Beverly Carol Rogers

65 year old Beverly Carol Rogers of Smithville died Wednesday at Baptist Hospital in Nashville. She was a secretary at Geno’s and a member of the Laurel Hill Baptist Church. The funeral will be Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Burial will be in DeKalb Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Friday from 2:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 11:00 a.m. She was preceded in death by her parents, Victor and Goldie Bardmess Barr and a son, Michael Zimmerman. She is survived by her husband, Donald Rogers of Smithville. Two children, Robert and Shirley Zimmerman and Pamela Zimmerman and her fiance, Ronald Wayne Roller all of Smithville. Eight grandchildren, Alexandra, Jaymie, Nikol, Bobbie, and Rachel Zimmerman, Brooke Roller, Christopher Sorrell, and Kylie Sorrell all of Smithville. Two sisters, Shirley and her husband, Marvin Beckham, and Norma Jean Leadlove all of Smithville. Several nieces and nephews also survive. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Beverly Rogers

65 year old Beverly Rogers of Smithville died Wednesday at Baptist Hospital in Nashville. The body is at Love-Cantrell Funeral. Arrangements are incomplete but will be announced later.

Milns Thoburn Puckett

97 year old Milns Thoburn “M.T.” Puckett of Smithville died Wednesday at his residence. He was a retired businessman and a member of the Smithville First United Methodist Church.
Mr. Puckett carved his name in state and county politics and area businesses for many years. He was a man of varied business interests. He established one of the first restaurants and lodging facilities on Center Hill Lake known as “Puckett’s Camp”.
He was one of the principle organizers of the Middle Tennessee Natural Gas Utility District and was the principle organizer of Citizens Bank, which is now AmSouth Bank of Smithville.
Mr. Puckett was a well known residential and commercial general contractor for twenty five years.
He served six years in the Tennessee House of Representatives in the General Assembly. During those years, he was the primary sponsor of the Tennessee Water and Safety Act, which controls and regulates boats on the public waters of Tennessee.
He was very active in and a long time member of the First United Methodist Church, having served thirty years on the Board of Trustees of which he was chairman for twenty six years.
The funeral will be Friday at 11:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church. Carlton Thaxton will officiate and burial will be in DeKalb Memorial Gardens.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Etta Reeves Puckett; his first wife, Alvilda Shanks Puckett; and a son, Dr. Jerry E. Puckett.
Puckett is survived by his wife, Mary Jo Puckett of Smithville. A daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Walter Whitson Carlen of Cookeville. Daughter-in-law, Katherine Smith Puckett of Naples, Florida. A step-daughter, Merle Sandlin of Smithville. Eight grandchildren, Henry Puckett, Stephanie Eby, Mary Puckett, Jerri Brown, Poly Billiu, Malinda Carlen Little, Whit Carlen, and step granddaughter, Jenny Saul and six great grandchildren.
Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. The family requests that donations be made to the Smithville First United Methodist Church in lieu of flowers. The family also requests that no food be brought.

Bob Rochelle Announces For State Senate

Former State Senator Bob Rochelle formally entered the 2006 State Senate race in the 17th District this week and said he would not support a state income tax without a vote of the people.
?My name is Bob Rochelle and I want to be your State Senator?again,? Rochelle said at a press conference. Rochelle was surrounded by friends and supporters at the Wilson County Judicial Center as he made the announcement.
?Four years ago in the middle of a crisis, I felt we had to act. But times have changed. The crisis has passed. When times change, public officials should change with them. Therefore, I am today committing to the people of the 17th District that, as their Senator, I will vote against an income tax that is not approved by a vote of the people. Put very simply: No vote, No tax,? Rochelle said.
?The tax debate of four years ago created a massive distraction for the state. I apologize for that distraction,? Rochelle said.
Rochelle said he wanted to return to the State Senate so that he could get results for the 17th District.
?The income tax debate resulted in the election of some sub par one issue candidates who have shown no ability to get things done for our community. They have no answers, no courage, no solutions and will say whatever it takes to stay in office,? Rochelle said.
The 17th Senatorial District includes Wilson, Trousdale, Cannon, Clay, DeKalb, Macon, Smith and part of Sumner Counties.
?I wanted to deal with the income tax question from the beginning,? Rochelle said. ?It?s a dead issue, I?ve dropped it and I won?t pick it back up. Now is the time to move forward.?
Rochelle noted that his opponent, State Senator Mae Beavers, was the only State Senator to vote against Governor Phil Bredesen?s new Cover Tennessee health care program, voted against the state budget and opposed a modest increase in the minimum wage.
?Senator Beavers is out of step with the 17th District,? Rochelle said.
?We need new roads to alleviate the traffic and congestion and to bring more jobs to our district,? Rochelle said. ?I stand here today prepared to fight for the future of Tennessee. I am ready to go back to work for you. I ask for your help.?

