Mr. Willie Lesley

November 10, 1942 – February 4, 2020

Service

Monday, February 10, 2020
Family Visitation: 10:00 A.M.
Funeral Service: 11:00 A.M.

Nelson & Sons Chapel Murfreesboro
448 East Burton Street
Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Interment
Lovvorn Cemetery
987 River Barfield Road
Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Willie Lesley was born on November 10, 1942 and passed away February 4, 2020 at the Sumner Regional Hospital in Gallatin, TN.

He was educated in the Rutherford County School System. He worked in the funeral industry with both Johnson House of Atena and Lewis & Wright Funeral Homes.

Willie worked at Top Hat for many years. He loved watching football, especially the Tennessee Titans and he had a great love for his family.

Willie was preceded in death by his father, Sterrs Lesley; mother, Sadie Alexander; brothers, O.Z. Verge and Steve Verge; grandparents, Bud & Gertrude Taylor, whom he was raised by.

Willie is survived by his brother, Terry C. Evans; sisters, Emma Evans and Sadie (James) Bass; uncle, George (Jean) Lesley; devoted cousins, Phylis Lesley and Albert Nelson; and other family and friends.

Mrs. Myron Denise Sebastian

December 6, 1976 – February 1, 2020

Service

Saturday, February 8, 2020
Family Visitation: 12:00 Noon
Funeral Service: 1:00 P.M.

Bird Street Church of Christ
428 Bird Street
Shelbyville, Tennessee

Interment
Mt. Ararat Cemetery
Shelbyville, Tennessee

Myron Denise Sebastian Hill, aka Pookie, was born December 6, 1976 in Shelbyville, TN to Myron Hill and the late Eddie Lee Copper. Myron departed this earthly life and transitioned into eternal life on Friday, February 1, 2020 at St. Thomas West Hospital in Nashville, TN.

Myron received her education at Shelbyville Central High School and worked at various restaurants where she greeted everyone with that great big smile she was known for and a conversation that would have you laughing for days.

Myron was a devoted member of Galilee Primitive Baptist Church up until she recently moved her membership to Bird Street Church of Christ.

She was preceded in death by her father, Eddie Lee Cooper and son, Francisco Saldana Gomez, III.

Myron leaves to cherish her memory, four children, Jovita Daniella Saldana Gomez, Gasper Juan Sebastian, Lorenzo Juan Sebastian and Joshua Lamar Sebastian, all of Shelbyville, TN; her mother, Myron Hill; grandchildren, Shaylynn Clifford, Zakias Clifford and Khy’Leeon Hiles; three brothers, Jermaine Hill of Shelbyville, TN, Douglas Teitsch of Blackshear, GA and Eddie Byrant, of Shelbyville, TN; aunts, Rhonda (Genaro) Rico, Brenda Allison, Regina (Chris) Hughes and Janie Hill all of Shelbyville, TN, Dorothy Fisher of Detroit, MI, Mattie Hill of Nashville, TN, June Pinkerton, Vicky (Renard) Harvey and Connie Moss; uncles, Gene, Duane and Tony Cooper; great aunt, Emma Smith; and a host of cousins, other relatives and friends.

Mr. Tommy Carter Vaughn

June 13, 1949 – January 8, 2020

Service

Friday, January 17, 2020
Visitation: 4:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M
@ Nelson & Sons Chapel Murfreesboro
448 E. Burton St., Murfreesboro, TN

Saturday, January 18, 2020
Family Visitation: 12:00 Noon
Funeral Service: 1:00 P.M.

Cherry Grove M.B. Church
4078 Yeargan Road
Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Tommy Carter Vaughn was born a twin (Betty) June 13, 1949. He peacefully entered the arms of his heavenly father on Wednesday, January 8, 2020. He was preceded in death by parents: Richard and Annie Mary Vaughn; brothers Sam C. Wallace, Richard Vaughn (Chicago, IL) and Raymond Vaughn (Chicago, IL); sisters Hannah Reed, Ivory Riley (Chicago, IL) and Antoinette Lawrence (Chicago, IL).

