Obit – Mrs. Joan Dennis
At 5:45 a.m. Friday morning October 2, 2026, one of God’s Angels came from heaven and carried one of his precious souls, Joan Dennis, to her heavenly home for all eternity.
The 77 years of age, Mrs. Dennis, was residing at the Smith County Health and Rehabilitation Center in Carthage where she had made her home since last being admitted July 13, 2026.
Her pastor, Eld. Stephen Brooks and former longtime pastor, Eld. Rickey Hall officiated at the 1 p.m. Monday afternoon funeral services from the Carthage Chapel of Sanderson Funeral Home. Burial was in the Dennis family plot in the Garden of Everlasting Life at the Smith County Memorial Gardens.
She was one of five children, three daughters and two sons of the late Ernest Hobart West who died at the age of 37 on March 6, 1955 and Maggie Olene Wilkerson West Burton who died at the age of 84 on November 8, 2003 and was born Freeda Joan West in the Wartrace Community of Jackson County on January 2, 1949.
Three siblings also preceded her in death, Billy Wayne West who died August 10, 2011 at the age of 72, Joyce West Petty who died August 9, 2023 at the age of 81 and Judy Faye West who died who died at birth on November 31, 1945.
At the Smith County Courthouse, she was united in marriage on January 19, 1963 to Carthage native Sammy Edward Dennis. The ceremony was performed by then Smith County Clerk and Missionary Baptist minister, Bro. Joe Herschel Wilson.
A most important milestone in Mrs. Dennis’s life was when she was saved at the age of 18 at the Green Valley Missionary Baptist Church and was baptized into the full fellowship of the South Carthage Missionary Baptist Church by Eld. Phocian Gibbs on September 10, 1967
At the time of her death, she was a member of the North Gordonsville Missionary Baptist Church where she had moved her membership by letter from South Carthage.
Mrs. Dennis was an accomplished seamstress and retired in 1996 from the former W. E. Stephens Manufacturing Co. In Carthage. She had previously been employed at the former Carthage Shirt Corporation and the Texas Boot Co.
Her love for her three grandchildren was unsurpassed for the love she had for all of her family.
She was such a kind hearted and soft-spoken lady and was a fabulous wife to Sammy.
Surviving in addition to her husband Sammy of almost sixty-four years is their daughter, Tresa Dennis Tyree and husband Moose of South Carthage, their son, Ricky Dennis and wife Crystal of Gordonsville; three grandchildren, Wesley Dennis of Carthage, Shelby Dennis of Gordonsville, Taylor Tyree Lambert and husband Jacob of South Carthage; brother, Maxie West and wife Laura of Gordonsville; brother-in-law, Jack Petty of Gordonsville.
The Dennis family has requested memorials to the North Gordonsville Missionary Baptist Church.
SANDERSON of CARTHAGE
