Obituaries

Lonnie Latham
Jun 29, 2018
LONNIE LATHAM, age 69 of Athens, passed away Friday, June 29, 2018 at his residence.
A native of Athens, he was raised in Sweetwater and was a son of the late Frank and Bessie King Latham. He was a hard worker and was a former employee of the Tennessee Military School, Tennessee Wesleyan College, Vestal Manufacturing, Ramada Inn, and most recently M&M...

Sandra Sledge
Jun 29, 2018
Sandra Brady Sledge, age 70 of Athens passed away on Friday, June 29, 2018, at her home. A life-long resident of McMinn County, she was a daughter of the late Ben Ermon and Nettie Mae Hicks Brady. She was a member of East Niota Baptist Church and attended Trinity United Methodist Church. She was an employee for Athens City Schools...

Henry "Buck" Ben Sneed
Jun 29, 2018
HENRY BEN "BUCK" SNEED, age 92 of Athens, Tenn. passed away Friday, June 29, 2018, in NHC Healthcare of Athens, Tenn. He was a native and lifelong resident of McMinn County, Tenn., a son of the late Benjamin Harrison and Virginia Yarber Sneed. He retired from Athens Products and was a member for over 60 years of Fairview Baptist Church....

Joseph Leon Norris
Jun 25, 2018
JOSEPH LEON NORRIS,age 85, of Athens passed away June 25, 2018 at Life Care Center of Athens. A native of Lowndes, Alabama and a resident of McMinn County for the past 60 years, he was the son of the late Thomas Weaver and Susie Marvin Norris. He was a member of First Baptst Church of Athens and was a self...

Ruby Kirk Bolden
Jun 21, 2018
RUBY KIRK BOLDEN, age 80 of Niota passed away Thursday, June 21, 2018 at Willow Acres Assisted Living.
She was born in Jonesville, Va., resident of Dayton, Ohio most of her life, and resident of Niota, Tenn. since 1975. She was a daughter of the late Guy and Mary Alice Miles Kirk. She will be greatly missed by all who...

Thomas Obra Schumpert
Jun 20, 2018
Thomas O. Schumpert, age 65 of Athens, TN passed away Wednesday, June 20, 2018 at home surrounded by his family. He was born in Orangeburg, SC but lived in Athnes with his wife of 40 years. He was a former employee of TVA and Athens Utilities. Tom loved his family, his dog Mai Ling, spending time at his cabin in...

James Lee Howard
Jun 20, 2018
JAMES "JIMMY" LEE HOWARD, age 78 of Decatur, passed away, Wednesday, June 20, 2018 at Starr Regional Medical Center-Athens. He was a native of Meigs County, Tenn., resident of McMinn County, Tenn. a son of the late Robert Franklin and Edna Inez O'Daniel Howard. He was retired from Shaw Industries and a member of Idlewild Baptist Church.
Preceded in death...

Troy Franklin Burton
Jun 18, 2018
Troy Burton, a lifelong resident of McMinn County, passed away on Monday, June 18, at his home in Riceville surrounded by loving family members. Troy was a talented musician, singer/songwriter, who traveled with family and friends throughout East Tennessee and surrounding states sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. He sang from his heart and will be remembered for his warm...
Roy Melvin Bryant
Jun 16, 2018
ROY MELVIN BRYANT, age 89 of Athens, Tenn. passed away peacefully surrounded by his family Saturday, June 16, 2018, at his residence. He was born in Sweetwater, Tenn. and was a resident of Athens, Tenn. A son of the late Browder and Ethel May Clark Bryant, he was owner and operator of Bryant's Appliance Service for 32 years and was a...

Alice Ann Matthews
Jun 10, 2018
ALICE ANN GRISHAM MATTHEWS, age 80 of Athens, Tennessee, went to her heavenly Father on Sunday, June 10, 2018 at Parkwest Medical Center in Knoxville.
She was born in Monroe County, and was a lifelong resident of McMinn County. A daughter of the late Elijah King and Ermal Venetti West Grisham. She was longtime member of Allen Memorial United Methodist...

