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ONLINE EDITION                      OBITUARIES-January 20, 2000                          ã 2000
Thelma Austin
Herschel "Red" Copas, Jr.
Reed Deckard
Lovie Louie Hooten
Alma Jones
Barry Glenn Meador
William Buford McLerran
William Paul McMillian
Olene McPherson
Ruth Powell
Elzie Rich
Charlie Lee Richardson
Ruel Calvin Williams

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William Buford McLerran, 79, of 1001 Mill Rd., Moss, Tenn., died Jan. 11, 2000, at the St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville, Tenn. He was a retired truck driver and a member of the Moss Church of
Christ. Born at Moss on March 21, 1920, he was a son of the late Herman and Ollie May (Head) McLerran, and the husband of Annie Mary (Kendall) McLerran,  who   survives. They were married Nov. 27, 1952. Other than his wife, survivors include a son, Tim McLerran, Red  Boiling Springs, Tenn; a daughter, Sandra Gentry, Hermitage Springs, Tenn.;  three  brothers — Bedford McLerran, Red Boiling Springs; Lester McLerran, Moss; and  Fred McLerran, Hopkinsville; two sisters, Emma Kendall and Flora  Anderson,  both of Moss; and two grandchildren, Timothy and Elissa McLerran. A brother, Raymond McLerran, preceded him in death. Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. on Jan. 14, at the Upton Funeral
Home  Chapel in Celina, Tenn., with Dennis Miller officiating. Burial was at the  Moss Cemetery.
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Lovie Louie Hooten, 76, of 4 Grey Court, Celina, Tenn., died Jan. 10,  2000, at the Cumberland River Hospital in Celina. She was a member of the Church of Christ.Born at Gainesboro, Tenn. on Feb. 16, 1923, she was a daughter of the  late  Wilburn and Fannie (Scott) Crabtree, and the wife of the late Lee  Hooten.  They were married Jan. 11, 1940. Survivors include eight sons — Herman Hooten, Gainesboro; Roger, Eddie, Jaykieth and Mavrick Hooten, all of Celina; Danny Hooten, Livingston, Tenn.; Steve Hooten, Nashville, Tenn.; and Frankie Neal, Lebanon, Tenn.; six daughters — Toosie Cherry, Livingston; and Judy Clark, Winnie Parsons, Dale Short, Roxie Calvert and Liz Carter, all of Celina; 31 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. on Jan. 13, at the Upton Funeral Home in Celina, with Ronnie Parsons and Chris Rich officiating. Burial was at the Lynn Cemetery in Gainesboro.
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Ruth Powell, 69, of 207 N. Sixth St., Scottsville, died Jan. 10,
2000, at the Greenview Regional Hospital in Bowling Green. She was a nurses’ aid for Opal West’s Home for the Aged and a member of  the Fountain Run First Baptist Church. Born in Monroe County, she was a daughter of the late Oscar Allen and Jennie Bell (Yokley) Powell, and the wife of the late Aaron Powell. Survivors include two sons, Joe Dell Miller, Lafayette, Tenn., and Carle  Miller, Fountain Run; five sisters — Rachel Barber, Gladys Kendell and  Virginia Gregory, all of Franklin; and Pearlie Gosnell and Ruby Johnson, both of Indiana; four grandchildren — Clint Miller, Fountain Run; William and Lisa Miller, both of Tompkinsville; and Amanda Rittenberry, Lafayette; and a great-grandson, Aaron Blake Coles, Russellville. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Jan. 13, at the Goad Funeral Home in Scottsville, with Rev. Danny Patrick officiating. Burial was at the Crescent Hill Cemetery.
