David Thomas – Sept. 15, 1935 – April 11, 2024
John David Thomas, 88, passed away April 11, 2024.
Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 14, at Shackelford Funeral Home – Casey Chapel with Dr. Milton Sewell and Dr. Billy Smith officiating. Burial followed in Chester County Memory Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Reba Thomas Endowment Fund at Freed-Hardeman University.
He was born Sept. 15, 1935, in Akron, Ohio, and grew up in Akron, Ohio, and Pottsville, Ky., the son of the late George Christopher and Mattie Keesee Jones Thomas.
He went to school in Lowes, Ky., and graduated from Mayfield High School in 1953, while working at a local radio station. He preached various places throughout his life beginning as a teenager. He graduated from David Lipscomb College in 1957 with a Bachelor’s degree in speech and minors in Greek and Bible. He preached in Lowes, Ky., before going to the University of Florida at Gainesville to earn his Master’s degree while teaching speech and coaching debate.
He joined the faculty of Freed-Hardeman in 1959 and later received a PhD from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in communication. He married Reba Tucker in 1961. They had three daughters, Linda, Laura, and Lisa. He was a teacher and academic administrator at Freed-Hardeman from 1959 until 2000. Reba Tucker Thomas passed away in November 2000.
He had been a member of the Henderson Church of Christ since 1959 and had served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher. He was very involved in the missions committee and made 18 mission trips to Russia. He also served as liaison for Russian education at Freed-Hardeman, coordinating exchange programs with universities in Russia (and later China). He married Sherry Sellers McCaskill in December 2002. They made their home in Henderson and continued to make mission trips to Russia.
He served Freed-Hardeman as chief academic officer focusing on academic standards and technology and other roles even in retirement. He guided the school from junior college to university. He served as President, Chaplin and District Governor of the Henderson Civitan Club. In 2021, he moved to Stones River Manor in Murfreesboro.
He is survived by his wife, Sherry Sellers McCaskill Thomas of Henderson; three daughters, Linda Williams of Murfreesboro, Laura (Bryan) Hall of Cane Ridge, and Lisa (Chadd) Moore of Nashville; two stepsons, Richard (Lorie) McCaskill of Jackson and John (Michelle) McCaskill of Henderson; two step-daughters, Kim (David) Mann of Bradford and Camille (Doug) Hunter of Titusville, Fla.; five grandchildren, Josh Hall, Jennifer (Alex) Mojaverian, Franklin Williams, Michael Williams and Anzel Moore; nine step-grandchildren, Brett McCaskill, Blake (Maria) McCaskill, Chelsea (Nathan) Foster, Eli (Jenna) Mann, Jesse McCaskill, Alex McCaskill, Andrew McCaskill, Grant Hunter and Jamie Hunter; four great-grandchildren, Anna, Morgan and Emri Hall and Maxine Mojaverian; and five step-great-grandchildren, Kaleb, Parker and Jakob McCaskill Riley and Rhett Foster.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Sandra Leonard of Hickory, Ky.
CHARLES SMITH – Oct. 16, 1947 – April 12, 2024
Charles Waymon Smith, 76, of Henderson died Friday evening, April 12, 2024 at AHC McNairy County Health Care Center in Selmer. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Thursday, April 18, at Shackelford Funeral Directors – Crook Avenue Chapel with Bro. Clint Burkhead and Bro. Glen Peanut Scott officiating. Burial will follow in Pisgah Cemetery. The family received friends at Crook Avenue Chapel from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, April 17.
He was born in Henderson on Oct. 16, 1947, son of the late Jerry Paul and Phyllis Inetha Conder Smith.
He married Bonnie Parrish prior to enlisting in the Tennessee Army National Guard in 1965. He served in the Guard for six years. Bonnie preceded him in death in 2014. He worked for Ruskin in Jackson retiring in 2016.
He married Joanna Azure on Dec. 6, 2014. They attended Luray Baptist Church.
He loved the outdoors, enjoyed fishing and hunting all manner of wild game but especially coon hunting. He was also a fan of UT Volunteers football. He enjoyed country music and was also an accomplished dancer. He enjoyed ballroom dancing and line dancing. He was a tinkerer, always fixing things.
