BERNARD O’NEAL GRIGGS SR.
April 5, 2020
Bernard O’Neal Griggs Sr., 88, Clinton, passed away Sunday, April 5, 2020.
He was a family man through and through who never met a stranger.
He was born in Blackburn, Ala., but grew up with his other brothers and sisters in Gallatin and graduated from Gallatin High School, where he played basketball and football. He was proud to serve his country as a military policeman in the Korean War, and afterward attended Tennessee Tech where he graduated with a chemical engineering degree.
Bernard worked many years as a chemical engineer, and retired from Y-12 Oak Ridge.
Bernard was an avid reader and enjoyed working all kinds of word puzzles. He also loved Atlanta Braves baseball, and traveled extensively with his “Posse” - his wife, Mary, and sisters- in-law, Dot and Carolyn - to attend Lady Vols basketball games. In later years, he and his beloved wife, Mary, enjoyed long drives to Norris Park and surrounding areas. He was a member of First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge, where he enjoyed teaching Sunday school classes in years past.
He was preceded in death by: Wife, Mary Scruggs Griggs; parents, Walter and Anne Griggs; four brothers and four sisters.
He is survived by: Three children, Neal Griggs (Jean), Lisa Griggs (Mike), and Sherri Baumeister (Jerry); grandchildren, Amy, Amber, and Shannon; great-grandchildren, Hailee, Makinzee, and Jaidan; brother, Grady Griggs of Johnson City; sisters, Anne Rodgers of Brewton, Ala., and Imogene Thurman of Gallatin; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Due to current situations, the family will plan a memorial service at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to either of the music programs at First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge or St. Stephens Episcopal Church in Oak Ridge.
BLANCHE H. KELLY
April 2, 2020
Blanche H. Kelly, Clinton, passed away peacefully April 2, 2020, at the age of 97.
She was born Dec. 21, 1922. in Madison County, N.C. in 1941. She married, moved to, and raised her five children in Maryland. In 1979 after retiring, she and her husband moved to Riviera Beach, Fla. In 1997 Blanche moved to Tennessee to be closer to her daughter, Linda Stansberry.
Preceded in death by two sisters and two brothers.
Also preceded in death by: Husband of 49 years, Maurice T. Kelly; daughter, Barbara Mercer; and daughter, Joyce Platt.
Survived by: Sister, Evelyn Hunter of Mars Hill, N.C.; daughter, Linda Stansberry of Clinton; daughter, Mary Jane (Janie) Marengo of Clinton; son, Thomas (Tom) Kelly of Summerfield, Fla.; and son-in-law, George Platt of Boynton Beach, Fla. She is also survived by nine grandchildren and16 great-grandchildren.
A private graveside service will be held at Grandview Cemetery officiated by Pastor Dave Grant
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Mark United Methodist Church, 252 N. Main Street, Clinton, TN. 37716.
Arrangements by Holley Gamble Funeral Home. www.holleygamble.com
JUSTIN SCOTT GHEEN
April 1, 2020
Justin Scott Gheen, beloved father, son, uncle and brother, born Nov. 5, 1981, passed away at the University of Tennessee Medical Center at 10:24 a.m. April 1, 2020.
Known for his infectious smile and contagious laugh he always had a story to tell. With his larger-than-life heart, Justin had also been a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, earning his minister’s license from The Light Of Ministries International.
Preceded in death by: Maternal grandparents, Vincent and Mildred Goad; and father, Kenneth Richard “Rick” Gheen.
He is survived by: Mother, Margaret Trent and stepfather David Trent; sons, Elijah Kovalick-Carnes and Isaiah Gheen; sisters, Shea Red Horse and Tracy Upton and families; brother, Kenny Gheen and family; many beloved nephews, nieces, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends, who will miss him dearly.
Jones mortuary will be overseeing all proceedings and there will be no viewing at this time.
In lieu of flowers please send donations to Justin’s Go Fund Me account located on his personal FaceBook page.
These funds will be used to help pay for all funeral costs.
GARY GENE MULLINS
March 31, 2020
Gary Gene Mullins, age 73 of Rocky Top, passed away on Tuesday, March 31, 2020 at his home. He was born on November 19, 1946 at Lafollette Hospital. He later moved to Texas where he worked for Harris County in Road Construction. After retirement he moved back to Lake City. Gary enjoyed trading cars and was a member of Ridgeview Baptist Church. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
He is preceded in death by wife, Vernia Mae Mullins; step-dad, Lawrence Mullins; sisters, Peggy Smith, Carol Peveto; and brother, James Mullins.
He is survived by: mother, Wanda Mullins; brothers, Michael Mullins, Carl Mullins; and other family and friends.
His graveside service at Ridgeview Baptist Church Cemetery will be private. Holley-Gamble Funeral Home in Rocky Top is in charge of all arrangements. www.holleygamble.com
WILLARD WHITE
March 30, 2020
Willard White, 80, Clinton, passed away Monday, March 30, 2020, at his home.
He was a long-time member of Batley Baptist Church.
He retired from Y-12 Nuclear Facility in 1999 after 32 years.
He was preceded in death by: Parents, Amos and Eva Lee White; brother, Steve White; niece, Shelley Rhea; nephew, Terry Long; and special cousin, A.C. White.