Tommy professed his love for Jesus Christ at an early age and was baptized at Cherry Grove Missionary Baptist Church under the Pastorate of Rev. C.L. Dowdy. He later joined Walnut Grove Missionary Baptist Church where he served as a Deacon under Pastor Richard W. Siebert. He also served as President for the Tennessee State Brotherhood for a number of years.

He was educated at Old Bradley Elementary for first grade and moved to New Bradley until 8thgrade and he graduated from Holloway High School in 1967. After graduating, he worked at Samsonite for 29 years as an Inspector and was a Chief Union Steward. After leaving Samsonite, he joined the Alvin C. York VA Medical Center in food service for 17 years and retired in 2011.

While working at the VA he started an outreach ministry of providing transportation to veterans and taking them to church. He was passionate about working with the youth and he coached for many years in AAU and local community basketball teams and tournaments. He lovingly coached many of his children, nieces and nephews in the game of basketball and football. He received many awards and plaques as “Coach Vaughn” and served in the community and his teams were often the champions. He was an avid Chicago Bears fan and Oklahoma Thunder advocate and he often bragged how his teams had the best players. He was a strong competitor and hated to lose and when he did lose it was an automatic rematch. He was known by many referees and was not afraid to share his opinion in games. His recent passion was working with the Murfreesboro Branch of the NAACP to fulfill his vision of remembering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by having a street named in his honor.

Tommy’s first marriage was to Alfredia Swanson and to that union two children were born Kowanda and RaShonda. He later married Rosie Ivyand together they reared three children Gerry, Stephen and Ivy.

Tommy leaves to cherish and honor his memories, his loving devoted wife of 30 years Rosie Ivy Vaughn, and five children, Kowanda (Earnest) Robinson (Atlanta, GA), Gerry Carney Jr., RaShonda (Hiawatha) Walker, Stephen Vaughn and Ivy Vaughn all of Murfreesboro, TN. Seven Grandchildren, De’torrius Carney, Xavier Robinson(Atlanta, GA), Ivan Vaughn, Sydney Robinson(Atlanta, GA), Isaiah Vaughn, Ava Walker, Isaac Vaughn; Brothers, Calvin (Shirley) Vaughn of Murfreesboro, TN, Robert Vaughn Sr.(Biloxi, MS),Richard (Vivian) Vaughn Jr. of Murfreesboro, TN, Ronnie Vaughn (Chicago, IL). Sisters, Betty (Leon) Evans of Murfreesboro, TN, Annie (Vincent) Harper (St. Petersburg, FL) a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends

Mr. Thomas Edward McCroskey

May 12, 1936 – January 2, 2020

Service

Monday, January 6, 2020
Family Visitation: 11:00 A.M.
Funeral Service: 12:00 Noon

Nelson & Sons Memorial Chapel
824 Lipscomb Street
Shelbyville, Tennessee

Interment
Mt. Ararat Cemetery
Shelbyville, Tennessee

Thomas Edward McCroskey, age 83, was born on May 12, 1936 and left this earthly life on January 2, 2020.

Thomas educated in the Bedford County School System. He was a man who loved fishing, listening to the Blues and watching War and Western movies. Thomas was a Mason and he was a member of the Brandon Chapel Baptist. He was employed with Avco where he worked for over 15 years.

Thomas was preceded in death by his wife, Rebecca A. McCroskey; and two children, Orlando McCroskey, Sr. and Irish (William) Hood.

Thomas leaves to cherish his memories, children, Surkarya (Elder Maurice) Johnson and Thomas (Wanda) McCroskey, Jr.; brother, Howard McCroskey; eleven grandchildren and great grandchildren; devoted friend, Dorothy Buckingham; and many other relatives and friends.

Mr. Robert Lee Jackson

August 28, 1941 – December 28, 2019

**Private Family Service**

Mr. Robert Lee Jackson, age 78, passed away Saturday, December 28^th. He is survived by his children, Don (Darcel) Jackson, Arnetta Ward, Arnita Kimbrough and Linda Jackson; two sisters, Bertha Oliver and Minnie Pearl King; one brother, Jerry Jackson, Jr.; along with a host of other relatives and friends.

Mr. Samuel Arthur Oates

June 10, 1925 – December 26, 2019

Service

Saturday, January 4, 2020
Family Visitation: 10:00 A.M.
Funeral Service: 11:00 A.M.

