Gallant Funeral Home
Obituaries
September 2005
Mrs. Bessie Simmons
Funeral services for Mrs. Bessie Simmons, age 88, of Fayetteville, TN, who passed away Thursday, September 8, 2005 in Lincoln Medical Center, will be conducted Saturday, September 10, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. in the chapel of the Gallant Funeral Home with Rev. Kirk Smith officiating. Burial will follow in Riverview Memorial Gardens. Mrs. Simmons was the daughter of the late Jessie Crouch and the late Lela Smith Crouch, a long time seamstress and supervisor at Serbin Fashions and owner/operator of 3 Fayetteville restaurants: Bessie B's, Cook Rite and the original founder of the Bar-B-Que Shack before retiring. Along with her parents, Mrs. Simmons was preceded in death by her husband: Fonnie Raymond Simmons, Sr. and brother: R.L. Crouch of Lincoln Park, MI. Survivors include 1 daughter: Sandra Simmons Lincoln of Fayetteville, TN; 1 son: Fonnie 'Ray' Simmons, Jr. & wife, Diane of Fayetteville, TN; 2 grandsons: Tracy Simmons & wife, Teresa, Mark Simmons & wife, Sue; 5 great grandchildren: Lance, Matt, Freddie, Hannah & Leslie; 3 sisters: Katie Honey of Ripley, TN, Sadie Sullivan of Fayetteville, TN, Ruth Ward & husband, Forrest of Lewisburg, TN; 1 brother: Earl Crouch & wife, Geneva of Elora, TN and several nieces and nephews. Visitation will be Friday evening from 5 until 9 p.m. at the Gallant Funeral Home.
Mr. Grady G. Clark
Funeral services for Mr. Grady G. Clark, age 79, of Fayetteville, TN, who passed away Wednesday, September 14, 2005 in Lincoln Medical Center, will be conducted Sunday, September 18, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of the Gallant Funeral Home with Jeff Benap officiating. Burial will follow in Mt. Carmel Cemetery. Mr. Clark was a native of Princeton, AL, son of the late Billow & Ethel Hambrick Clark. He was a Quality Control inspector for General Motors for 30 years, a WWII Navy veteran, a member of the South Fayetteville Church of Christ and loved to deer hunt. Along with his parents, Mr. Clark was preceded in death by 1 daughter: Donna A. Worden. Survivors include his wife: Juanita P. Clark of Park City, TN; 3 daughters: Deborah Moore of Cleveland, OH, Danetta Smith of Athens, AL, Doreena Cagle of Park City, TN; 3 sons: Dennis Clark, David Clark, Darrell Clark all of Cleveland, OH; 2 sisters: Marie Stone of S. Huntsville, AL, Francis Smith of Huntsville, AL; 7 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. Visitation with the family will be Saturday evening from 5 until 8 p.m. at the Gallant Funeral Home.
Mr. William 'Bill' Rice
Funeral services for Mr. William 'Bill' Rice, age 73, of Elora, TN, who passed away Thursday, September 15, 2005 in Lincoln Skill Care, will be conducted Saturday, September 17, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of the Gallant Funeral Home with Rev. Kirk Smith officiating. Burial will follow in Riverview Memorial Gardens with full military honors. Mr. Rice was a native of Alabama, son of the late Willie Lee & Blanche Fowler Rice, a machinist, a veteran of the Vietnam & Korean wars and retired from the Air Force after 20 years service and was a member of the Elora Baptist Church. Survivors include 1 daughter: Robin & Michael Jones of Wilmington, NC; 2 sons: Bill & Donna Reavis of Flintville, TN, Nick Reavis of Wilmington, NC; 2 granddaughters: Miranda Manderson, Rikki Stubblefield; 1 great granddaughter: Riley Manderson; 3 sisters: Mary Dickey of Fayetteville, TN, Sarah Pitts & Jane Baker both of Huntsville, AL; 2 brothers: Charles Rice of Fayetteville, TN, Tom Rice of Nashville, TN. Visitation with the family will be Friday evening from 5 until 8 p.m. at the Gallant Funeral Home.
