Dr. Billy Joe Naylor, 90, passed away Jan. 18, 2025 at his home in Henderson.
Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. Jan. 25 at Estes Church of Christ with Mike Cravens, Mark Blackwelder and Doug Burleson officiating.
Burial will follow with Billy Smith officiating at Old Friendship Cemetery with military honors. The family will receive friends at Estes Church of Christ from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. service time Saturday.
He was born and reared in Chester County in the Old Friendship Community, the son of the late Ferry Everett and Vera Irene Woodward Naylor. He graduated from Chester County High School in 1952. He received an Associates of the Arts degree from Freed-Hardeman College in 1954.
He was then drafted to the US Army in Aug. 1954 and served for two years. He served in Germany and was drum major for the Drum and Bugle Corps. He was an honor graduate of the 7th Army NCO Academy, Munich, Germany.
He married Barbara Colwell in 1957 in Bentonville, Ark. They made their home in Memphis where he attended Memphis State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master’s of the Arts degree in Mathematics and Education. They moved to West Memphis in 1960 where he served as Principal in the West Memphis School District for five years. In 1965, they moved to Springdale, Ark., where he attended the University of Arkansas and earned a Doctorate of Education degree in Education Administration.
He and his family moved back to Henderson in 1966 where he began working with Freed-Hardeman College.
He was a dedicated member of their faculty for 40 years. He served as Chair of the Department of Education and Psychology, Dean of Instruction, Vice-President of Academic Affairs and Vice-President for Administration. He assisted in developing the Prospectus for Transition for Baccalaureate degrees to Master’s Degrees. He retired from Freed-Hardeman in 2006. While at Freed-Hardeman, he also served for 15 years as an Adjunct Professor for The University of Memphis as a Professor of Educational Research and Statistics. The Tennessee Legislator issued a Proclamation for his role in education and community service. He served as an educational director for the Missouri Street Church of Christ in West Memphis from 1960 to 1965, and for the Springdale Church of Christ from 1965 to 1966.
He served as Educational Director at Estes Church of Christ for two years. He also served as a Consultant for various churches of Christ in curriculum development for Bible school material. In 1968, he began serving as minister for the Estes Church of Christ for a total of six years. He then served as Minister at Bethel Springs, Finger and Christian Chapel near Lexington. He returned to Estes and served as an elder for many years. He conducted over 550 funerals in the area. While teaching at Freed-Hardeman, he taught Tennessee History where he became interested in the history of Finger and the surrounding areas. He collaborated with John Talbott in writing and publishing a book entitled, “Finger Prints.”
He is survived by his wife, Barbara Lucille Colwell Naylor; two daughters, Dana Michelle (Mark) Naylor Harville of Medina and Taryn Danette (Matt) Naylor Bolton of Cookeville; four grandchildren, Aaron Harville, Audrian Harville, Mariel Swann and Ashlyn (Jackson) Petty; two great-grandchildren, Summit and Rose Petty; and one sister, Florene O’Rear.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Ferry Everett, and Vera Irene Naylor; three brothers, Dewayne, James and Everett “Junior” Naylor; and one sister, Lavelle Mayo.
Mary Joyce Murley Stewart, 96, of Henderson passed away Jan. 18, 2025, at Henderson Health and Rehab.
Funeral services will be noon Saturday, Jan. 25, at Shackelford Funeral Directors – East Main Chapel. Burial will follow at Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends at East Main from 10 a.m. until noon service time Saturday, Jan. 25.
She was born in Chester County in the Chickasaw area, the daughter of the late W.H. and Sudie King Murley.
She graduated from Chester County High School in the late 40’s. She moved to Memphis and worked for Kimberly Clarke, later moving to the Deanburg community in the early 70’s.
She devoted over 60 years caring for her daughter, Melinda, who was home bound. She married Dee Stewart in the late 80’s, and they made their home in Deanburg. She loved working in flowers and was a very devoted member of Bethel Baptist Church. She loved being around her family, especially for holiday meals.
