Obituaries
GEORGIA
Hattie Beasley
TUNNEL HILL — Hattie Louise Beasley, 91, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016, in Wood Dale LTC and Rehab where she was a patient since 2006.
She was a member of Tunnel Hill First United Methodist Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry Grady and Mary Estelle Henson Beasley; sisters, Carrie Francis Hughes and Mary Belle Beasley; and brothers, Troy Irvin Beasley, Richard Beasley, and Eugene Beasley.
She is survived by a sister, Pearl Mae North; brothers and sister-in-law, Henry Porter Beasley and Johnny B. and Bobbie C. Beasley; sisterin-law, Ruth Beasley; several nieces; and nephews.
Funeral services will be conducted 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, 2016, from the Chapel of Jones Funeral Home of Tunnel Hill, with Rev. Levoyd Whitton officiating.
Burial will be in Dogwood Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016.
Online condolences may be offered at: www.jjonesfuneralhome.com
Jones Funeral Home of Tunnel Hill is in charge of the funeral arrangements.
Bobbie Bell
ROSSVILLE — Bobbie Joan Bell, 78, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016, at her residence. She had lived most of her life in North Georgia where she taught Special Education in the Catoosa and Walker County School Systems. She also taught Special Education in Cherokee, NC. She was a member of the Shield Baptist Church and her passions in life were her family, her school children, and helping others. She will be dearly missed by her family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husbands, Ronnie Bell and James Nichols; and daughter, Rhonda Bell.
Survivors include two sons, Mickey ( Stephanie) Bell, of Ooltewah, Tenn. and Ronnie ( Wendy) Bell, of Atlanta, Ga.; brother, Ronnie (Nancy) McWhorter, of Fort Oglethorpe, Ga.; sister, Sue ( Joe) Thompson, of Memphis, Tenn.; six grandchildren, Brandon Bell, Vanessa Petty, Cameron Petty, Chandler Ison, Courtlyn Ison, and Collen Bell; and several nieces; and nephews.
Condolences may be sent to www. lane- southcrestchapel.com.
Memorial services will be held Friday, at 6 p. m., at Shield Baptist Church located at 12684 N Highway 27 Chickamauga, GA 30707, with Reverend Bill Proctor officiating.
The family will receive friends following the service at the church.
Arrangements are by the South Crest Chapel of Lane Funeral Home and Crematory, located at the end of historic Missionary Ridge, Rossville.
Clarence “Bo” Benton
LaFAYETTE — Clarence “Bo” Eugene Benton, 88,passed away Monday, Feb. 8, 2016.
He was born on July 29, 1927 in Boynton, Ga.
Bo was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, son and brother.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Celia Hunt Benton, of LaFayette,Ga.; daughter, Mary “Beth” Benton Vuncannon and son-in-law, Don Dwayne Vuncannon, of High Point N.C.; grandson, Tucker Hunt Benton, of Charleston, Miss.; and daughter- in- law, Angie Joyce Benton, of Menlo Ga,, wife of Bo and Celia’s late son, Charles Hunt Benton; and brother, Paul Benton.
Bo was p re ceded in death by brothers, Lewis Benton, Velma Williams, Jackie Miller, Jimmie Warren, Roy Benton and Lyda Benton. He was also preceded in death by his parents, Grover Cleveland Benton and Willa Bowman Benton.
He is also survived and preceded by numerous nieces and nephews.
Bo was a graduate of Ringgold High School, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and the University of Georgia.
After graduation he served his country in the U.S. Army. He then served his community of Walker County through his work with the University of Georgia Extension Service as the Agricultural Extension Agent until his retirement in 1983.
He also served in many voluntary roles providing services to the community in which he lived. He was a dual recipient of the Rotary Club Community Service award. Bo was a member of the First Baptist Church of LaFayette where he served as a Deacon for many years. After his retirement, he became a member of the Board of Directors for the Walker County Bank and a member of the Board of Directors for the North Georgia Electric Membership Corporation.