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Ruel Calvin Williams, 76, of 1158 Mt. Herman Rd., Tompkinsville, died Jan. 9, 2000, at the Medical Center in Bowling Green. He was a farmer and member of the Church of Christ. Born in Washington County on Nov. 11, 1923, he was a son of the late L.R. and Arlene (Hays) Williams, and the husband of Marie (Stephens) Williams, who survives. Other than his wife, survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law,  Charlie and Janice Williams and Billy and Lisa Williams; a daughter and son-in-law, Jo-Nell and Douglas Hood; and a brother, Kenneth Bartley — all of Tompkinsville; seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. A daughter, Mary Rose Geralds, and a grandchild both preceded her in death. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. on Jan. 11, at the Yokley-Trible Funeral Home in Tompkinsville, with Bro. Gerald Watt officiating. Burial was at the White Chapel Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers were: Jim Tom and Jack Glen Hays, David White, Clay Finley, Jim Keys, Jimmy Ray Gearld, Mark Bartley and John Polston. Honorary   pallbearers were: Russell Young; Douglas Carter; Travis Hamilton; Donald Robinson; Terrell McPherson; Benny Roberson; Charlie Kirkpatrick; Carol Moore; Paul Birge; Joey Spear; David, Jamie and Dr. Joe Hays; Jack Parker  and Dr. James E. Carter; Arvie Goad; Dennis Page; Tommy Wilburn; Billy  Howard White; L.R. Richardson; Marshall Bacon; and Ronald Bailey.
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Barry Glenn Meador, 36, Fountain Run, died Jan. 12, 2000, on Cemetery St., Tompkinsville. He was a disabled construction worker and a member of the Akersville Baptist Church. Born in Macon County, Tenn. on Jan. 24, 1962, he is the son of Gloria Faye  Patterson Meador, Fountain Run, and the late William Irvin Meador. Survivors include two sisters, Cynthia Bratcher, Morgantown, and Kaye Nichols, Bowling Green; four nieces and a nephew. His grandparents, Edith and Stanton Meador and Bernard and Dorothy Patterson, all preceded him in death. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. on Jan. 15 at the Hughes Funeral Home Chapel in Fountain Run, with Bro. Roy Shockley and Bro. Melvin Stinson officiating. Burial was at the Akersville Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers were: Jackie, Jeff, Jessie, Jerry and David  Yokley and Keith Shaw. Honorary pallbearers were: Ronnie Whitson; Steve Moss; Lee, Brent and Kent Jenkins; Wade White; Randel Dubree; and Danny Holland.
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Thelma Austin, 84, of the Frog Pond community in Macon County, Tenn., died Jan. 12, 2000, at her home. She was an artist and had received an art degree from the Federal School of Art in Minneapolis, Minn. She also had been a member of the Liberty Missionary Baptist Church since the age of 19. Born in Macon County, she was a daughter of the late Granville Brown and Mattie Bell (West) Tucker, and the wife of Elder J.C. Austin, who survives.   They were married in 1939. Other than her husband, survivors include five daughters and three  sons-in-law — Brenda Hiett, Brownie and Carroll Barton and Bertha and Jerry Hauskins, all of Lafayette, Tenn.; Rebecca Yancey, Lascassas, Tenn.; and Carolyn and Bob Samples, Hendersonville, Tenn.; three sons and daughters-in-law — Charles and Beverly Austin, Nunnelly, Tenn.; Clarence and Jan Austin, White Bluff, Tenn.; Elder Terry and Teresa Austin, Lafayette; 16 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. A great-grandson, Cory Barlow, and an infant sister, preceded her in  death.Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Jan. 14, at the Phillip   Anderson and Son Funeral Home in Lafayette, with Elder Guthrie Thompson   officiating. Burial was at the Liberty Cemetery. Grandsons of the deceased served as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were grandsons and great-grandsons.
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Elzie Rich, 72, Tompkinsville, died Jan. 10, 2000, at the Monroe
County Medical Center. He was a retired mechanic and farmer and a member of the Mill Creek   Baptist Church. Born in Monroe County on Jan. 27, 1927, he was a son of the late   Hulet and  Ova (Grace) Rich. Survivors include a son, Roger Rich, Tompkinsville; two daughters, Betty Francis McIntyre, Tompkinsville, and JoAnn Dickman, Gainesboro, Tenn.; four brothers — Fred and Jimmie Rich, both of Tompkinsville; Porter Rich, Red Boiling Springs, Tenn.; and Willie B. Rich, Antion, Ark.; three sisters, Evie Curtis and Lillie Copass, both of Tompkinsville, and Lydia Durham, Indianapolis, Ind.; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.Four brothers — Jasper, Murphy, Frank and Walter Rich, a sister, Julia Rich, and a great-grandchild, Bonnie Lynn Bowe, all preceded him in death.Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. on Jan. 13, at the Strode Funeral Home in Tompkinsville, with Bro. Amon Martin officiating. Burial was at the Moore Cemetery in Clay County, Tenn. Serving as pallbearers were: Timmy Copass, Glen Cornwell, Bob Henry, Tommy, Bill and Jimmie Rich, Jr.