He is survived by his wife Joanna Smith of Henderson; a son Terry (Diana) Smith of Henderson; three stepsons, Joshua (Whitley Rose) Barnes and Joseph (Chelsey) Barnes both of Luray and Dakota (Kristen) Barnes of Lexington; 12 grandchildren, Nick (Heather) Hearn, Drew (Daela) Smith, Shannon (Tyler) McCaskill, Jackson Hatchett, Hadley, Oakley, Bearett, Kinley, Lyla and Ellie Barnes, and Hallie and Hudson Holder; eight great-grandchildren; one brother, Freddy Smith of Jackson; and two sisters, Mary Howell and Betty Stout both of Henderson.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife; brothers, Frankie and Don Smith; sister, Paulette Whitman; and a daughter, Cherry Ann Smith.
Marvin Sykes – Jan. 15, 1941 – April 5, 2024
Mr. Marvin Lee Sykes, 83, of Henderson passed away April 5, 2024, at his home.
Memorial services will be 3 p.m. Saturday, April 20, at Cave Springs Baptist Church. The family will receive friends at the church from 2-3 p.m. service time Saturday.
He was born in Dover, Jan. 15, 1941, son of the late Grady Lee and Mary Elizabeth Lancaster Sykes. He grew up in Dover and attended Stewart County High School.
As an adult he chose to be an over the road truck driver and worked many years for Copen Associates, retiring in 1992.
He married Virginia Riley Aug. 15, 1974, and they made their home in Henderson. Virginia preceded him in death in 1989. He was a member of Palestine Baptist Church.
He enjoyed fishing, gardening and spending time with his many dear friends, even many younger friends that called him “grandpa.”
He is survived by two daughters, Regina (fiancé, Randal Kirby) Hollowell Priddy of Pinson and Diann (Mike) Young of Pinson; three brothers, Eddie (Linda Sue Phillips) Sykes, Sidney (Anna Butts) Sykes and Randall Sykes all of Dover; sister, Mary Ruth Bath of Hoover, Ala.; three grandchildren, Emily Donaldson, Ashley (Scotty) Thomas and Chasity Hornburger; three great-grandchildren, Lauren Donaldson, Hayden Donaldson and Aiden Cupples; and niece and caregiver, Karen (Brian) Bath Grimord of Cookeville.
He was preceded in death by his parents and wife.
Darry Jones – June 4, 1963 – April 8, 2024
Darry Kensid Jones passed away at Jackson General Hospital after a short illness on April 8, 2024.
Funeral services were 1 p.m. Friday, April 12, at Shackelford Funeral Directors-Crook Avenue, with Bro. Frank Morimanno officiating.
Burial followed at Mifflin Baptist Church. The family received friends from 5-7 p.m. Thursday and from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday.
He was born in Springfield, Ore., on June 4, 1963, the son of the late Albert Jay and Nettie Page Jones.
He grew up in Chester County and attended Chester County schools before studying auto body repair at Jackson Vocational School. He was a member of Mifflin Baptist Church.
He was a talented musician, playing guitar, violin, piano, dulcimer and other instruments beautifully.
He was an avid gardener. He grew an extensive garden each year that included stunning tomatoes and peppers.
He is survived by two brothers, Albert Dean (Annette) Jones and Rick (Susan) Jones; four sisters, Dale Kirby, Vicki (Dr. Irvin Rainey, Jr) Zamata-Rainey, Dawn (Daniel) Nance and Jennifer (Brian) Cronin; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, the late Albert Jay and Nettie Page Jones, and a brother-in-law, John Kirby.
JEANNETTA RILEY – June 2, 1943 – April 11, 2024
Jeannetta Ann Mitchell Plunk Riley, 80, of Henderson passed away April 11, 2024, at Lexington Premier in Lexington, Ky. Funeral services were 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 17, at Shackelford Funeral Directors – Crook Avenue with Bro. Johnny Connor officiating. Burial followed at Mt. Gilead Cemetery, Bethel Springs. The family received friends at Crook Avenue from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. service time on Wednesday.
She was born June 2, 1943.
