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Sybil Dean Evans Smith passed away May 10, 2013 in Hampton, VA. She was born October 30, 1934 in the Sullivan Bend community of Smith County. She is the fourth child of the late Mr. Robert L. Evans Sr. and Mrs. Vera Strawther Evans.
A very devoted follower and religious servant of God, Sybil welcomed Christ into her life at the age of twelve at the Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church. She transferred her faith to the Ballard Chapel Methodist Church in April 1960, where she served as a Youth and Adult Sunday School Teacher, President of the United Methodist Women’s Society, and Chairman of the Ballard Chapel Church Pastor Parish Committee. She has lived a life of service to God, family, and the children of Smith County.
She received her primary education from Turner Elementary School in Carthage, secondary education from Gordonsville High School in Gordonsville and undergraduate studies at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. She was a strong advocate for education throughout her life. After over thirty-five years of service, she retired from the Cordell Hull/Smith County Head Start program where she served as an assistant teacher, teacher and Director helping hundreds of Smith County’s children open their eyes to the promises of a good education.
Sybil was married to the late Charles O’Donald Smith, of Stonewall, August 27, 1948 in Rossville, GA. To this union of holy matrimony five children were born: TSgt Garry D. (Martina King) Smith USAF (Ret), RADM Vinson E. (Sandra A. Hogan) Smith USN (Ret), MSgt Charles D. Smith USAF (Ret), Venita O.(MSgt Elmo L. USAF (Ret) )Robinson, and Calvin H. (Kimberly Togaware) Smith. She also raised (2 grandchildren) Dion Smith and Misty Smith Marshall. In addition to her children, Sybil is survived by a brother: Reed Evans, and a sister: Shirley Evans (Frank) Tellis, a brother-in-law: Robert L. (Marie) Smith, an uncle: Harden Strawther; five sisters-in-law: Margaret Evans, Betty Evans, Veleda Smith, Lettie Ann Smith, Marie Smith along with 18 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and a multitude of nieces, nephews, other relatives and numerous friends.
Visitation will be held at the Bass Funeral Home in Gordonsville from 5-8 p.m., Thursday, May 16, 2013. Funeral services will be conducted at the Ballard Chapel Methodist Church, Stonewall at 1 p.m. Friday, May 17, 2013. Interment will follow the funeral services at the Ballard Chapel Cemetery. BASS of GORDONSVILLE
Mr. Lee Roy Bennett, age 69 of Gordonsville, passed away at Cookeville Regional Medical Center on Sunday, May 12, 2013 from an extended illness
He was born on February 26, 1944 and was preceded in death by his mother; Mary Eve Bush Bennett and father; Roy Wesley Bennett. Lee Roy was a 1962 graduate of Gordonsville High School. He was a longtime member of Macedonia The Baptist Church of Christ, and a retired employee of the William L. Bonnell Company. Lee Roy was an avid fisherman and outdoorsman, and he loved golf. He married Hilda Nabors Bennett on June 23, 1962.
Mr. Bennett is survived by his wife of 50 years: Hilda Nabors Bennett, of Gordonsville; son: Tim (Donna) Bennett, of Gordonsville;. daughter: Sherry (Mark) Herd, of Silver Point; grandchildren: Kimberly (Nathaniel) Bush of Gordonsville, and Nathan and Delton Herd of Silver Point; great-grandchildren: Alex, Isaiah, and Abigail Bush of Gordonsville; two sisters: Ruby (Wilson) Coons, of Carthage, and Mildred (Willard) Reed, of Lebanon; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Mr. Bennett were conducted on Tuesday, May 14, 2013 at 2 p.m. at the Gordonsville Chapel of Bass Funeral Homes with Bro. Gary McBride, Bro. Frank Randolph, and Bro. Burl Rice officiating. Interment followed in the Gordonsville Cemetery.
Visitation with the Bennett family was held on Monday from 3 p.m. until 9 p.m. and again on Tuesday after 10 a.m. until the service time at 2 p.m.
