Benton County, Tennessee Genealogy
Obituaries
The following obituaries have been contributed to the
web site.
McCAMPBELL
James R. McCampbell, 77, died Jan 7 at
Henry Co. General Hospital. Burial was in Pleasant Ridge
Cemetery. Survived by his wife, Mrs. Lillie McCampbell;
four daughters, Mrs. Henry Hutcheson of Detroit, Mrs.
Nelson Van Huss of Nashville, Mrs. Vella May Robbins and
Mrs. Clinton Wynn of Big Sandy; three sons, Victor
McCampbell of Detroit, Paul McCampbell of Big Sandy, and
Nelson McCampbell of Camden; one sister, Mrs Fannie
Lashlee of Dresden; 28 grandchildren and 24
gr.grandchildren.
(from the Camden Chronicle, Jan 6,
1966)
Submitted by Kenneth Allen
Dr.
Jacob Browning Florence
Obituary of Dr. Jacob Browning
Florence (23 Dec 1838 - 30 Sep 1911):
Camden Chronicle: Rcd copy of
Chronicle page 11/96 from Dan Florence:
"Death of Dr. Florence: Dr. J. B.
Florence died at an early hour last Saturday morning,
aged 72 years. It was the writer's good fortune to have
known him long and well, and we only knew him to esteem
him more highly as the years passed by. Today we miss his
kindly smile and friendly greeting; we long in vain to
hear the ring of his jovial laughter and to feel again
his genial presence.
"Sunday afternoon we stood before
his bier in the church yard not far from the scene of his
youthful, happy days. We stood by his open grave as the
last sad rites were performed, and as the clay of earth
closed above his silent resting place, we said with the
poet: 'Cold in the dust the perished heart may die, But
that which warmed it once can never die.
"As we stood by his grave when
the sky was trimmed with her gorgeous rosy hue, in fancy
we could see him - not in death's cold shroud of sorrow
and despair, but smiling upon us from the sunset halo
that marks God's farewell to the day - smiling with all
the remembered grace of his manhood, love and devotion,
and saying to us: 'The sunset speaks but feebly of the
glories of another day. All is well.'
"Dr. Florence was a kind, devoted
husband, indulgent father and the soul of fellowship. But
above all he was a man. And as a man it is that those who
knew him best most love to contemplate him. He believed
in the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. He
believed that the man who scatters flowers in the pathway
of his fellow men, who lets into the dark places of life
the sunlight of human sympathy and human happiness, is
following in the footsteps of his blessed Master.
"His cheerful, helpful life; his
devotion to his wife and family and kindness to everyone
will Linger as a sweet memory in the home which his
presence brightened and which death has now darkened.
Though he is gone his record has been made and will
remain with us as a lasting treasure. His life was
gentle, but like the still waters it was deep. In his
heart of hearts he carried those he loved, and his hand
was never weary, his step never failed in caring for and
ministering to those who were in any way dependent upon
him.
"An unusual long procession of
Masons, brethren of the order he loved so well, assembled
about his bier at Rushing's Creek Cemetery while Rev. E.
R. Conder paid a beautiful tribute to the memory of the
deceased. J. T. Spalding of Nashville officiated in the
Masonic burial services. The casket was covered with many
beautiful floral designs wrought by loving fingers, all
of which spoke of peace, purity and immortality.
"Besides a bereaved companion he
leaves five sons, four daughters, twenty- one grandsons,
seventeen granddaughters, and seven great grandsons and
three great granddaughters. We can only remind these
grieved ones that he is not dead; he is only asleep
--resting after a long and well spent life here; he can
not, and would not if he could return to us; we can, if
we will, go to him. Behind the storm clouds always lurks
the rainbow and when the storm is past it weeps upon the
flowers of the land and gems of the sea. Darkness
precedes the dawning and out of the blackness of night
comes the sunshine and joy of the day. And so from the
beauty of his life take an inspiration and go fourth to
live as he lived, so that when the summons comes you may
say as did he, 'All is well.'
Submitted by Jean Stringham
James
Wyly
Nashville, Tennessee
American Newspaper, page 5, May 12, 1857
Nashville, Tennessee American
Newspaper, page 5, May 12, 1857 Died: At his residence in
Benton County on Friday the 8th inst., James Wyly, Esq.,
in the 58th year of his age, of Pneumonia. The deceased
was a man greatly loved and respected by all who knew
him. His family deeply mourn the loss of so kind and
attentive a parent, and his neighbors will all testify
that his devotion to them was of a kind that it will take
years to obliterate it. The oppressed, the poor, the
widow and orphan found him a true and fast friend. He was
always disposed to help those who were in need, and it
was his nature to be kind and just to every one. His
slaves found in him a father not a master. So conscious
was he of his rectitude, that not a word escaped him that
did not fully justify his confidence in the promise,
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see
God."