Waylon Jax McKee
Jun 6, 2018
INFANT WAYLON JAX McKEE, the precious baby of Donnie and Rebecca Alecia Frausto McKee, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, June 6, 2018 at Erlanger East Hospital in Chattanooga.
Survivors:
Loving Parents: Donnie and Rebecca Frausto McKee of Athens
Grandparents: Tony and Modesta Frausto of Athens; Cindy Crabtree of Athens; Mark and Michelle Connor of Soddy Daisy
Great-Grandparents:...
Elizabeth (Libby) Jane Freeman
Jun 2, 2018
ELIZABETH "LIBBY" JANE FREEMAN, age 50 of Athens, passed away Saturday, June 2, 2018, in Athens, Tenn.
She was a native and lifelong resident of McMinn County, Tenn., a daughter of the late R B and Cecil Odella Hicks Rogers and a member of East Niota Baptist Church.
Preceded in death by:
Husband: Jerry Lee Freeman on Jan. 1, 2018
Sisters: Jena...

Christopher Lee Osborne
May 26, 2018
CHRISTOPHER LEE OSBORNE, age 27 of Athens, Tenn. passed away Saturday, May 26, 2018, at his residence. He was a native and lifelong resident of McMinn County.
Preceded in death by:
Maternal Grandmother: Jeanette Harris
Paternal Grandfather: Mack Osborne.
Survivors:
Father and Mother: Mike and Lisa Osborne of Athens, Tenn.,
Brother and Sister-in-law: Robert and Cheyanne Osborne of Athens,...

Carol Ruth Miller
May 26, 2018
CAROL RUTH MILLER, age 72 of Athens, Tenn. passed away Saturday, May 26, 2018, in Starr Regional Medical Center of Athens, Tenn.
She was a native and lifelong resident of McMinn County, Tenn., a daughter of the late William Franklin and Marjorie Ruth Sharits Branam. She was a member of North Athens Baptist Church.
Preceded in death by:
Husband: Clifford...
Betty Jo Bunch
May 15, 2018
Betty Jo Ward Bunch, age 83 of Athens, passed away Tuesday, May 15, 2018 at her residence.
A native and lifelong resident of McMinn County, she was the daughter of the late Chester and Ida Bell Crittenden Ward.
She was a member of Riceville Church of God and was the owner and operator of B&J Diner in Charleston.
She was...

Martha Elizabeth Plemons
May 12, 2018
MARTHA ELIZABETH PLEMONS, age 90 of Athens, passed away Saturday, May 12, 2018, in Parkwest Medical Center, Knoxville, Tenn.
A native of Meigs County and resident of Athens most of her life, she was a daughter of the late Louis Johnson and Mary Almedia West Wattenbarger. She was of the Baptist Faith.
Preceded in death by :
Her husband, Merrett...

Jonte Whitney Moses
May 12, 2018
JONTE' WHITNEY GOODWIN MOSES, age 30 of Athens, Tenn. passed away Saturday, May 12, 2018, in Starr Regional Medical Center of Athens, Tenn.
She was a native of Lancaster, Calif., resident of McMinn County, Tenn. since 1994. She was a former employee of LOL Photography, Hardee's and Subway. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Athens, Tenn.
Survivors:
Husband:...

(Helen) Christine Levenson
May 10, 2018
CHRISTINE DALTON LEVENSON, age 61 of Port Charlotte, Florida passed away, Thursday, May 10, 2018 at Bayfront Hospital, Port Charlotte, Fla..
She was born in Sweetwater, Tenn., resident of McMinn County, Tenn. for 38 years, former resident of California, a daughter of the late William and Martha Turner Dalton. She retired from Pacific Advantage Sales and Service.
Preceded in death...

Bobby Glen Johnson
Apr 27, 2018
BOBBY G. JOHNSON, age 75, of Athens, Tennessee, passed away Friday, April 27, 2018, at his residence.
He was a born in New Tazewell, Tennessee, resident of McMinn County, Tennessee most of his life, and a son of the late Hollis Glen and Nellie Mae Maddox Johnson. He was a veteran of the Vietnam Conflict.
Preceded in death by:
Brother,...

Eva Mae Brakebill
Apr 20, 2018
EVA MAE HICKS BRAKEBILL, age 85 of Niota, passed away Friday, April 20, 2018 at Woods Village Presbyterian Nursing Home in Sweetwater.
A native and life-long resident of Niota, she was a daughter of the late, James and Alice Hicks. A member of First Baptist Church Niota, and served as the choir director for 35 years of East Niota Baptist Church. ...