Galilee Primitive Baptist Church
917 Sevier Street
Shelbyville, Tennessee

Internment
Mount Ararat Annex
Shelbyville, Tennessee

Samuel Arthur Oates was born in Shelbyville, TN on the 10th day of June 1925 to his late parents, Samuel and Amanda Oates. Samuel was the youngest of six children and was educated at the Bedford County Training School in Shelbyville, TN. He then served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II for four years.

He relocated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and attended the Carver School of Business where he met his beautiful wife Malinda Taylor. From this union, five sons were born.

Samuel was employed for ten years at Frankfort Supply Company, and when that company closed, he worked for the City of Philadelphia Water Department as a Number 2 Meter Mechanic. He worked until retirement with twenty years of service. Samuel Oates was a committeeman in the 17th ward in Philadelphia, PA. He worked closely with City Councilman David Cotten. Through this connection, he was able to help the community residents with jobs, food give-a-ways and have a relationship with local law enforcement. He helped keep teens from going to jail. Samuel also started a cleaning business; he had a contract with H.V.D. Samuel hired neighborhood teens to teach them work ethics and pride. Sam didn’t make a profit from this business. He operated the business for 16 years. Samuel was an excellent gardener and family historian. He told the same stories over and over to make sure you would remember.

He was a man of faith and started his Christian journey at the age of 14 and became a deacon at the Highway Temple Church of Love in 1985. He was a faithful deacon of Thompson Grove Baptist Church for the past 17 years where he was the second oldest member.

He was a wonderful husband, father and son-in-law. He had a special love for both his father and mother-in-law, James and Lila Taylor.

Samuel was preceded in death by his son, Samuel A. Oates, Jr.; and siblings, Ruby Oates, Milton Oates, Lula Oates Thompson, Hattie Oates Gregory and Anna Mae Oates Ramson.

He leaves to cherish his memory, his devoted wife, Malinda Oates; his beloved sons, Jerry A. Oates (Shara), David Oates, James Oates (Theresa) and Daniel Oates (Carrie). Arthur and Malinda help to raise two grandsons, David Oates, Jr. and James Oates, Jr. He leaves a host of grandchildren, great and great-great grandchildren; a host of nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends.

Mrs. Mary Ruth Patterson

February 25, 1937 – December 18, 2019

Service

Monday, December 30, 2019
Family Visitation: 11:00 A.M
Funeral Service: 12:00 Noon

Nelson & Sons Chapel Murfreesboro
448 East Burton  Street
Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Interment
Lovvorn Cemetery
987 Barfield Cresent Road
Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Mary Ruth (Malone) Patterson was born February 25, 1937 to the late Paul Malone and Elizabeth (Subblett) Malone in Murfreesboro, TN. She transitioned this earthly life on Wednesday, December 18, 2019 at Boulevard Terrace Rehab Nursing Home after an extended illness.

She was preceded in death by her husband, George; her parents; sister Sallie Bell Dunnaway; two nieces, Sherry and Rita Dunnaway; three nephews, Anthony, William and Gary Dunnaway; great niece, Laquinta Dunnaway; and great great nephew, Christopher Bass, Jr.

Mary Ruth and George never had children of their own, but they were parents to many youths. They opened their doors to many people (adults and children). They moved to Nashville and later moved to Florida. Upon moving back to Murfreesboro Mary Ruth became employed with Stones River Center, formerly Louiza School, where she retired from.

Mary Ruth was a member of Bethel M.B. Church in earlier years of her life. Later she began attending Smyrna M.B. Church with her nieces and nephews.

She leaves to cherish her memories, one niece, Miranda Dunnaway-Hailey; one nephew, Ricky Dunnaway; one aunt, Bessie Mae Smith; three sisters-in-law, Mary Watkins, Josephine Bass and Julia (Harrell) Johnson Patterson; two brothers-in-law, John Martin and James Eddie (Vivian) Patterson; a host of other cousins, great nieces, great nephews, relatives and friends; and devoted friends, Henry Crawford, Mary Ogilvie, Pastor J.W. Rankins, Rev. Joe Battles and Smyrna M.B. Church family New Traveling Stars.