73 year old Franklin Delano (Frank) Russell of McMinnville died Tuesday at his residence of a short illness. He was born in DeKalb County. Russell was also a security guard at A.O. Smith, a member of Liberty Cumberland Presbyterian Church, past member of the Moose Lodge, and he served in the U.S. Army. The funeral will be Thursday at 1:00 p.m. at McMinnville Funeral Home Chapel. Lanny Johnson and Harry Green will officiate and burial will be in the Jefferson Cemetery in DeKalb County. Military grave rites will be administered by V.F.W. Post 5064 and the American Legion Post 173. The Russell family will receive friends on Tuesday from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.; Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.; and Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at McMinnville Funeral Home. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dewey and Frances Adcock Russell; his wife, Louise Scott Russell; a son, Phillip Russell; and a sister, Claudine Young. Survivors include a daughter and her fiancee Pattie Griffith and Jamie Jacobs of McMinnville. Sons and daughters-in-law, Gary and Wanda Russell and Brent and Sandy Russell all of Smithville; and Ken and Evelyn Russell of Lexington, Kentucky. A daughter-in-law, Lucy Russell of Smithville. A sister and brother-in-law, Lavonia and Wayne Hatcher of Smyrna. Grandchildren, Amanda Griffith, Erik and Chris Russell, Andy and Mark Prichard, Keith Russell, Tommy Plunkett, Tonya Walls, Elyna Russell, Kristi Russell, and Amy Gosnell. Seven great grandchildren also survive. McMinnville Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to Lazarus House Hospice or to the Liberty Cumberland Presbyterian Church, in lieu of flowers.

80 year old Melba Virginia Hale Wood of Woodbury died Saturday at NHC of Smithville of an extended illness. She was a Warren County native, a member of the Short Mountain Methodist Church and Director of Caney Fork Development Corporation. The funeral will be Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Woodbury Funeral Home. Bratten Tucker and Royce Martin will officiate and burial will be in the Wood Cemetery. She was preceded in death by her husband, Malcolm R. Wood; a son, James R. Wood; her parents, Roy H. and Allie Mai Grizzle Hale; a sister, Oleta Taylor and brothers, Walter and Joe S. Hale. Survivors include two daughters, Melba Jean Wood and her husband Pete Serodino of Chattanooga, and Kathy and her husband Mike Vari of Woodbury. A son, Wayne and his wife Cheryl Wood of Lascassas. A sister, Betty S. Sullens of Woodbury. A sister-in-law, Henrietta Hale of Smithville. Grandchildren Sara and Jason Wright, Melba and Druce Joslin, Donna Byford, Miranda Wood and Ben Watkins. A great grandson, Samson R. Wright. Several nieces, nephews, and cousins also survive. Visitation will be Tuesday after 3:00 p.m. Woodbury Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

80-year old Virginia Hale Wood of the Short Mountain Community died Saturday at NHC of Smithville following an extended illness. The funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time and will be announced later by Woodbury Funeral Home.

75 year old James Leslie Smith, better known as “Smitty”, of Nashville Georiga died Friday at his residence. He was a Classic Car Restorer and a Baptist. The funeral will be Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Jimmy Bond will officiate and burial will be in DeKalb Memorial Gardens. He was preceded in death by his parents James Clyde and Annie Perry Smith, wife Doris Smith, grandaughter Shirley Cobb, brothers Jerry and Gary Paul Smith. He is survived by three daughters, Leslie Cobb and Cheryl Morrow of Smithville, and Jennifer Watts of Liberty. Two step-sons, Tim Morrow of Wilmington North Carolina, and Brad Morrow of Brush Creek. Six grandchildren Teresa Marie, Rae Taylor, David Allen, Ryan, Josh, and Daniel. Four great-grandchildren Devin, Austin, Jaelyn, and Layne. Three sisters Mary, Virgie, and Nancy, and one brother Paul. Visitation will be Monday from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., and Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 11:00 a.m. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

70 year old Alvie Estes of Smithville died Friday at DeKalb Hospital. He was a farmer, and a Baptist. The funeral will be Monday at 11:00 a.m. at the chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Michael Hale and Billy Andrews will officiate, and burial will be in the Mt. Ararat Cemetary. He was preceded in death by his parents, Homer and Bonnie Hale Estes. He is survived by five daughters, Kathy Chapman of Liberty, Doreen Reece, Jenna Murphy, Lisa DeVault, and Patsy McCoy all of Smithville. Three sons, Jimmy Estes of Smithville, and Jerry and Ricky Estes both of Liberty. Eighteen grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren also survive, along with one sister, Nell Hale of Smithville, one half-sister, Linda Sue Vaughn of Liberty, and two half-brothers, Teddy and Lester Johnson both of Portland. Visitaton will be Sunday from 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m., and Monday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 11:00 a.m. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

