He and his father were close.  Growing up he wasn’t fond of his name Lindsay. Many of his family and friends called him Lee. This all changed after his daughter was born and she was named after him. She was his special little Lindsay. He was fun loving and could be silly. He started riding dirt bikes at an early age and could pop a wheelie in a second.  He loved motocross.  When he wasn’t riding, he liked working on them and other small engines. Anything to get greasy. He also enjoyed working on computers as a hobby. He liked his music loud with a bumping base rhythm.

The family is holding a visitation on Saturday, July 25, 2020 from 11-1 pm Calvary Chapel of Murfreesboro, 229 River Rock Blvd. Murfreesboro, TN and a service in his memory at 1 pm. Lee Soloman will officiate. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Suicide Prevention Life Line.  Share memories and condolences with them at www.smithfuneralhomewoodbury.net  Smith Funeral Home, 303 Murfreesboro Rd. Woodbury, TN 37190, 615-563-5337

Mr. Bradley James “BJ” Durham, 30, of Readyville passed away on July 11, 2020.  He was born on November 2, 1989 in Murfreesboro, TN.  He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Calvin and Betty Durham and Harris and Barbara Smith and by a brother, Chad Durham.

He is survived by his parents, Randy and Jeannie Smith Durham, daughter, Stella Louise Durham, sister, Kelly (Eric) Futral, nephews, Hunter and Jesse Futral, all of Readyville, special friend, Hope Lynch, and by numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and many friends.

Family and friends called him BJ.  He was a fun loving and plain-spoken person.  He loved his music loud and his cars fast.  He loved muscle cars, racing, and 4-wheelers. It was said he was a “dare devil, who had a need for speed.” He liked many types of sports teams including the Vols, Titans and Chicago Bulls.  He worked with his parents most of the last 17 years in their restaurant, Lions Den Pizza.  As much as he loved all the other things, his one true love was his daughter, Stella.  He called her Daddy’s Princess.  He loved bouncing on the trampoline with her, going on adventures in the woods, showing her how to ride a 4-wheeler, and taking her to pet the neighbor’s horses.  He spent as much time as he could with her.  He was baptized in the Baptist church when he was young and liked attending Plainview Baptist Church. 

Visitation will be held at Smith Funeral Home on Friday, July 17, 2020 from 4-8 pm.  Funeral services will be Saturday, July 18, 2020 in the Smith Funeral Home chapel at 2 pm.  Jonathan Womack will officiate.  Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery. Share memories and condolences with the family at www.smithfuneralhomewoodbury.net  Smith Funeral Home, 303 Murfreesboro Rd. Woodbury, TN 37190, 615-563-5337

Mina Belle Brandon Lewis, 89, of Readyville passed away Tues., July 14, 2020 at Woodbury Health and Rehab.  She was a native of Cannon Co. 

She is survived by her sons, Mark Edward Lewis and his wife, Brenda Lewis of Woodbury and Roger Brandon Lewis and his wife, Norma Nichols Lewis of Woodbury; grandsons:  Jared (Candace) Lewis of Woodbury, Matthew Brandon (Elizabeth) Lewis of Knoxville and Daniel Youree Lewis of Nashville; father of her sons, Edward J. Lewis of Murfreesboro. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lucious Lamar Brandon and Effie Gaither Brandon; siblings, Joe Lamar Brandon, Ralph Elam Brandon, Rhea Reed and Pearl Markum.

Ms. Lewis was a member of the Burt Baptist church and was a homemaker. She was also a caregiver for many of the elderly. Ms. Lewis graduated from MTSU in the early 1960’s with her bachelor’s degree while attending with her sons. She loved the Lord, gardening and making quilts.

Visitation with the family will be from 10 am until 1:30 pm Friday, July 17, 2020 at Woodbury Funeral Home with graveside services to follow at Curlee Cemetery beginning at 2 pm.  

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

Billy Joe Haley, 81, of Woodbury passed away Sun., July 12, 2020 at his home. He was a native of Cannon Co.

He is survived by his children:  Timmy Haley of Nashville, Roy Haley, Patty Speckner, Angela (Thomas) Mathis all of Woodbury, Adam (Stephanie) Haley of Crossville and Chad (Tiffany) Haley of McMinnville; grandchildren:  Lori Harris, Bret Markum, Cole and Sky Haley, Ashley Patterson, Brittany Rhoady, Cody Church, Anthony Rutledge, Aaron Brewer, Tequila Lawson, Kayla Abbott, Sydney Burnett, Savannah Peters, Hunter Haley, William Alex Haley and Kaleb Haley; sisters,  Joyce Earls of CO. and Martha Haley of MI. 15 Great Grandchildren also survive.
 
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest Hill Haley and Gertie Gann Haley; wife, Flesha Campbell Haley; son, Steven Haley, grandchildren, Dalton Wayne Haley and Madelynn Rose Haley.
 
Mr. Haley was of the Baptist faith and was a veteran of the United States Army.  He was a mechanic, loved fishing and road trips.  He also enjoyed watching westerns and was a master junker.
 
Funeral Services will be 1 pm Wednesday, July 15, 2020 in the Chapel of Woodbury Funeral Home.  Interment will follow at Leoni Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be from 10 am to 6 pm Tues., 07/14/20 and Wed., from 10 am until 1 pm. 

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

Hazel Kathleen May Gartman, age 101, of Woodbury passed away Friday, July 10, 2020 at her home.  She was a native of Lamar Co., Alabama.

Survivors include her daughters, Carol (Mike) Reed of Woodbury and Victoria (Larry) Moses of South Carolina; Grandchildren, Alisha Day, William Barton Bryant, Ryan Lee Reed, Hayley Rooker, Christie Coleman, John Moses, & Wesley Moses.  10 Great Grandchildren also survive.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Gartman; parents,  Oliver & Edna Pearl Caldwell May; and granddaughter, Lucinda Eaton.

She was a member of the Woodbury Seventh Day Adventist Church, a Dietician, and a housewife.  Ms. Gartman was an avid gardener, loved to bird watch, a talented woodworker, and enjoyed cooking at the Indian Creek Camp on Center Hill Lake.

Graveside Services will be 2 PM Sunday, July 12, 2020 at Riverside Gardens Cemetery with Pastor Dennis Clark officiating.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Seventh Day Adventist Indian Creek Camp at Center Hill Lake.

For the safety of the family and the public, the family requests that everyone attending the services, please wear a face mask and social distance following COVID guidelines.

Woodbury Funeral Home, 615.563.2311, www.woodburyfuneralhome.net