Willard is survived by: Wife of 55 years, Sue Worthington White; daughter and son-in-law, Carole and Greg Cooper; granddaughter, Taylor Viglasky and fiance Kaleb Rife; grandchildren, Brittainy and Eric Barger, Alex Cooper and Ryan Wood; grandson, Brandon Cooper; great-grandson, Zaylen Barger; and great-granddaughter, Emreigh Barger.
He is also survived by: Sister and special brother-in-law, Shelby and Rusty Kelley; sisters, Lola Parks, Helen White, Edna White; and sister-In-law, Irene White; niece, Angie and Charles Relford; and nephew, Tim and Donna Long; as well as several other nieces, nephews and family members.
A celebration of his life will be held at a later date.
Memorial donations may be sent in his name to Alzheimer’s Tennessee, 5801 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919 or ahzTennessee.org.
Weatherford Mortuary is handling the arrangements.
An online guest book can be signed at weatherfordmortuary.com.
PATSY GUENTHER
March 30, 2020
Patsy Guenther passed away in her home March 30, 2020.
Born and raised in Clinton, she was the daughter of Hobart Jane Hoskins Burress and Hobart E. Burress. Her parents; her sister, Iva Deane Burress Harber; and her brothers, Esco and Louis Burress, preceded her in death. She was 85 years old.
After graduating from Clinton High School and working for The Clinton Courier, Patsy earned her bachelor's degree at Carson-Newman College. She moved to Nashville in 1957 to accept a position as assistant editor of Open Windows and later served as editor of Church Library Magazine, both are publications of The Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention (now LifeWay Christian Resources). After completing her master's degree work in English at George Peabody College for Teachers (now Peabody College of Vanderbilt University), Patsy taught English at Peabody College while completing work for her specialist in education degree. She also was an English professor at Columbia State Community College for four years and ended her professional career as the Tennessee director of federal elementary and secondary innovative education programs. She retired from the Tennessee Department of Education in 1977.
Patsy is survived by: Husband, James P. Guenther; sons, Stephen Guenther, and Jeff and Valerie Guenther and Jeff's children, Matthew and Erin Guenther.
She also will be missed by a host of caring friends. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Nashville.
An online guestbook is available at AustinFuneralService.com (615) 377-0775
MARK SILLERS GRIM JR.
March 29, 2020
Mr. Mark Sillers Grim Jr., 98, North Wilkesboro, N.C. (formerly of Norris), passed away Sunday, March 29, 2020.
He was born July 17, 1921, in Sevier County to Mark Sillers Grim Sr. and Laura Elizabeth Hardin Grim. Mark graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and went on to work as a chemical engineer/project manager with Union Carbide in Oak Ridge. Mark was also a U.S. Army Veteran of World War II and a long-time member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Norris.
Other than Mark’s parents, he was preceded in death by: Wife, Anastacia Zbornik Grim; brother, John W. Grim and wife Eva; and brother-in-law, Joseph T. Thomas.
Mark is survived by: Two daughters, Mary Anne Koeppel and husband Scott of Tallahassee, FLla., and Margaret McMahan and husband Dr. Thomas McMahan of North Wilkesboro, N.C.; grandchildren, Daniel S. Koeppel, Laura K. Tagle, Emily M. Kregor, and Matthew T. McMahan; 11 great-grandchildren; and sister, Wanda G. Thomas of Norris.
A private burial will be held at Norris Memorial Gardens at a later date. A Celebration of Mark’s life will be held later this summer at a date yet to be determined.
It is requested that any memorial contributions be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. www.holleygamble.com
JANICE PATTERSON SEIVERS COOPER
March 28, 2020
Janice Patterson Seivers Cooper, born Jan. 24, 1930, passed away Saturday, March 28, 2020, at The Waters of Clinton in Clinton.
Her favorite pastime was reading a good book, tending to her rose bushes and baking delicious desserts. Janice was always a faithful member of her church, both with attendance and doing good deeds for others.
Janice was preceded in death by: Parents, Parker and Ella Patterson; husband, James L Cooper; brothers, Lawrence and Ralph Patterson; sisters, Brenda McKamey and Otella Cliff; and grandsons, Chadwick and Tyler Seivers.
Janice is survived by: Sons, David Ray Seivers, Jeffrey Seivers and wife Rose; daughter, Bernice Cox and husband Gary; sister, Virginia Sue Mayes; grandchildren, Kristi and Amanda Seivers, David Cox and David Ott; great-grandchildren, Lelah and Paul Ott.
The family would like to give special thanks to the staff at The Waters of Clinton for the care they had given to Janice, also special thanks to Sharon Price for her time and love she always shown to Janice and her help to the family.
Flowers are welcome but also donations can be made to the Knoxville Rescue Mission.
Friends may call at their convenience between 3 – 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31, 2020, in the chapel of Jones Mortuary in Clinton.
Janice’s interment will be private on Wednesday, April 1, 2020, at Woodhaven Memorial Gardens in Claxton.
Jones Mortuary in Clinton is in charge of all arrangements. Condolences can be made to the family at www.jonesmortuaryllc.com