Pall Bearers will include Guy Pope, Ted Clark, Shannon Sell, Mike Marchetti, Greg West, Chris Jones, Shaw Abney (in memory of Billy Shaw Abney), and Don Chandler, Jr. (in memory of Don Chandler, Sr.). Honorary Pall Bearers include William “Bill” Sell, David Patterson, Chuck Tuft, Sr., Chuck Tuft, Jr., Denny Abney, Rex Jackson, Bill Patty, J.C. Abercrombie, Larry Thomas, Ron Harrison, Dr. Chip Levie, Robert Gamble, Willis Calloway, Ron Hutchins, Jerry Wilhelm, John Howard, and all the active Deacons of The First Baptist Church of LaFayette.
The Benton family will receive guest at the Wallis-Wilbanks Funeral Home Friday, Feb. 12, 2016, from 5-8 pm.
A celebration of Bo’s life will be held at the First Baptist Church of LaFayette Saturday, at 1 p.m. officiated by Dr. Todd Gaddis and Minister Frank Yates, with the body lying in state at the church on Saturday, from noon until the service time.
Interment will be in LaFayette City Cemetery.
Mack Bowen
RINGGOLD — Mack C. (Curt) Bowen, 73, gold, died Friday, in a Nashville Hospital.
He was a graduate of Central High School and served in the U. S. Army. He was a baseball and soccer coach in Fo r t Oglethorpe and Flintstone for many years. He was a member of the Fort Oglethorpe United Methodist Church, where he served as youth leader for several years and attended The Gathering in Ringgold. He was a former member of St. Elmo United Methodist Church and member of St. Elmo Avenue Lodge No. 673 F&AM.
He was a railroad engineer for Norfolk Southern for over 40 years and a life long member of the brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. He was a member of NARVRE – National Association of Retired and Veteran Railway Employees.
Mack was a Road Foreman with Norfolk Southern Railway in Chattanooga who was assigned to qualify Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum crews when operating on Norfolk Southern tracks. Mack served as an engineer on TVRM’s Steam locomotive Southern Railway No. 4501 on mainline steam excursions.
Mack was an avid supporter of the TVRM and a good friend to all of the TVRM crews. For a number of years he headed Operation Lifesaver.
He was preceded in death by his parents,W.C. “Buddy” and Jean Patterson Bowen Dailey; and a son, Michael Carey Bowen.
He is survived by his loving wife, Mary Gulledge Bowen, of Ringgold, Ga.; brothers, Doug (Susie) Dailey, of Chattanooga, Tenn. and Greg ( Connie) Dailey, of Atlanta; Ga. cousin, Kay Englehart (Pete) Pulsifer, of Boston, Mass. and a special friend, Justine Cantrell, of Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Visit www.heritagebattlefield.com to share condolences with the family.
Memorial Contributions may be made to RMP- Romanian Childrens Summer Camp. PO Box 255, Ringgold, GA 30736 or Ft. Oglethorpe UMC, 1733 Battlefield Parkway, Ft. Oglethorpe, GA 30742
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016, at Heritage Funeral Home, with Rev. Tommy Messer and Rev. Debra Dickerson officiating.
Interment will be in TennesseeGeorgia Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends from 4-8 p.m. Friday, and noon- 2 p.m. Saturday, at Heritage Funeral Home, Battlefield Parkway.
Chuck Honeycutt
ROSSVILLE — Charles T. “Chuck” Honeycutt, 55, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016, at a local hospital. Chuck was a lifelong resident of the Chattanooga and North Georgia area and was known to sit on his front porch off of North Terrace waving at traffic and enjoying the outdoors . Chuck attended Calvary Independent Baptist Church and had worked for Home Depot at Hamilton Place and was currently working as a vendor at the East Ridge Gray Barn Flea Market. He was a United States Navy Veteran serving in the 1980’s receiving several commendations including an overseas service ribbon with a Bronze Star. Chuck was an avid Tennessee Vol fan and he enjoyed collecting vintage toy figurines.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Leigh Honeycutt.
Survivors include his wife, Vickie Honeycutt; two stepchildren, Dee Dee Wilkins and Tony Croucher; father, Charles E. Honeycutt; brothers, Shane, Scott, Woody, and Steve Honeycutt; sisters, Tiffany Patterson and Jennifer Parks; and several nieces, nephews; aunts; uncles; and cousins.
Condolences may be sent to www.lane-southcrestchapel.com.
Funeral services will be held Friday, at 2 p.m. in the South Crest Chapel.
Interment will be held Monday, at 10:30 a.m. at the Chattanooga National Cemetery, with military honors.