Mr. Calvin C. Griffin
Funeral services for Mr. Calvin C. Griffin, age 80, of Flintville, TN, who passed away Friday, September 16, 2005 in St. Thomas Hospital, will be conducted Sunday, September 18, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. in the chapel of the Gallant Funeral Home with Rev. John Ben Neal officiating. Burial will follow in Shady Grove Cemetery. Mr. Griffin was a native of Lincoln Co., TN, son of the late Irvin Griffin & the late Gertie Poteet Griffin, a farmer, a WWII Army veteran and a member of the Oak Grove Baptist Church. Along with his parents, Mr. Griffin is preceded in death by 1 daughter: Celia Griffin; 3 brothers: Udo Griffin, Diemer Griffin, Alton Griffin & 1 sister: Eva Sullenger. Survivors include his wife: Opal Clark Griffin of Flintville, TN; 2 sisters: Helen Woodruff of Fayetteville, TN, Nina Sullenger of Lynchburg, TN; 1 brother: Theo Griffin of Tucson, AZ and several nieces and nephews. Visitation with the family will be held Saturday evening from 5 until 8 p.m. at the Gallant Funeral Home.
Mr. David Britton
Funeral services for Mr. David Britton, age 80, of Elora, TN, who passed away Sunday, September 18, 2005 at his residence, will be conducted Wednesday, September 21, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of the Gallant Funeral Home with Elder Loyd Simmons & Elder Harless Hale officiating. Burial will follow in Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Plevna, AL. Mr. Britton was a native of Madison Co., AL, son of the late Sam D. & Virgie Ann Fanning Britton, a farmer and a member of the Primitive Baptist Church. Along with his parents, Mr. Britton was preceded in death by 1 son: Bobby Britton, 1 brother: Jim Britton, & 1 sister: Nan Posey. Survivors include his wife: Alvena Britton of Elora, TN; 1 son: David Glen Britton of Fayetteville, TN; 5 daughters: Nancy Pinton of Huntsville, AL, Angie Fegyo of Flintville, TN, Teresa Howell of Fayetteville, TN, Kathy Saint, Betty Ann Lamb both of Elora, TN; 4 brothers: Robert Britton of Hazel Green, AL, Joseph Britton of Kelso, TN, Rufus Britton of Paint Rock Valley, AL, Charlie Britton of Hazel Green, AL; 4 sisters: Annie Sue Corie of Hazel Green, AL, Rachel Rutledge of Flintville, TN, Vera Murdock, Sara Coble both of Fayetteville, TN; 9 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. Visitation with the family will be Tuesday evening from 5 until 8 p.m. at the Gallant Funeral Home.
Mr. Willie H. George
Funeral services for Mr. Willie H. George, age 76, of Fayetteville, TN, who passed away Sunday, September 25, 2005 in Huntsville Hospital, will be conducted Wednesday, September 28, 2005 at 1:00 p.m. in the chapel of the Gallant Funeral Home with Bill Ivey officiating. Burial will follow in Gum Springs Cemetery. Mr. George was a native of Lincoln Co., son of the late James Madison & Bessie Gattis George, a farmer, retired from Genesco & the Lee Company, a member of the Camargo Church of Christ and was married to Tennie Aleen Eslick George for 57 years. Along with his parents, Mr. George was preceded in death by 1 son: Donald Herman George in 1980 and 1 brother: Joe D. George in 1995. Survivors include his wife: Tennie Aleen George of Fayetteville, TN; 1 daughter: Cristy Conner & husband: Johnny Conner, Sr.; 2 grandsons: Aaron Madison Jones, Johnny Lee 'J.J.' Connor, Jr.; sister: Anita Anderson of Mulberry, TN; brother: J.L. George of Fayetteville, TN and several nieces and nephews. Visitation with the family will be Tuesday evening from 5 until 8 p.m. at the Gallant Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Gum Springs Cemetery Fund, C/O Mrs. Jewell Sisk, 163 Gum Springs Rd., Flintville, TN 37335.