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Charlie Lee Richardson, 81, Hestand, died Jan. 10, 2000, at the
Monroe County Medical Center. He was a retired farmer and member of the Germany Church of Christ.Born in Monroe County on March 13, 1918, he was a son of the late Basil D. and Bertha (Emberton) Richardson. Survivors include a brother, L.R. “Tudor” Richardson, Hestand; a  sister, Ronella Richardson, Kokomo, Ind.; and several nieces and nephews.Two brothers, Randall and Cortland Richardson, and three sisters, Jean Corwin, Pauline Chapman and Jolena Aldridge, all preceded him in death.Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. on Jan. 12, at the Strode Funeral Home in Tompkinsville, with Gerald Watt officiating. Burial was the Bailey Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers were: Delbert Sheffield, Ned Jackson, Jimmy High, Bob Richardson, David Aldridge, Mike Chapman and Ray Oliver.
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Alma Jones, 90, of 3650 Carthage Rd., Red Boiling Springs, Tenn.,
died Jan. 13, 2000, at the Smith County Memorial Hospital in Carthage.She was a member of the Willette Church of Christ. Born in Macon County, Tenn., she was a daughter of the late Benjamin Franklin and Maggie Beatrice (Wilmore) Hill, and the wife of Genie Haze Jones, owner of Genie Jones Lumber Co., who died Oct. 31, 1959. They were married July 12, 1924. Survivors include five daughters and four sons-in-law — Betty and Durell Minchey, Goodlettsville, Tenn.; Joan and J.T. Cassetty, Mt. Juliet, Tenn.; Madeline and Hugh D. Clark, and Ellen and Jack Gulley, all of Red Boiling Springs; and Louise Huffines, Nashville, Tenn.; four sons and three daughters-in-law — William and Phyllis Jones, Old Hickory, Tenn.; Bobby  and Carolyn Jones, Paul and Josephine Jones and Kenneth Jones — all of Red Boiling Springs; a half-brother, William Hubert Hill, Nashville, Tenn.; 17 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Jan. 15, at the Phillip Anderson and Son Funeral Home Chapel in Red Boiling Springs, with Jack Honeycutt and  Gene Carter officiating. Burial was at the Jenkins Cemetery.Serving as pallbearers were: David Minchey, Kevin Cassetty, Hugh Wayne Clark, and Terry, Timmy, Michael, Paul and Mark Jones.
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Herschel “Red” Copas, Jr., 58, of 5457 Akersville Rd., Fountain Run, died Jan. 12, 2000, at the Monoe County Medical Center. Born in Monroe County on Jan. 3, 1942, he was a son of the late
Herschel  V. and Nellie Belle (Birge) Copas. Survivors include three sons, Tommy and Jerry “Jughead” Copas, both of  Tompkinsville, and Anthony Copas, Red Boiling Springs, Tenn.; three daughters, Sandra Turner, Fountain Run, and Shelia Grider and Judith Copas, both of Tompkinsville; a brother, Robert Copas, Moss, Tenn.; five sisters —Kathleen Smith, Judy Irvin and Barbara Harris, all of Tompkinsville; Francis Sherry, Bowling Green; and Patricia Howard, Akersvile; 15 grandchildren and three great-granchildren. Four brothers — Harley, Tom and Berdie Lee Copas and Roy Arterburn, and a sister, Dorothy Dugard, all preceded him in death.Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. on Jan. 15, at the Yokley-Trible Funeral Home in Tompkinsville, with Bro. Ricky Shive officiating. Burial was at the White Chapel Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers were: Jerry “Jughead” Copas, Brian “Slick” Duggan, Wendell Jones, Troy Turner, Arnold “Pig” Woods, and James Danny “J.D.” Shugart. Honorary pallbearers were: Cody Rice, Allen Grider, John Turner, Jim Bates, Omer Bryant, Jeremy W. Copas, Shawn “ToJo” Ferguson, Terrell Anderson and Jessie Smith.
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William Paul McMillin, 78, Louisville, formerly of Monroe County,
died Jan. 14, 2000, at the Norton Audubon Hospital in Louisville.
