Obituaries
Freddie Belk
Jan 17, 2024
FREDRIC EUGENE "FREDDIE" BELK, age 53 of Athens, Tenn. passed away Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, at his residence. He was born in Sweetwater, Tenn., a lifelong resident of McMinn County and preceded in death by a Sister: Kimberly Ratledge. He was a carpenter. He was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors: Father and Step-Mother: Gene and Carole Belk of Athens, Tenn., Mother:...
Irene Russell
Jan 15, 2024
GLADYS IRENE ROUNTREE RUSSELL, age 82 entered the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, surrounded by her loving family on Monday ,January 15, 2024, at her residence. She was a native and resident most of her life of McMinn County, daughter of the late Emra Thomas "Stump" and Gladys Ditmore Rountree and is preceded in death by her...
Bruce Dodson
Jan 12, 2024
Bruce Dodson, age 66 of Riceville, passed away Friday, January 12, 2024 at Starr Regional Medical Center of Athens. He was a native and lifelong resident of McMinn County and the son of the late Sewell and Ann Clark Dodson. He was a member of Eastanallee Baptist Church, and retired from Bowater after 40 years. He was a believer in...
Doris "D. L." Brown
Jan 6, 2024
Doris "D. L."Brown, age 84 of Athens passed away Saturday, January 6, 2024 at his residence. A native and resident of MxMinn County most of his life he was a son of the late George A. and Kate Walsh Brown was preceded in death by Sister Nola Jane Lane .He was a member of Eastanallee Baptist Church and...
Frank Thomas Clark
Dec 22, 2023
FRANK THOMAS CLARK, of Riceville, Tenn. went to his heavenly home on Friday, December 22, 2023,where he was reunited with his son and Parents. He was a native and resident most of his life of McMinn County, a son of the late Narvin and Ola Mae Martin Clark and preceded in death by a son: Shawn Clark. He was a...
James David Keith Jr.
Dec 20, 2023
James " David" Keith, Jr., age 57 of Oak Ridge, passed away Wednesday, December 20, 2023 at his residence. A native and lifelong resident of Oak Ridge, he was the son of the late James David Keith, Sr.. He worked as an assistant manager for Big Ed's Pizza, and for K25 in Oak Ridge. He was preceded in death by...
Rebecca Higginbotham
Dec 17, 2023
Rebecca Higginbotham, 94, of Daytona Beach, FL, passed away on December 17, 2023 from natural causes. Rebecca was predeceased in death by Morterman Braxton Higginbotham (husband), Randy Wayne Higginbotham (son), CPT Daren Braxton Higginbotham (grandson), Freddie Cranfield (brother) and Jackie Beery (sister). Becky is survived by her sons, Dennis Higginbotham (Daytona Beach, FL), Grady Higginbotham (Peachtree Corners, GA) and...
Onis Brantley
Dec 16, 2023
Onis Brantley, a devoted resident of McMinn County, Tennessee, and unwavering believer in God, was born on October 17, 1936, and peacefully entered into the loving embrace of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on December 16, 2023.
Born to Hasting and Ovie, Onis married the love of his life, Barbara Faye Cook, on April 26, 1959, and together they...
Randy George Rogers
Dec 9, 2023
Randy George Rogers, 71, of Riceville, TN, passed away on Saturday, December 9th, 2023 in Athens with family at his side. The legend of Randy “Joe” the charismatic “cowboy lawyer” as his momma, family and friends lovingly refer to him will live on. His colleagues say “he had a kind soul and quick wit about him” and that he was...
Robert "Bob" Lee Wilson
Dec 8, 2023
Robert (Bob) L. Wilson, 79 of Athens was called to be with the Lord on Friday, December 8, 2023. He was born to Charles and Pauline (Belk) Wilson of Athens on November 15, 1944. Bob attended Zion Hill and Claxton Elementary Schools as a child and graduated from McMinn County High School in 1963. From an early age, he had a...
