Obituaries

Leslie Michelle Wessel, 50, of Smithville, passed away peacefully at her home on January 19, 2025. Born on May 14, 1974, in Murray, Kentucky, she was the daughter of the late Edgar Van Atta Sleadd Waugh, Jr., and Linda June Outland Walker. Her grandparents were the late Robert and Kathryn Outland and Edgar and Louise Waugh.

Leslie dedicated her life to serving others. She served as the Executive Director at the Hope Center in Mayfield, Kentucky, and held positions at Lighthouse Christian Camp, the United Way of Wilson County and the Upper Cumberland. A proud alumna of Murray State University, she was a cherished sister of the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority. Leslie was a member of Smithville Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

She is survived by her beloved husband, Josh Wessel, and their children, Sarah Kathryn Wessel and Nathaniel David Wessel, all of Smithville. Her brother, Bret Waugh of Encino, California, also mourns her loss.

A celebration of Leslie’s life will be held on Thursday, January 23, at Smithville Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Visitation will begin at 5:00 p.m., followed by a service at 6:00 p.m. with Bro. Issac Gray officiating.

She will be laid to rest in a private family ceremony on Saturday, January 25, in Murray City Cemetery, Murray, Kentucky. A visitation for family and friends will be held on Friday, January 24, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., at the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home in Murray.

Expressions of sympathy can be made to the Hope Center in Mayfield, Kentucky, Colorectal Cancer Alliance, and the American Cancer Society.

Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the local arrangements.

Ms. Bobbie Jean Page, age 93 of Smyrna, TN and a DeKalb county native, passed away Monday, January 20, 2025 at her daughters home.

Ms. Page was born on August 14, 1931 in Smithville, TN to her parents, the late Roy & Allie Taylor Fuson. Also preceding her in death is her husband, Robert Page & siblings, Willie Lee Fuson, Jr. Fuson & Athelene Page. Ms. Page was a Homemaker & attended Pilgram The Baptist Church.

Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, January 23, 2025 at 1pm from the chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Elder James Gibbs will officiate. Burial will follow at DeKalb Memorial Gardens. Visitation with the family will be on Wednesday, from 4-8pm & Thursday, from 11am until the time of services at 1pm.

Survivors include 3 Children, Larry Page, Carolyn Walker & Ricky Page all of Smyrna, TN. Grandchildren, Danny (Wendy) Page of Pleasant View, TN, Brian Page of Pleasant View, TN, Josh (Jessica) Walker of Auburntown, TN, Greg (Bethany) Walker of Nashville, TN & Casey (Heather) Walker of Smyrna, TN. 11 Great Grandchildren & 4 Great Great Grandchildren. Siblings, Twin Sister, Barbara Malone of Alexandria, TN, Gladys Cantrell, Violet Starnes & Eddie Fuson all of Smithville, TN. Sisters-in-law, Doris Fuson & Geraldean Fuson both of Smithville, TN.

Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Joanie Lynn Armour Butler, aged 54, of Smithville, passed away peacefully at her residence on Sunday, January 19, 2025. Born on December 28, 1970, in Smithville, TN, she was the beloved daughter of the late Jessie and Connie Armour.

Joanie is survived by her loving daughter, Linda Bennett of Smithville, and her cherished grandsons, Nicholas Lackey and Calstin Bennett, both of Smithville. She also leaves behind her brother, John Armour of Smithville, and her nieces and nephews, Brandy Thomason, Johnathan Armour, Brittany Guard, Nathan Armour, and Kelly Armour, along with several great-nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Joanie was preceded in death by her son, Nicholas Reeder, her sisters, Sharon Thomason and Samanda Armour, and her nephew, Brian Thomason.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, January 22 at 1pm in the chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Visitation will take place on Tuesday from 4-8pm and on Wednesday from 10am until the time of service at 1.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to Love-Cantrell Funeral Home to help with funeral expenses.

Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Joe Cook of Watertown age 78, passed away at his residence Monday January 20, 2025. He was born November 1, 1946, to his parents the late Roy and Hazel Barrett Cook. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by siblings, Dorothy George, Carl (Puggy) Cook, Ronnie Cook, and Pam Young. Mr. Cook was a member of Upper Helton Baptist Church and worked as a Carpenter. He is survived by his wife of 61 years Brenda Cook of Watertown; children, Greg (Jody) Cook of Watertown, Tanya (Terry) Mullinax of FL., Thomas (Lea) Cook of Murfreesboro; grandchildren, Allison Argo, Amy Cook, Eli and Evan Cook; sister, Lisa Rhody of Smithville; numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews and friends also survive; bird hunting buddies, Shields Reeder, David Thompson, Clark Lance, and Ray Dunham, Jr.; and his morning coffee friends at Depot Junction in Watertown. Funeral services will be held 1 PM Friday January 24, 2025, at DeKalb Funeral Chapel with Bro. Jimmy Arms officiating and burial to follow in Salem Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday 10:30 AM until the time of the service at 1 PM. The family ask donations be made to Upper Helton Baptist Church or to Lighthouse Christian Camp in memory of Mr. Joe. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is honored to care for the Cook family.

On Saturday, January 14, 2025, it was discovered that Brittany Ann Brock Miller of 860 Hurricane Ridge Road, Smithville, Tennessee, was no longer with us.

Brittany was born on October 15, 1990, in DeKalb County to her parents Bridget Annette Green Brock and Rodna Wayne Brock, Sr. Her father predeceased her.

Most importantly, Brittany was a Christian and a faithful member of the Indian Creek Memorial Baptist Church. She was always willing to help with things that needed to be done. She was a very kind-hearted person. Brittany was a wonderful mother, who went to great lengths to see that the girls were cared for. She loved to play with them, go swimming, go to the park, do crafts, work in the garden, flowers and yard. They were the love of her life.

She cared for her household by helping tend a garden and then harvesting it and preserving the fruits of her labor. She loved to share with others. There was not a lazy bone in her body. She would don work clothes and go mow yards. She worked at various jobs to bring money into the household.

She was last employed part time with Walmart. Brittany was very close to her mother and talked to her or visited every day. Since she was oldest child, her brothers loved her very much and looked up to her.

With a hole in their hearts, she leaves to mourn her passing her daughters, Samantha Willow Miller and Chloe Mae Miller; her mother, Bridget Ann Green Brock; brothers, Rodna Wayne (Susan) Brock, Jr., and Tyler DeWayne Brock, all of Smithville, Tennessee; aunts, uncles, cousins, and a host of friends.

Brittany claimed these comforting words from Job when he had lost everything: “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Job 19:25-26

A Memorial service celebrating Brittany’s life will be held on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at the Indian Creek Memorial Baptist Church, 967 Hurricane Ridge Road, Smithville, Tennessee. Visitation with the family will begin at 12:30 p.m. and extend until time for the service at 2:00 p.m.

The family thanks Love-Cantrell Funeral Home for their loving and gracious assistance.

Sally Duane Jones, age 89 of Liberty, passed away early Thursday morning, January 16, 2025 at The Webb House in Smithville. She was a Baptist and a retired factory worker with Kingston Timers.

She was born on April 19, 1935 in Lancaster, TN to her parents, the late William Arvie and Willie Ann Braswell Maynard. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Troy Jones Jr.; son, Michael Jones; 2 brothers, Marshall Maynard and Clifton Maynard; and 4 sisters; Naomi Malone, Keeble Thweatt, Shirley Overstreet and Barbara Craig.

Visitation with the Jones family will be on Saturday from 12:00 pm until service time at 2:00 pm. Burial will follow in Mt. Holly Cemetery.

Survivors include her daughter, Cynthia Drake of Dowelltown; 3 grandchildren, Kevin (Deana) Jones of Liberty, Jason (Candace) Jones of McMinnville, and Troy (Tori) West of Liberty; 7 great-grandchildren; sister, Sybil (John) Waite of Murfreesboro; brother, Gerald (Pat) Maynard of Nashville; and daughter-in-law, Jackie Jones of Smithville.

The family would like to give a special thanks to The Webb House for their wonderful care.

Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements

Johnny Elmer Poss Jr., age 83 of Dowelltown, passed away early Thursday morning, January 16, 2025 at St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital. He was a retired construction worker and loved to be on the farm.

He was born on March 27, 1941 in Smithville, TN. He was preceded in death by his parents, the late Johnny Poss Sr. and Lilly Estil Young Poss, and wife, Sara Ann Poss.

Visitation with the Poss family will be on Saturday from 11:00 am until the service at 12:00 pm in the chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Whorton Springs Cemetery.

Survivors include his son; Barry (Barbara) Poss of Dowelltown; 2 grandchildren, Felicia Walker and Billy Strickland both of Smithville; 6 great-grandchildren; Cody Strickland, Destiny Strickland, Zena Walker, Danielle Walker, Katrina Walker and TJ Walker.

Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements

Mr. Charles Fuson, age 92, of McMinnville, TN, died Saturday, January 11, 2025, at N.H.C. Healthcare in McMinnville, TN. He was born April 04, 1932, in DeKalb County, was a retired employee of United Technologies Carrier, and was a member of Cumberland Chapel Free Will Baptist Church. Mr. Fuson was preceded in death by his wife Janie Malone Fuson, parents Solon and Verda Fuson, son-in-law Barry Pelham, sister Darnell Fuson, and brothers Freddie Brown Fuson and Louis Fuson.

Survivors include his daughters Carol Pelham and Wanda Cantrell, grandchildren Kyle (Chelsea) Pelham, Kaleb (Madison) Pelham, and Lauran Cantrell, great-grandchildren Zachary, Bryan, Cooper, and Elli Pelham, sisters-in-law Reba Fuson, Barbara Malone, and Shirley Katzenmiller, and special friend Lola Griffith. Several nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends also surviving.

Funeral service will be at 2:00 P.M. Thursday, January 16, 2025 in the McMinnville Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow at Whorton Springs Cemetery in Smithville. The Fuson Family will receive friends Wednesday from 2:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. and again Thursday from 10:00 A.M. until 2:00 P.M. at the parlors of McMinnville Funeral Home.

McMinnville Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Hugh Edwin Moore age 85 of Sparta passed away Wednesday morning January 15, 2025, at his daughter’s residence in LaVergne. He was born December 23, 1939, to his parents, the late Hugh Lawson & Vada Maynard Moore. He was a retired Methodist Minister and a member of Smithville First United Methodist Church. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife: Martha Inez Moore; Sisters: Linda Rice & Marie Moore. Funeral services will be held 1 PM Saturday January 18, 2025, at DeKalb Funeral Chapel with Bro. David Lunsford officiating and burial to follow in the Plainview Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be Saturday 11:AM until the time of service at 1 PM. Survivors include children: Royce (Rhonda) Moore of Dowelltown, Elizabeth (Brenda Elrod) Moore of LaVergne; Grandchildren: Bradley Scott Moore, Brandy Lee Moore; Great Grandchildren: Alexis Mims, Tyler Scott Moore; Siblings: Lois Sellars, Doris O’Conner, Donell Moore, Denice Moore; a host of nieces & nephews also survive. In addition to flowers family ask that donations be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in memory of Mr. Moore. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is honored to care for the Moore family.

Jerry Arlen Cripps age 92 of Alexandria passed away at his residence Sunday night, January 12, 2025. He was born February 20, 1932, to his parents the late Benny and Gladys Jackson Cripps. Mr. Cripps was a member of the Snow Hill Baptist Church, retired from Gensco and was a Gideon. He is survived by his loving wife of 75 years, Annette Cripps of Alexandria; nieces, Martha (Pam) Bass of Alexandria, Jeanie (Jerry) Pack, of McMinnville, and Ramona Fuson of Dowelltown; nephew, Benjamin Cripps; numerous other nieces and nephews also survive; brother, Robert (Faye) Cripps of Mt. Juliet. Funeral services will be held 1 PM Friday January 17, 2025, at DeKalb Funeral Chapel with Bro. Michael Hale officiating and burial to follow in Salem Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday 11:AM until the time of the service at 1 PM. Donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital in honor of Mr. Cripps. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is honored to care of the Cripps family.