James William Clark, 14, of Decatur, died Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009, at his residence from injuries sustained in an accidental shooting.

He was born Jan. 27, 1995, in Knoxville, and was a lifelong resident of Decatur. He was preceded in death by his paternal great-grandparents, Ruth "Mamaw Dew" and Willard Overstreet; and his grandfathers, Eldin Clark and Joseph Doby Webb. He was an eighth-grade student at Meigs Middle School, where he loved his friends, played on the youth football team and looked forward to playing in high school next year. He was a member of Victory Baptist Church in Niota, was a part of the youth group there, which he loved, and was saved and baptized this past year. He was a happy and very loving young man who will stay in our hearts forever.

Survivors include his parents, Scotty and Bonnie Webb Clark of Decatur; his grandparents, Jimmy and Annette Pressley of Decatur, and Irene Webb of Philadelphia; his great-grandmothers, Sue Crabtree of Decatur, and Mammie Webb of Cleveland; two aunts and one spouse, Teresa "Aunt T.T." and Lee Whitener of Etowah, and Janie Risner of Philadelphia; two uncles and one spouse, Daniel Webb and Wayne and Tammy Webb, all of Philadelphia; cousins, Nathan Whitener and fiance, Katelyn Bivens, and Megan Whitener, all of Etowah, Lindsey and Steven Webb and Larry, Joseph and Marco Risner, all of Philadelphia; and several great-aunts, great-great-aunts, great-uncles, great-great-uncles and cousins who loved him.

Funeral services will be 8 p.m. Tuesday in the chapel of Laycock-Hobbs Funeral Home with the Rev. Chad Hester officiating. Burial will be 2 p.m. Wednesday in Mountain View Memorial Gardens.

Active pallbearers be Thomas Dunn, Zack Lowe, Dakota Lowe, Tommy Trew, Tyler Trew, Corey Schiestel, Lee Whitener, Nathan Whitener, Daniel Webb and Donnie Pressley.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the James William Clark Memorial Fund, c/o Teresa Whitener, Citizens National Bank, 1612 S. Congress Pkwy., Athens, TN 37303.

Those not able to attend may send condolences to mailto:condolences@laycock-hobbs.com