The family will receive friends Thursday, from 4- 8 p.m. at the South Crest Chapel of Lane Funeral Home and Crematory, located at the end of Historic Missionary Ridge, Rossville.
Ashley O’Neal
GAYLESVILLE —Ashley Avery O’Neal, 27, died Feb. 8, 2016.
Survivors, husband, Jonathon O’neal; daughter, Caytlyn O’neal; sister, Amanda Avery; grandmother, Willie Mae Cooper.
Funeral, 1: 00 p. m.( EST) Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016, Mason Funeral Home.
Visitation, 6-8 p.m. (EST) Friday, Feb. 12, 2016.
Mason Funeral Home directing.
Gregory Shields
LaFAYETTE — Gregory Lynn Shields, 57, passed away Feb. 10, 2016.
Preceded in death by his biological father, Vernon Shields.
Survived by his wife of 22 years, Cheryl Shields; mother, Monita Chastain; father, Vance Chastain; daughters, Christine Lynn DeLeon, of Calhoun, Tenn., Jennifer Brooke Shields, of Cleveland, Tenn.; son, Patrick “P.J.” Jordan Shields, of LaFayette, Ga.; brothers, Derk Shields, Kelly Chastain, and Toddy Chastain, all of Cleveland, Tenn.; five grandchildren; several nieces; and nephews.
Funeral services from the Wallis Memorial Chapel Friday, Feb. 12, 2016, at 2 p. m., with Rev. Randy Avans and Eddie Jackson officiating.
Interment at the LaFayette Memory Gardens.
Family will receive friends at the funeral home Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016, from 5-8 p.m.
Arrangements by Wallis-Wilbanks Funeral Home, LaFayette.
Daniel Smith
RINGGOLD — Daniel “Danny” Roland Smith, 61, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016.
He was a lifelong resident of Ringgold and was of the Christian faith. Danny was the owner/ operator of Danny Smith Construction and was a loving husband, father, brother and grandfather, who will be greatly missed.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Roland A. and Carolyn E. Williams Smith.
Danny is survived by his loving wife, of 20 years, Janice Smith; children, Justin Smith, Heath (Nichole) Smith, Brandy Harbin, and Jamie Harbin; siblings, Diane Graves, Terry Smith, Patty Graham and Suzanne Bowen; grandchildren, Kaia, Brooklynn, Gavin, Greyson, Keilan, Madison, and Kinley; several nieces; and nephews
The funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016, at Rock Spring United Methodist Church, with Bro. David James officiating.
Burial will be private. The family will receive friends from 4-8 p.m. Friday, at the funeral home and Saturday, from 10 a.m. until the service at the church.
Arrangements by Wilson Funeral Home Wallis-Stewart Chapel, Ringgold.
Retired Assistant Fire Chief George Edward Spencer
George E. Spencer, 85, passed away Monday, Feb. 8, 2016, surrounded by his family.
Chief Spencer was a veteran of the Korean War and he was f irst principal flutist with the Air Force Band of the West. He worked his way through the ranks of the Chattanooga Fire Department after he was hired in 1955 by former Commissioner H. P. Dunlap. In 1985 he retired at the rank of Assistant Battalion Chief. “The Chief” served as district chief in all four districts on both shifts.
He held the position of deputy assistant, having been named to that position by former Chief Harry Jett. He developed a research and planning division at the request of former Commissioner Gene Roberts. He developed a fire station relocation program to provide greater efficiency. As an authority on municipal, rural and county fire protection, he had donated considerable time to helping many area volunteer fire departments. He developed the outline for proposed Hamilton County fire protection system, working with former County Judge Don Moore, and he outlined the fire protection standards for all subdivisions as a consultant for the planning commission. He also developed the protection plan for the sprawling Chattanooga Choo Choo tourist complex in downtown Chattanooga. He was instrumental in the development of the fire science program at Chattanooga State Technical Community College and served on its advisory board. Chief Spencer assisted in designing the new “firebird” for Union Carbide and helped develop the TVA Rural Fire Protection Program. He was a longtime member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs and was an honorary member of the London, England, Fire Brigade.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Billie Ann Partin Spencer; and a brother, Dale L. Spencer.