69 year old Billie O’Fallon Byford of Smithville died Tuesday at Baptist Hospital in Nashville. She was a retired factory worker at Federal Mogul and a member of the Smithville Church of God. The funeral will be Thursday at 1:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. B.J. Thomason, Jr. and Donnie Kelly will officiate and burial will be in the Snow Hill Methodist Cemetery. She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Beatrice Tramel Bryant. Survivors include two daughters, Linda Nokes and her companion James Crook and Rena Bogle all of Smithville. Three step-children, Alice Beach of Atlanta, Keith Bogle of Murfreesboro, and Billy Bogle of Smithville. One brother, Frank, Jr. and his wife Maggie Bryant of Woodbury. One sister, Louise and her husband Dick Knowles of Smithville. Five grandchildren, five step grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren. Visitation will be Tuesday from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.; Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.; and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until 1;00 p.m. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

77 year old James Carl Cantrell of Smithville died Tuesday at his residence. He was a retired nurseryman and a member of the Smithville First Assembly of God. The funeral will be Thursday at 3:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Danny Parker will officiate and burial will be in the Adcock Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 3:00 p.m. He was preceded in death by his parents, Earnest P. and Mattie Lee Adcock Cantrell; his wife, Betty Jean Cantrell; two brothers, John and Gene Cantrell; and a sister, Macon Haas. Survivors include two sons, Tallis and his wife Nancy Cantrell and Earnest Cantrell all of Smithville. One daughter, Vivian and her husband Tommy Garrison of Dowelltown. Three grandchildren, Shannon and Chad Pirtle and Talisa Cantrell of Smithville. Two brothers, Hoyte and Joe Cantrell of Smithville. Three sisters, Katie Cantrell, Josie Shehane, and Ernestine Young all of Smithville. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

47 year old Carla Ann Steed Berry of Smithville died Saturday at her residence. She was a substitute teacher for DeKalb County High School, a member of the First Baptist Church of Watertown, and a Girl Scout Leader. A memorial service will be held Sunday, June 11th at 2:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Don Mathis and Mike Carpenter will officiate. She was preceded in death by her father, Deerwood Steed. Survivors include a daughter, Jessica Berry of Smithville; her mother, Carlyne and her husband Leo Anderson of Texas; maternal grandmother, Estelle Vannoy of Collinsville, Texas; a brother, Lee and his wife Sandra Steed of Texas; one sister, Deborah and her husband David Hoover of Texas; two nephews, Evin and Ryan Hoover of Texas; and one niece, Ashley Murphy of Texas. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation will be Sunday, June 11th from 12:30 p.m. until the time of the service at 2:00 p.m.

52 year old Deborah Darlene Puckett of Smithville died Saturday at her residence. She was a Lab Technician and a member of the New Life United Pentecostal Church. The funeral will be Monday at 2:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Paul Sanders will officiate. Visitation will be Sunday from noon until 9:00 p.m. and Monday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 2:00 p.m. She was preceded in death by her father, Woodrow Wilson Banks. Survivors include a daughter, Misty Bush and her fiance Shawn Shehane of Smithville. One son, Josh and his wife Chelsie Young of McMinnville. Five grandchildren, Blaine, Preston, and Gracie Young of McMinnville, Alyssa and Brayden Shehane of Smithville. One sister and brother-in-law, Vivian and Wayne Hill of Smithville. Her mother, Eunice Banks of Smithville. Special aunt and uncle, Peggy and Donald Minnear of Smithville and several other aunts and uncles.Three nieces Dava Pedigo,Terra Turner,and Tiffany Hendrixson. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

85 year old Kenzie Leighton Wright of Smithville died Saturday of an extended illness at DeKalb Hospital. He was a Baptist, a farmer, and a member of the New Union The Baptist Church. The funeral will be Sunday at 3:00 p.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Anthony Pelham will officiate and burial will be in the New Union Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 3:00 p.m. He was preceded in death by his parents, Virgil and Hattie Pullman Wright; and two sisters, Childus Wright Johnson and Kelvie Wright Redmon. Survivors include a brother-in-law, Johnny Johnson of Smithville. Nieces, Edith McReynolds of Auburntown, Andrea Redmon of Smithville, and Jaque Hale of Smithville. Nephews, Johnny Johnson, Jr. of Spring Hill and Nathan Johnson of Murfreesboro. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.