Area Obituaries

Former Carthage resident Mr. William “Billy” Murray died February 9, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada, following a battle with cancer. Funeral services and burial were conducted February 19th from the Pahrump Family Mortuary in Pahrump, Nevada. Burial followed in the Pahrump Memorial Park with full military honors by the Nellis Air Force Base Honor Guard.…

Graveside services and interment for Mrs. Lidia Butler, of Murfreesboro, were conducted on Thursday afternoon, April 21st, from the Ridgewood Cemetery. Elder Dr. Robert L. Spickard Sr. officiated at the 3:30 p.m. services and burial followed in the Huber Butler family lot in section two at the Ridgewood Cemetery. Mrs. Butler died Saturday April 16,…

Smith and Macon County businessman, Mr. Joe Rich, age 86, of the Pleasant Shade community, died peacefully at 5:08 a.m. Thursday morning, April 14, 2022, at the Alive Hospice Residence in Nashville, where he was admitted Wednesday afternoon from the St. Thomas West Hospital where his health condition had gradually declined. Eld. Gerald Ragland assisted…

Mrs. Frances Ballinger Hiett, age 74, of Gallatin, passed away on Tuesday, April 12, 2022. Mrs. Hiett was born November 3, 1947 in Carthage, a daughter of the late Ben David Ballinger and Ora May Kelley Ballinger. She was also preceded in death by brother, Odell Flueallen. She was a graduate of Smith County High…

Mr. Michael “Pete” Williams, age 51 of Hogan’s Creek, passed away on Monday, April 11, 2022. Mr. Williams was born March 19, 1971 in Carthage, a son of Linda Faye Harris Williams Ashford and the late Charles Ralph Williams. He was also preceded in death by daughter, Charity Lynn Williams on February 2, 2014 and…

Mrs. Judith Anne “Judy” Watts, age 79 of Gordonsville, passed away on Thursday, April 14, 2022. Mrs. Watts was born February 10, 1943 in Kansas City, MO, a daughter of the late Robert LeRoy Williams and Katheryn G. Close Williams Speryl. She was also preceded in death by husbands, Carl Eugene “Gene” Butts and Glynn…

Mrs. Ruthie Ward Watson, age 74, of the St. Mary’s community in Smith County, passed away on Saturday, April 16, 2022. Mrs. Watson was born February 3, 1948 in Stonewall, a daughter of the late John Wilson Ward and Marvorine Dillard Ward. She married Willie Dee Watson on February 3, 1968 and he preceded her…

Longtime Defeated Creek community resident, Mrs. Movaline Swann, and now a resident of Carthage, died surrounded by her family at 8:20 p.m. Thursday evening, April 14, 2022, at the Riverview Regional Medical Center in Carthage where she was admitted April 1st, suffering from a heart condition. Eld. Shawn Shepherd officiated at the 1 p.m. Monday…

Ms. Kathy Schwartz, age 26, of Alexandria, died Sunday morning, March 27, 2022, in Carthage. A memorial service will be conducted from the Carthage Chapel of Sanderson Funeral Home on Thursday afternoon, April 21, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. with Allan Morales delivering the eulogy.  The family will receive friends at the Carthage Chapel on Thursday…

Longtime roofing contractor Mr. James Woodard, age 69, died peacefully at his Pea Ridge Road home at 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon, April 9, 2022, surrounded by his family. He was first diagnosed with cancer in 2011 and had gallantly fought the illness since then. He was pronounced deceased at 2:30 p.m. by Avalon Hospice of…