Ricky Lynn Grisham

47 year old Ricky Lynn Grisham of Alexandria died Monday at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville. He was an employee of Bays Bread. A graveside service will be held Thursday at 2:00 p.m. at the Odd Fellows Cemetery in Baxter. Visitation will be Wednesday from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Hunter Funeral Home in Watertown. He was preceded in death by a brother, Radford Grisham and sisters, Faye Mullins and Donna K. Jackson. His parents are Dean Grisham and Gladys Hargis Grisham. His wife is Barbara Grisham of Alexandria. Other survivors include a daughter, Crystal and her husband Danny Caldwell Watson of Alexandria. Grandchildren, Bryanna and Hannah Watson and Hunter Lynn Caldwell. A sister, Ruth Hodge of Smyrna. Three brothers, Stanley Grisham and Larry Manier both of Cookeville, and James Grisham of Monterey. Hunter Funeral Home in Watertown is in charge of the arrangements.

Joe Jones

68 year old Joe Jones of Smithville died Tuesday morning at his residence. The body is at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Arrangements are incomplete. A complete list of survivors and arrangements will be announced later by DeKalb Funeral Chapel.

Joe Daniel Jones

68 year old Joe Daniel Jones of Smithville died Tuesday at his residence of an extended illness. He was a Baptist and a retired mechanic. The funeral will be Thursday at 1:00 p.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Rex Bowles and Michael Hale will officiate and burial will be in the New Union 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 1:00 p.m. He was preceded in death by his parents, Cephas and Grace Cantrell Jones; his spouse, Nelda Sue Jones; and two brothers, Charles and Roger Jones. Survivors include a daughter, Monica Jones Lofton of Smithville. A son, Jeff Jones of Antioch. Three brothers, Troy Jones of McMinnville, and Gary Jones and Cantrell Jones of Smithville. A sister, Billie Grace Estes of Smithville. A special sister-in-law, Paulette Carter of Smithville. Numerous nieces and nephews. Two step grandchildren, John Lofton of Iowa and Clint Lofton of Memphis. Special caregivers, Carl Smith, Mary Smith, Melissa Brown, and Lee Roy Lawson. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. The family requests that donations be made to DeKalb Funeral Chapel to help the family with expenses in lieu of flowers.

Davina Hollie Greene

30 year old Davina Hollie Greene of Alexandria died Tuesday at Saint Thomas Hospital of an extended illness. She was a dental assistant and a native of Kansas City, Missouri. The funeral will be Thursday at 2:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Alexandria. Curt Wagoner will officiate and burial will be in the Harpeth Hills Cemetery in Nashville. Visitation will be Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until noon at Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until the time of the service Thursday at the church. She was preceded in death by her grandfather, Charles Tarver and an uncle, Bill Tarver. Survivors include her parents, Calvin and Francis Cunningham of Alexandria. One brother, Greg Stern of Nashville. A sister, Susan and her husband Curt Wagoner of Alexandria. Nephews, Zach Wagoner and Jacob Wagoner of Alexandria. Her grandmother, Bertha Tarver of Nashville. Numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins also survive. Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria is in charge of the arrangements.

Eddie Carol Cantrell

48 year old Eddie “Buck” Carol Cantrell of Smithville died Tuesday at UMC of Lebanon. He was a construction worker. The funeral will be Thursday at 3:30 p.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Michael Hale will officiate and burial will be in the Cantrell Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 3:30 p.m. He was preceded in death by his father, Gentry Ed Cantrell. Survivors include two children, Letitia and her husband Kevin Jones of McMinnville and Zeke Cantrell of McMinnville. One grandchild, Kieffer Bain. One brother, Ricky Cantrell of Smithville. Two sisters, Peggy and her husband Phillip Stewart of Smithville and Barbara Allen of Murfreesboro. Special niece, Sundi Blanchard of Smyrna and several other nieces and nephews survive. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

Local Memorial Day Observance Held At Courthouse

Several people gathered at the Veterans Memorial Monument on the south side of the courthouse Monday morning for a local Memorial Day observance.
Les Enoch, Chief Executive Officer of Middle Tennessee Natural Gas Utility District, was the guest speaker for the program.
In his remarks, Enoch said “We should never forget those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.”
“As we know, Memorial Day is observed annually on the last Monday in May in honor of the nation’s armed service personnel killed in wartime. The holiday was originally called ?Decoration Day’ because it is a time for decorating graves with flowers, wreaths, and flags. Over time, the designation ?Memorial Day’ became far more common. After World War I, Memorial Day observances were changed to honor the dead in all American Wars, starting with the American Revolution.”
“We should never forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice. We must continue to honor them and all military personnel who defend our freedom. It is a privilege to be from a country that is served by so many brave men and women. Thank you for the opportunity to be part of this program to pay tribute to those who gave their lives defending freedom. We pray that their sacrifice will always be honored and remembered. May God continue to bless America.”
Southern Harmony, a local group made up of Annette Greek, Mary Lynn Page, Susan Parham, and Betty Martin, sang two patriotic songs during the program. These ladies are members of the Smithville First United Methodist Church.
A wreath was placed by the Veterans Memorial Monument at the conclusion of the program as Colton Rhody played taps on the trumpet.
The program was sponsored by American Legion Post #122 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #7623.