The Bennett family requests that donations in Mr. Lee Roy’s memory be made to the Macedonia The Baptist Church of Christ, or to the Cookeville Regional Medical Center Cancer Fund. BASS of GORDONSVILLE
Mr. Jim Edward Handy, age 46 of Carthage, passed away Tuesday, May 7, 2013 at Kindred Healthcare Center in Carthage.
Jim was born May 16, 1966 in Carthage, the son of the late Walter Handy and Bertha Louise Honeycutt. He was also preceded in death by two brothers; Donnie Handy and James Handy. He worked as a manager of KFC in Gordonsville.
Mr. Handy is survived by five siblings: Ray Handy, Joyce Cox, Becky Handy, Sandra Kay Handy, and Billy Don Handy.
Memorial services for Mr. Handy are scheduled to be conducted on Sunday, May 19, 2013 at 9 a.m. at the Gordonsville KFC/Taco Bell. BASS of GORDONSVILLE
Mrs. Betty Jo Beechboard, age 79 of the Hogans Creek community, died at 3:10 p.m. Saturday afternoon, May 11, 2013 at the Kindred Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Carthage where she had made her home since February 25, 2013 and was undergoing therapy for a fractured hip.
Funeral services were conducted from the Carthage Chapel of Sanderson Funeral Home on Tuesday afternoon, May 14th at 1 p.m. with Eld. Charles Allen Gentry & Eld. Stephen Brooks officiating. Burial followed in the Smith County Memorial Gardens.
One of five children of the late Clarence Sidney Chambers, who died May 6, 1953 at the age of 51,and Mary Dayton Rose Chambers, who died July 27, 1995 at the age of 91, she was born Betty Jo Chambers in the Riddleton community on April 5, 1934.
Two sisters preceded her in death, Carolyn Chambers, of Alliance, Ohio, who died on July 15, 1996 and Dorothy Chambers Tisdale, of Canton, Ohio, who died May 28, 1978.
Mrs. Beechboard was saved at the age of 14 and on September 28, 1948 she was baptized into the full fellowship of the South Carthage Missionary Baptist Church where she remained a faithful and active member as long as health permitted.
Mrs. Beechboard was a May 1952 graduate of Smith County High School where she majored in music and home economics.
On June 10, 1952 in Rossville, Georgia, she was united in marriage to Celina native Sammie William “Sam” Beechboard, who preceded her in death on June 1, 2004 at the age of 74.
Mrs. Beechboard retired in 2006 from the former Carthage Bestway and Main Street Laundry where she worked at both businesses simultaneously for many years.
For almost forty years, she was the manager of the Sunshine Laundry Center on Hospital Drive until the Carthage By-pass forced the closing and razing of the business.
Surviving are her son: Bill Beechboard and wife, Jill Silcox Beechboard, of Hogan’s Creek; grandson: Beau Beechboard and wife, Rachel Parker Beechboard, of the Turkey Creek community; sister: Doris Chambers Sircy, of South Carthage; brother: Larry Chambers and wife, Yvonne, of Smyrna.
The family requests memorials to the South Carthage Missionary Baptist Church Building Fund. SANDERSON of CARTHAGE
Mrs. Ruth Carter, of the Watervale community, died at the age of 87 at 4:25 p.m. Sunday afternoon, May 12, 2013 at the Centennial Medical Center.
Mrs. Carter is at the Carthage Chapel of Sanderson Funeral Home where the family was to make arrangements at 1 p.m. Monday afternoon, May 13th.
Mrs. Carter was the widow of the late Eld. Harold Carter, who died in 1997, and was preceded in death by a son, Terry Carter.
Surviving are four children: Debbie Carter Minchey and husband, Roy, of South Carthage, Sonny Carter & wife, Peggy Alvis Carter, of Flatrock, Randy Carter, of Carthage, Scotty Carter, of Watervale.
Complete arrangements will be published in the next week’s edition of the Courier. SANDERSON of CARTHAGE
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