Obituaries from Macon County Times

November 22, 2005

Funeral services for Robert James Butts, Jr., better known as “Bobby,” age 58 of Gallatin, were conducted at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 16, 2005 from the Chapel of Anderson & Anderson Funeral Home in Gallatin with Brother Dee Russell and Jeff Blackwell officiating. Chris Smith, Scotty Russell, Brannon Smith, Billy Woodall, Mike Smith, Dewayne Hall, and Cordis Russell served as active pallbearers. Interment was in Crestview Memorial Gardens.  Robert “Bobby” Butts passed away on Sunday, November 13, 2005 at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.  A native of Sumner County, Tennessee, he was born on November 1, 1947, the son of Robert James and Edith Brown Butts, who survive. He was educated at Peabody College and Vanderbilt University. He was in the Gallatin and Vanderbilt Marching Bands. He had been a member of the Gospel Singers of America Gulf Port, MS, had taught schools in Manchester, Gallatin Southside Christian School, gave the first $100 when the Cumberland Valley Gospel School of Music was started, and started a program on WHIN called “Repent or Perish” when the radio station first started. He was a God-called licensed minister for the Missionary Baptist Church; he sang and played the piano at the Gallatin Senior Citizens on Tuesdays and played the piano during lunch on Thursdays. He taught the piano at home, in the Macon County School in Lafayette and the PTL Bookstore in Gallatin. He taught a Sunday School class of children to sing before church. He played the piano for Salem Missionary Baptist church for over 40 years. Besides his beloved parents, he is survived by several cousins. Bobby, and his talent for much that blessed so many, will be missed.  Arrangements by Anderson & Anderson Funeral Home, Gallatin, 615-452-7115.

Emma Jean Cothron, 68, of Lafayette, Tennessee, passed away Monday, November 21, 2005 at University Medical Center in Lebanon, Tennessee. The Macon County, Tennessee native was born Wednesday, April 7, 1937, a daughter of the late Robert Horton White and Sarah Etta Sloan White. She was a self employed beautician and a member of Brattontown Missionary Baptist Church.  She is survived by 2 daughters and a son-in-law, Jill Vance, Lafayette, TN; Marshelia and Steve Sempsrott, Coffeyville, Kansas; a son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Pam Cothron, Lafayette, TN; 6 grandchildren, Holly (Ray) Comer, Hillary (Frank) McCall, Mark (Shara) Sempsrott, Eric Sempsrott, Tina (Curtis) Parrish, and Rachel Vance; and 3 great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by a son, Terry Wayne Cothron, 7 brothers, T. H. White, Douglas White, Johnny White, Dennis White, Willie White, Robert White, and James E. White, Sr., and 2 sisters, Deliah Brooks and Gladys Deering.  Funeral services for Emma Jean Cothron will be conducted at 11:00 AM Wednesday, November 23, 2005 at Alexander-Goad Funeral Home with Eld. Doug Curtis officiating. Burial will be in Drury Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Ray Comer, Frank McCall, Curtis Parrish, Eric Sempsrott, Mark Sempsrott, and Rondal Flippin.  Alexander-Goad Funeral Home in Lafayette, TN in charge of arrangements.

Wilson Edens, age 90, of Robinhood Circle, Hendersonville, formerly of Westmoreland passed away November 15, 2005.  He was the son of the late Dempsie Edens and the late Mallie Jane Gregory Edens. He is survived by his wife Effie E. Edens of Hendersonville, daughter Lois Hunt of Hendersonville; brothers William (Bill) Edens of Lebanon, Charles Edens, Jr., of Nashville; sisters May Brewer of Lebanon and Zeldor Eddings of Greenbrier; grandchildren Freda White and Kathy Troutt, great grandchildren Christopher Troutt, Wilson Troutt and Jeremy Troutt. He was a retired building contractor.  Funeral services for Wilson Edens were held Saturday, November 19, at 11 a.m. at Anderson and Woodard Funeral Home in Westmoreland with Brother Terrell Summerville, Brother Randy Andrews, and Brother Mark Scott officiating with interment in the Pleasant Grove Cemetery.

John Edward Harper, age 76, of Mt. Vernon Road, Bethpage, TN, passed away Nov. 20, 2005.  Funeral services were held Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2005, 11 a.m. at Anderson & Woodard Funeral Home in Westmoreland with Randy Wells and Dale Flowers officiating. Burial was in Mt. Vernon Cemetery.  He was the son of John Frankin Harper and Ida Harper who survive. He was married to Lonia Warren Harper of Bethpage, TN who also survives. He was a Korean War veteran and retired from Vol State Community College.  Survivors others than his parents and wife include sons, Roger Harper, Bethpage, Glenn Harper, Portland; daughter, Vickie Donnell, Portland, three grandchildren, Jason Harper, Austin Donnell and William Donnell and three great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by brothers, Russell, Rao and Madell Harper; grandsons, Brian and J.R. Harper; and sisters, Lizzie Hackney, Louise Wilson Reader, Lorene Thompson.  Anderson & Woodard Funeral Home in Westmoreland in charge of arrangements.

Funeral services for Evelyn Pedigo Knight, age 70, of Red Boiling Springs were conducted Saturday, November 19, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. from the chapel of Phillip Anderson & Son Funeral Home in Red Boiling Springs with Jimmy Cook and Donnie Barnes officiating. Honorary pallbearers were the employees of the Macon County School System. Active pallbearers were her grandsons. Interment followed in the Whitley Cemetery.  Evelyn Knight passed away Thursday afternoon, November 17, 2005 at Baptist Hospital in Nashville.  Evelyn was born April 13, 1935 in Clay County, TN, the daughter of the late Angelo and Lucy Cole Pedigo. On June 30, 1951, she was married to Doyle Knight, who survives. Besides her parents, she was also preceded in death by her sister, Jo Tucker. She was a member of the Red Boiling Springs Church of Christ and was the Cafeteria Manager at Red Boiling Springs School with 35 years of service.  Survivors besides her husband of 54 years includes: daughter, Karen Johnson; sons & daughters-in-law: Danny & Gail Knight, Doug & Elizabeth KNight, all of Red Boiling Springs, Bruce & Debbie Knight, Fred & Wanda Bean, all of Lafayette, Kenneth & Charlotte Bean, Leonard Community; sisters: Estelle Green, Indianapolis, IN, Jewell Duvall, Lafayette; sister & brother-in-law: Elise & Floyd Jenkins, Red Boiling Springs; brother & sister-in-law: Edward & Wanda Pedigo, Leonard Community; grandchildren: Melaine Myers, Christy Newberry, Dustin Knight, Misty Skipworth, Neil Knight, Lee Knight, Naomi McKee, Jessie Johnson, Brad Knight, Zack Knight, Kevin Bean, Christopher Smith, Danielle Perrigo, and Derrick Brawner; great-grandchildren: Brittany Nelson, Lauren Nelson, Mason Sexton, MiKayla Sexton, Jacob Skipworth, Cara Skipworth, Jared Coons, Jada Coons, Lucas Johnson, Riley Knight, Collin Knight, Levi Knight, and Logan Knight.  Arrangements by the Phillip Anderson & Son Funeral Home, Red Boiling Springs, TN.