He was a retired farmer and employee of General Electric Company in Louisville, and a U.S. Army veteran of World War II.
Born in Monroe County on March 28, 1921, he was a son of the late
A.W. and Mary Belle (Bartley) McMillin, and the husband of Clarene (Moore) McMillin, who died Feb. 3, 1992. They were married Aug. 20, 1949 in Tompkinsville.Survivors include a son, William Hayden McMillin, Louisville; a daughter and son-in-law, Ella Mitchell and Roy Young, Clarksville, Ind.; three brothers, Roy and A.E. McMillin, both of Louisville, and Richard McMillin, Mt. Washington; four sisters — Ernestine Morgan, Raytown, Mo.; Ova Hollinsworth, Glasgow; Ione Hagan and Clone Ford, both of Louisville; four grandchildren — Matthew Young, Nikki Young Buchter and Jessica and Sidney McMillin; and four great-grandchildren — Eric and Ashley Buchter and Hailey and Stephen Young. One of his sisters, Olene McPherson, died two days after his death. A brother, Robert M. McMillin, and two other sisters, Pearl Gray and Bertice E. McMillin, also preceded him in death. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Jan. 16, at the Strode Funeral Home in Tompkinsville, with Bro. Amon Martin officiating. Burial was at the Bethlehem Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers were: Anthony Hollinsworth, Barry and Jimmy McMillin, and David Paul, Danny and Bobby Gray.
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Reed Deckard, 81, Louisville, died Jan. 3, 2000 at Norton Audubon
Hospital in Louisville. A Monroe County native, he was a retired self-employed carpenter and the husband of Virginia (Hume) Deckard, who survives. A member of the Providence Baptist Church, he was a Baptist minister and evangelist and a well-known gospel singer in Louisville area churches. For many years, he taught singing classes in churches in Monroe and adjoining counties. Other than his wife, survivors include two sons, James Bray, Nashville,  Tenn., and Harold Deckard, Hermitage Springs, Tenn.; two daughters, Kathryn Shaw, San Jose, Ill., and Rometta Depew, Dry Ridge; two step-daughters, Jane Hurt and Sue Page, both of Tompkinsville; a brother, Eulas Deckard, Indianola, Ill.; two sisters, Lillian Emberton, Newman, Ill., and Callie Gillenwater, Tompkinsville; five grandchildren, five  step-grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren.Funeral services were held on Thursday morning, Jan. 6, at Arch L. Heady and Son Funeral Home in Okolona. Graveside services were held at 2 p.m. the same day at Monroe County Memorial Lawn, with Bro. Stanley Holman and Bro. Samuel Jackson officiating. Serving as pallbearers were: Corey and Mitchell Page, Kenny Hurt, Kenny Kerr, Carroll Montgomery, Cary Depew, Terry, Jesse, and Bulie Deckard, Jr.
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Olene McPherson, 86, Cave Springs Rd., Tompkinsville, died Jan. 16, 2000, at the T.J. Samson Community Hospital in Glasgow. She was a member of the Lyons Chapel Church of Christ. Born in Monroe County on Dec. 30, 1913, she was a daughter of the late A.W. and Mary Belle (Bartley) McMillin, and the wife of Hughie McPherson, who survives. They were married Nov. 24, 1945 in Glasgow.Other than her husband, survivors include two daughters and a son-in-law, Wilmetta McPherson, Louisville, and Freda and Tom McMurtrey, Summer Shade; three brothers, Roy and A.E. McMillin, both of Louisville, and Richard McMillin, Mt. Washington; four sisters — Ova Hollinsworth, Glasgow; Ernestine Morgan, Raytown, Mo; and Ione Hagan and Clone Ford, both of Louisville; and two grandchildren, Brian and Jason McMurtrey.Two brothers, Robert M. and William Paul McMillin, and two sisters, Pearl Gray and Bertice E. McMillin, all preceded her in death.Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. on Jan. 18, at Strode Funeral Home in Tompkinsville, with Bro. Randall McPherson and Bro. Bill Cavender officiating. Burial was at Monroe County Memorial Lawn.
Serving as pallbearers were Glen Page, David Paul and Danny Gray,
Billy and Gary Proffitt and Barry McMillin. Honorary pallbearers were David Kirkpatrick and Brian and Jason McMurtrey.
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