JOHN CLIFFORD BYARS
John Clifford Byars, 77, of Millington, passed away May 10, 2021. Mr. Byars was a USAF veteran who served in the Vietnam War. John loved the Lord and his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He served in the church. John loved to BBQ and his specialty was whole hog. He leaves his wife of 54 years, Norma; children, John L. (Jamie) Byars, Laurie (Phil) Holmes and Elaine (Ray) Torgersen; brother, Jim (Joan) Byars; nine grandchildren, Kyle (Christen) Townsley, Lauren Byars, Alex Townsley, Jonah (Tori) Townsley, Meaghan (Austin) Elrod, Joel (Hannah) Townsley, Ayden Torgersen, Lynnlee Byars and Titus Torgersen; four great-grandchildren, Eli Townsley, Piper Byars, Watson Townsley and Jude Townsley. The family received friends May 13 at the Millington Chapel. Private graveside service was held. In lieu of flowers, the family asks memorials be made to the River of Life Building Fund in Munford. Munford Funeral Home Millington Chapel had charge.
BOBBIE MEEKS FORBES BYRD
Bobbie Meeks Forbes Byrd, 90, of Munford passed away quietly in her sleep on May 11, 2021 at Methodist Hospice Residence in Memphis. Funeral arrangements included a memorial service at Munford Funeral Home and interment at Helen Crigger Cemetery, when pandemic conditions permit.
VERLINE RAY COLLINS
Verline Ray Collins, 76, of Millington, passed away May 5, 2021 at Methodist Hospital North.
There was a memorial service for Mrs. Collins May 14 at Jefferson Mortuary, Inc., in Millington. Interment followed at St. James Cemetery in Millington. Jefferson Mortuary, Inc. had charge.
DUPREE COOPER
In the late evening of May 8, 2021, Dupree Cooper of Tipton County died at the age of 85 after a brief battle with cancer. Dupree was a gifted man and never lost his love of learning. Dupree was born in Tipton County on October 2, 1935, and was the first born son of Willard and Maurine Cooper. He was a graduate of Munford High School, Class of 1953, and was a member of the high school band as a trumpet player. In addition to the trumpet, Dupree played the piano, organ and harmonica – all self-taught. Dupree enjoyed a life-long love of music. In 1956, Dupree married his first wife, Glenda and together they raised three children, Lynn, Lisa and Duke. Later in life, he was married to Betty Cooper and to Pauline White for 30 years. While married to Pauline, he adopted three macaws which he greatly enjoyed caring for. His love of birds was a life-long passion. For thirty plus years, Dupree was employed by a regional home builder as a custom cabinet maker. His work is found in thousands of homes throughout the region which cemented his reputation as being the “best in the business”. Later in life, he mastered the art of lathing. Many of his lathed creations have sold throughout the U.S. and abroad. After leaving his job with the regional home builder, Dupree became a home inspector for Munford Union Bank, now First Citizens Bank. He retired from the bank in 2016. Among his many hobbies was car restorations. Through the years, Dupree restored a number of antique automobiles. His restorations earned numerous “Best in Show” titles from car competitions throughout the U.S. Additionally, his love of restorations led to his association with the Memphis Belle Foundation’s restoration of the Memphis Belle. The Memphis Belle was one of the first United States Army Air Forces B-17 heavy bombers to complete 25 combat missions during World War II. The aircraft now resides at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio where, from May 2018, is on display. Dupree was recognized by the Foundation for his work in the restoration process. In addition to his many passions, Dupree was a Founding Father of Tipton-Rosemark Academy, a top regional college prep school located in the area. During its formative years, Dupree was instrumental in finding campus site locations for the school to build upon. He negotiated with the State of Tennessee for the purchase of the Rosemark campus which now houses both lower and upper schools. The Board of Directors recognized his service with an award. All three of his children are graduates of the school. Dupree was preceded in death by his wives, Betty and Pauline; his parents, Willard and Maurine; his brothers, Mickey and Dennis. Dupree is survived by his sister, Pansy; his sister-in-law, Bessie; his children, Lynn, who was his sole caregiver during his illness, Lisa (Wayne) and Duke; his grandchildren, Jennifer, Andrew, Mary Ashley and Taylor and his great-grandchild, Britney. Dupree’s legacy will live on through the many graduates of Tipton-Rosemark Academy, through his custom cabinetry, his art works, and through the lives of his children and grandchildren. The family wishes to thank special friends Mr. Billy Joe Hinkle and Mr. Steve Irwin. The family received friends May 13 until the memorial service at the Munford Chapel. The family asks memorials be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Munford Funeral Home Munford Chapel had charge.
LUCILLE ESTER HALLIBURTON
Lucille Ester Halliburton, 47, passed away May 14, 2021 and a celebration of life at Jefferson Mortuary, Inc., in Millington on May 16, a private memorial service was held for immediate family only also at Historical First Baptist 4286 Shelby Road, Millington. Interment followed immediately at Pleasant Rest Memorial Gardens in Millington.
LOTIS HERMAN LOFT
Lotis Herman Loft, 82, of Munford, passed from this life into God’s hands peacefully in his sleep on the morning of May 2, 2021. Funeral service was held May 6 at Northridge Woodhaven Funeral Home in Millington.
DOROTHY LEE McCULLOUGH
Dorothy Lee McCullough, 98, passed away May 8, 2021. Funeral services was held May 12 in Helen Crigger Cemetery in Munford. Munford Funeral Home-Munford Chapel had charge.
JOEL E. PALMER
Joel E. Palmer, 72, of Millington, passed away May 6, 2021. The visitation was held May 10 and the service May 11 all at Munford Funeral Home Millington Chapel. Interment was in Northridge Woodhaven Cemetery.
JOEL KEVIN PALMER
Joel Kevin Palmer, 53, passed away May 12, 2021. There will be a memorial service at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 5 at Faith Fellowship Church 4550 Austin Peay Highway in Memphis, TN 38135. Munford Funeral Home MIllington Chapel (901) 873-0123 MunfordFuneralHome.com
JARVIS HUEDALE ROACH
Jarvis HueDale Roach, 36, of Millington passed away May 7, 2021. Visitation was held May 14 at the Millington Funeral Home, Inc., in Millington with interment held at Pleasant Rest Memorial Gardens in Millington. Millington Funeral Home, Inc., had charge.
CHARLES SMITH JR.
Charles Smith, Jr., 61, of Millington, passed away on May 10, 2021. There was a walk through viewing May 18 at Jefferson Mortuary Inc. Chapel, in Millington. Interment followed at St. Paul Cemetery in Millington. Jefferson Mortuary had charge.