The deceased was several times elected
to the State Legislature, where he performed valuable
service to the State and his constituents. In his death
the community has lost one of its best citizens.
Submitted by E.J. and Frances Sims
Flossie Hedge Wofford Sheffield
Flossie Hedge Wofford Sheffield, age
92 was born July 10, 1904, to the late James Eli and
Sarah Elizabeth (Williams) Hedge. She died at Camden
General Hospital in Camden, TN on Wednesday morning May
7, 1997.
Survived by:
Beulah Kee, daughter, Camden, TN.
Minnie Alice Utley, sister, Westland, MI.
4 Grandchildren
9 Great Grandchildren
Preceded by:
Charles Wooford, Husband
Dannie Sheffield, Husband
Edgar A. (Buddy) Wofford, Son
She was a Homemaker, Member of Missionary Grove Baptist
Church. Services will be Friday, 2 P.M., May 9, 1997 at
Stockdale-Malin Chapel, Minister, Bro. Kenneth Zike,
Interment at Crossroads Cemetery.
Submitted by E.J. and Frances Sims
G.
B. Holladay
Camden Chronicle Thursday
May 23, 1968
A prominent Camden and Benton citizen,
G.B. (Blanty) Holladay 95, died in Humphreys Co. Nursing
Home on Sunday morning, May 19, 1968. With Stockdale-
Malin Funeral Home in charge, burial was in the Camden
cemetery at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday. Rev. Robert Dixon
officiating.
Mr. Holladay was the son of John
Milton Holladay and Rachel Matthews Holladay. He was an
outstanding citizen having been active in earlier years
in the church, masons, politics and overall community
life.
He was am elder in the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church for 50 years, a mason for 70 years,
circuit court clerk for 12 years, clerk and master 14
years, mayor of Camden and for many years chairman of the
democratic executive committee.
Survivors include a son, John M.
Holladay,a practicing attorney in Camden. Two
daughters,Mrs Vivian H. McMillan of Memphis and Mrs
Rachel H. Ferran of Eustis, Florida ,five grandchildren
and ten great-grandchildren.
Submitted by Dona M. Taylor
Ernest
Hawkins Smothers
Appeared in "The Camden
Chronicle," page one, June 8, 1951
Ernest H. Smothers Buried Sunday
Funeral Services for Ernest H. Smothers, who died at his
home Friday night, (June 1, 1951) were held at Camden
Methodist Church Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock with the
Rev. J.L. Leggett officiating.
Mr. Smothers was postmaster at Camden
for several years. He has been a director since the
organization of the Bank of Camden and was vice president
at the time of his death. He was 72 years old. He was a
merchant for many years, active in religious and civic
organizations. He had owned and operated the Dixie
Theater since 1936.
Masonic rites were held at the grave.
Bural was at Cedar Grove Cemetery.
He leaves his wife, Mrs Rose B.
Smothers, three daughters, Mrs J.M. Sims, Milan, Mrs
Shirley Davidson, Camden and Mrs Will Holladay, Holladay,
and a son Wayne Smothers, Camden, nine grandchildren and
three great-grandchildren.
Camden Funeral Home was in charge of
bural.
Submitted by E.J. Sims
Mary
Frances Florence
Appeared in the Camden
Chronicle on July 28, 1893
"After a very short illness Miss
Mary Florence, who resided about five miles north of
Camden, died suddenly Thursday of last week. She was
about forty-eight years of age, and a most estimable
woman, who was widely known and beloved throughout the
community for her charitable disposition and gracious
manner. she was a sister of Mr. George Florence, now a
prominant merchant at Lexington, who was present at her
funeral."
Submitted by Dan Florence
David
Sylvester Cuff
Death notice from the Camden
Chronicle, dated: September 25, 1891
"On Sunday morning, the 20th
instant, at his late residence, 4-1/2 miles east from
Camden, Mr. D.S. Cuff, of consumption. Mr. Cuff was about
fifty-three years of age and was a sucessful farmer and
useful citizen, enjoying the friendship of many. He had
an attack of La Grippe about a year ago which brought on
consumption. His remains were interred at the family
burial grounds Sunday. His wife and several children
survive him."
Submitted by Dan Florence
Obituaries
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