Sammie Kaye Swanks
Dec 8, 2023
SAMMIE KAYE SMITH SWANKS, age 78 of Ten Mile, Tenn. passed away Friday, December 8, 2023 in Erlanger East Hospital in Chattanooga, Tenn., She was a native of McMinn County, resident most of her life of Ten Mile, Tenn., a Daughter of the late Henderson Palmer and Anna Heiskell Smith and preceded in death by Grandson: Alex Bales. She was...
Helen Kyker
Dec 4, 2023
Helen Lusk Kyker, age 91 of Athens passed away, Monday, December 4th, 2023 at Dominion Assisted Living.A native of McMinn County, former resident of California and current resident of Athens she was a daughter of the late Fred M. and Grace Lee Standridge Lusk and was preceded in death by her husband Millard Kyker and a son Darrell Kyker.She was...
Susana Fiapa'i McKheean
Dec 3, 2023
In loving memory of Susana Fiapa’i McKheean, a cherished soul born on the enchanting shores of American Samoa in 1965, and departed from this world on December 3, 2023, in Tennessee. Susana, a devoted wife of 21 years to Rickey Lynn McKheean, leaves behind a legacy of love and selflessness as a dedicated mother to her daughter Brittany...
Melvin "Mel" Loy Barker
Dec 1, 2023
Melvin Loy "Mel" Barker, 81, of Athens passed away at his home on Friday, December 1, 2023. He was a lifelong resident of McMinn County. Mel was born on May 21, 1942. He was preceded in death by his parents John Ulysses and Delores Williams Barker, his mother-in-law Helen Murphree, and his daughter Natalie Barker Ramey.Mel was a graduate of...
George R. Howard
Nov 28, 2023
GEORGE R. HOWARD, age 80 of Sweetwater, Tenn. passed away Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023 at his residence. He was a native of Ark. , resident of Monroe County since 1969 , son of the late George and Inez Maples Howard and preceded in death by Brothers: Frank J. Howard , Ed Howard, Charlie Howard, Sister: Violet Moore. He was a...
Teddy Kevan Graves
Nov 25, 2023
TEDDY KEVAN GRAVES, age 69 of Athens, Tenn. passed away Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023 in Sweetwater Hospital. He was a native of Meigs County, Tenn., resident of McMinn County most of his life and a son of the late Paul and Faye Graves and preceded in death by Son: Kevin Edward Graves. He retired from Athens Products and worked for...
Vera Virginia Bunch
Nov 17, 2023
Vera Virginia Davis Bunch, age 88, of Decatur has crossed over to the promise land to be with our Lord and Savior on November 17, 2023. Vera loved her family and was a long time member of Union Grove Baptist Church. She was loved by so many. She was preceded in death by her husband James Kenneth Bunch (March 11,...
Billie Ruth Dilbeck
Oct 30, 2023
BILLIE RUTH HICKS DILBECK, age 81 of Niota, Tenn. passed away Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, at her residence surrounded by family and friends. She was a native and lifelong resident of McMinn County, Tenn., a daughter of the late Henry James (H. J.) and Viola Carroll Hicks and preceded inn death by Daughter: Karen Rene Dilbeck, Sister: Donzella Underwood, Grandson:...
Melanie A Bradley
Oct 28, 2023
Melanie Antoinette Bradley 54,of the Lanetown Community, Niota, Tennessee,passed away Saturday October 28th, at The University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, Tennessee, surrounded by her loved ones.She was full of life, and loved her boys, her sports, her jewelry, fossil watches, tennis shoes and her family. She was a LeBron James hater #1.She was the last surviving member...
Mary Louise Wattenbarger
Oct 27, 2023
Mary Louise McCulloch Wattenbarger, 83, was born May 7, 1940. She passed away peacefully on October 27th, 2023 at Dominion Senior Living Center of Athens with her daughter and son in law by her side. Louise was proceeded in death by her parents Bill and Ethel McCulloch and her loving husband of 59 years at the time of his death,...
