Tony Hysmith named Chamber’s Outstanding Citizen

Some of his peers and friends had this to say about him.
He is an inspiration to everyone in the community. He is always willing to serve in any capacity. He is always a leader, he always leads by example. He is a kind caring thoughtful ambitious leader. He is a kind friend truly an inspiration to others. He helps other see things more positive. He is a person that thinks things through before he gives his opinion. He is someone who you can confide in and not have to worry about it being repeated or becoming gossip. He treats all who he comes in contact with dignity and respect regardless of their standing in the community.
“I have always known him to be someone who is honest, trustworthy, and kind and always doing what is best for Chester County,” Chamber Board of Director Johny Farris said.
He has been continually been involved with the Chamber of Commerce and the community for 40 years or more. He has volunteered and been involved with the BBQ Festival since the beginning when it was a Junior JC project. He has been instrumental in putting on the annual Christmas Parade for Henderson and Chester County since the Chamber of Commerce started sponsoring the event over 40 years ago. He volunteers for the annual Hee Haw Hootenanny. In addition to being an active Chamber Member and past Chamber President serving in that capacity in 1986; he serves on the Industrial Development Board working to increase job opportunities for the citizens of Henderson and Chester County.
He is a leader in his Church serving as an Elder at the Estes Church of Christ; he has led several mission teams to Haiti, after the 2010 devastating earthquakes he along the other Elders of the Estes Church worked with the Estes Mission Teams to feed thousands of people after that catastrophic event.
He came to Chester County in 1976 to attend Freed-Hardeman College and began what has become a long outstanding 44 year career with Casey Funeral Home what we know now as Shackelford Funeral Directors of Henderson. While in that position he has touched many lives in this community with his comforting words of kindness and respect at the most difficult times in their lives. He is a past president of the Tennessee Funeral Directors Association serving in 2005-2006. He received the Freed- Hardeman Alumni Service to Business Award in 1993.
He met his wife, the former Becky Edwards, while attending Freed-Hardeman.
They have two sons, Ross of Atlanta, Ga., and Ryan and his wife Abby of Henderson along with their children: Brody, Wyatt, Nolan, Shepard, and McCoy.