She is survived by two brothers, Cecil B. Murley and Rickey (Celia) Murley, both of Henderson, and a sister, Jane (Earl) Hayes of Lexington.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; daughter, Melinda Wagner; a brother, Charles E. Murley; and two sisters, Fay Patterson and Freddie Mae Smith.
Jaelyn Wayne Adkisson, 1 day, of Lexington passed away Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at Jackson Madison County General Hospital.
Funeral services will be 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, at Next Level Church at 835 US 45 North with Nick Oshields officiating.
The family will receive friends at the Church from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. service time.
He was born Jan. 14, 2025, the son of Julius Aaron Adkisson and Katelyn Luann Morris. He was eight pounds and 13 ounces, and he was 21 inches long with lots of hair.
He is survived by his parents; a sister, Addilynn Adkisson; grandparents, Penny Adkisson and Jason and Amber Adkisson, Dustin and Tiffany Morris and Courtnie Fox; many great-grandparents and great-great grandparents; and many uncles, aunts and cousins.
Clara Joyce Spencer Morris, 83, of Jacks Creek passed away Jan. 18, 2025 at Henderson Health & Rehabilitation Center. Funeral services were 11 a.m. Wednesday at Shackelford Funeral Directors – East Main Chapel. Burial followed at Milledgeville Cemetery. The family received friends at East Main from 10-11 a.m. service time on Wednesday.
She was born Sept. 20, 1941 in Chester County, the Needmore Road Community, the daughter of the late Elmer ‘Bud’ and Wanda May Smith Spencer. She attended schools in Chester County. She married Jerry Wayne Morris in 1962. They made their home in Greenville, Miss. They moved back to Chester County in 1978.
She enjoyed being a homemaker and mother. She always had a large garden and enjoyed feeding the goats and chickens. She collected Tiffany Lamps and Waterford Crystal. She was a Christian.
She is survived by her husband, Jerry Wayne Morris; a son, Kevin Wayne Morris of Jacks Creek; one daughter, Annette Denton of Jacks Creek; and two sisters, Patricia Montgomery of Henderson and Carolyn Wright of Enville.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Barbara Crowe; and one brother, James Spencer.
Glen Dorsey Keller, 85, died Jan. 11, 2025 at his home in Henderson. A Come and Go Celebration of Life Service is planned from 1-4 p.m. on Jan. 25 at the Montezuma Community Center.
He was born July 8, 1939 in Mishawaka, Ind., son of the late John Keller and the late Aleen Olive Siders Keller Szlanfucht.
He grew up in South Bend, Ind. He married Mildred Proud on June 27, 1964, and they spent 60 years together living in Indiana, Galien, Mich., Jackson and Henderson.
He worked for Bendix in Jackson for about 20 years and then for Chester County Solid Waste at the Cave Springs location for another 20 years, retiring in 2021.
He enjoyed bowling, fishing, hunting and woodworking.
He is survived by his wife Mildred Keller; a daughter, April Webb of Henderson; one son, Christopher Allen Keller of Jackson; a brother, Ronnie Szlanfucht of Florida; two grandchildren, Caleb Hudson and Aimee Moore; and six great-grandchildren Daniel, Christopher, Jake and Vanessa Hudson and Skyler and Robert Joseph Moore, III.
He was preceded in death by eight brothers, Carl, Stanley, Harold, and Frank Szlanfucht, John, Tom, Vick and Wally Keller; and two sisters, Donna and Millie Keller.
Linda Lou Vinson Morris, 78, of Jackson passed away Jan. 15, 2025, at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital.
Funeral services were Sunday, Jan. 19, at Shackelford Funeral Directors – Crook Avenue with Anthony Goodman officiating. Burial followed at Cabo Cemetery.
The family received friends at Crook Avenue from 5-8 p.m. on Saturday and from noon-2 p.m. on Sunday.
She was born Dec. 15, 1946.