He is survived by his children, Les (Jan) Spencer, Janne (Chip) Garrett, Lynn (Jody) Casey; grandchildren, Austin Casey, Joscelyn Quarles, Sydney Spencer, Lauren Casey and Gracie Spencer; brother, Bruce Spencer; and nieces; and nephews.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday, at First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, with Dr. Courtney Kruger and former Mayor Ron Littlefield officiating. Interment will follow at 12:30 p.m., at Chattanooga National Cemetery, with Military Funeral Honors.
Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Chattanooga Fire Department
Visit www.heritagebattlefield.com to share condolences and view memorial tribute.
The family will receive friends 5- 8 p. m. Thursday, and Friday, from 10-11 a.m., at First Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
Arrangements by Heritage Funeral Home Battlefield Parkway.
Mildred Tallent
ROSSVILLE — Mildred Denton Tallent, 96, Rosspassed away on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016, in a local health care facility.
Arrangements will be announced by the South Crest Chapel of Lane Funeral Home & Crematory, at the end of historic Missionary Ridge, Rossville.
Dorothy Wheeler
RINGGOLD — Dorothy Marie Chambers Fowler Wheeler, 83, passed away Wednesday Feb. 10, 2016.
A native of Crossville, Ala. She has lived in the Ringgold area for the past 65 years and was formerly of Boaz, Ala.
Dorothy was a teacher’s aid at Ringgold First Baptist Church for over four years and was a member of the Ringgold First Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Joseph W. Fowler; parents, J. Westley and Loutelia Jarman Chambers; two sisters, Gwinell Bowling and Jean Andrews; and brother, Gerald Chambers.
Dorothy is survived by two children, Mike ( Linda) Fowler, of Ringgold, Ga., and Sherry ( Bill) Wilson, of Rossville, Ga.; two sisters, Helen Marshall, of Pensacola, Fla., and Sandy Chambers, of Dallas, Ga.; three brothers, Glen Chambers, of Trussville, AL., Tom Chambers, of Crossville, Ala., and David Chambers, of Powder Springs, Ga.; two grandchildren; four great - grandchildren; several nieces; and nephews. Graveside services will be held 1 p. m. Friday, Feb. 12, 2016, at Lakewood Memory Gardens, South.
The family will receive friends 4- 8 p. m. Thursday, and 11 a. m. to 12: 30 p. m. Friday, at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ringgold First Baptist Church Children’s Pre-K and Learning Center. Arrangements are by Wilson Funeral Home Wallis-Stewart Chapel Ringgold, Ga.
An online register book may be signed at www.wilsonfuneralhome.com.
ALABAMA
Juanita Allison
STEVENSON — Juanita Parks Allison, 89, died Feb. 9, 2016.
Visitation will be Thursday, 6-8 p.m., CST, at Rudder Funeral Home in Stevenson.
Funeral service Friday, Feb. 12, 2016, at 2 p. m., at First Baptist Church Stevenson.
Interment Stevenson City Cemetery.
www. rudderfuneral - homes.com.
Claudine Bowen
FLAT ROCK — Claudine “Bootsie” Lambert Bowen, 84, died Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016, at Erlanger Medical Center.
Funeral services are Friday, at 2 p.m., CST at Corner Stone Funeral Chapel, with Bro. Charles Smith officiating.
Burial will follow in Smith cemetery.
Family will recieve friends from 3-8 p.m. Thursday and 10 a.m. until service time on Friday.
Survivors include daughter, Dianne Kesler(James), daughter- in- law, Linda Bowen; grandchildren, David Kesler( Angie), Lamar Bowen( Lisa), Ricky Kesler( Shannon), Terry Bowen( Jade); great- grandchildren, Dewayne Kesler, Trey Bowen, Daniel Kesler, Courtney Kesler, Nick Kesler, Braden Bowen, Brinlyn Bowen, Christopher Blaisdell, Zachary Blaisdell; brother, Sherman Lambert.
Mrs. Bowen was a member of Ider Eastern Star No. 417 and Sulphur Springs Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents, John Harvey and Claudie Louise Purvis Lambert; husband, Grady Bowen; son, Marty Bowen; brothers, Lamar Lambert, John Lambert Jr., Peyton Bennett Lambert; sisters, Alline Shepard and Geraldine Smith.
Leave condolences online atwww. cornerstone funeral chapel. com