Mr. Lester W. Mitchell
Funeral services for Mr. Lester W. Mitchell, age 76, of Fayetteville, TN, who passed away Wednesday, September 28, 2005 in Lincoln Medical Center, will be conducted Friday, September 30, 2005 at 1:00 p.m. in the chapel of the Gallant Funeral Home with Pastor Philip Warren officiating. Burial will follow in Wright's Cemetery. Mr. Mitchell was a native of Lincoln Co., TN, son of the late Tullie George Mitchell & the late Lee Eleanor Gatlin Mitchell, a member of the First Assembly of God, Woodmen of the World, set up machines for Amana and would have been married 56 years on December 16, 2005 to Lavada Mitchell. Along with his parents, Mr. Mitchell was preceded in death by 1 son: Fred Douglas Mitchell; 2 grandsons: Patrick & Mitch Bolton & 1 brother: Joe D. Mitchell. Survivors include his wife: Lavada Mitchell of Fayetteville, TN; 2 daughters: Debra A. & Everett Bolton of Dunnellon, FL, Carla & Kenneth Kelley of Fayetteville, TN; son: Mike & Donna Mitchell of Fayetteville, TN; sister: Patty Joyce Andrews of Fayetteville, TN; 6 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. Visitation with the family will be Thursday evening from 5 until 8 p.m. at the Gallant Funeral Home.
Mr. William 'Bill' D. Leonard
Funeral services for Mr. William 'Bill' D. Leonard, age 75, of Fayetteville, TN, who passed away Thursday, September 29, 2005 in Lincoln Skill Care Center, will be conducted Sunday, October 2, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of the Gallant Funeral Home with Pete Crim officiating. Burial will follow in Stewart Cemetery. Mr. Leonard was a native of Chicago, IL, son of the late Leland & Edith Degan Leonard, was a retired insurance agent, served in the National Guard and was very involved with bluegrass music. He is survived by his wife: Peggy Womack Leonard of Fayetteville, TN; 2 daughters: Nancy Koenig of Darien, IL, Martha Leahy of Milwaukee, WI; 2 sons: Billy Leonard of Darien, IL & Bruce Leonard of Chicago, IL; 1 step-daughter: Brooke Groszek of New Leonex, IL; 2 step-sons: Tommy Krygsheld of Lewisburg, TN & Jeff Adams of Fayetteville, TN; 2 sisters: Nancy Reardon of Champayne, IL and Mary Harsted of Chicago, IL; 5 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. Visitation with the family will be held Saturday evening from 5 until 8 p.m. at the Gallant Funeral Home.
Mrs. Angie Thornton Neal
Funeral services for Mrs. Angie Thornton Neal, age 38, of Fayetteville, TN, who passed away Friday, September 30, 2005 at her residence, will be conducted Monday, October 3, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of the Gallant Funeral Home with Rev. Bob Corley, Rev. Marvin Bunde and Rev. Van Johnson officiating. Burial will follow in Riverview Memorial Gardens. Mrs. Neal was a native of Lincoln Co., TN, daughter of Maxine Gowan Thornton and the late Richard 'Dick' Thornton, was a member of the First Baptist Church, and was an RN at Lincoln Medical Center. Along with her father, Mrs. Neal was preceded in death by her grandparents: Hiram Maxie & Mary Margaret Mansfield Gowan and R.D. & Mamie Lane Thornton. Survivors include her husband: Keith Neal of Fayetteville, TN; 2 daughters: Hailey Faith Neal & Amber Brianna Grace Neal; 3 sons: Jessie Brenn Allen, Noah Robert Allen, Joshua Blake Neal; mother: Maxine Gowan Thornton; 3 sisters: Vicky Lewis, Melinda Williams and Tammy Van Neste; Mother-In-Law: Shirley & Jerry Albert; several nieces and nephews and several great nieces and nephews. Visitation with the family will be held Sunday evening from 5 until 8 p.m. at the Gallant Funeral Home.