>From The Knoxville News Sentinel 30-31 Dec 2003 BECK, VERA R. - of Oak Ridge, (formerly of Wartburg) CARDEN, JOE E. - age 65 of Jacksboro, KENNEDY, OMEY - age 94, of LaFollette, McGHEE, LUTHER DEWEY (L.D.) - age 67, of Pioneer, KESTERSON, JAMES "JIM" C. - age 79 of LaFollette, McCARTY, ELDER ORUS D. (O.D.) - age 91 of LaFollette ========================================= BECK, VERA R. - of Oak Ridge, (formerly of Wartburg) passed away December 29, 2003 at her home in Oak Ridge. She was a former Wartburg Postmaster and was named Tennessee Postmaster of the Year (National League of Postmasters) in 1972. She was a Volunteer at Methodist Medical Center where she had accumulated over 10,000 volunteer hours. She was also a 50 year member of the Order of Eastern Star and a member of Glenwood Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by: her husband, Edwin E. Beck; parents, Lewis and Ethel Runions; brother, Cecil Runions; sisters, Alma Bates and Ruth Hurst; niece, Betty Chastain. She is survived by: nieces and nephews, Sue and Kenneth Jenkins of Hickman County, Connie and Jimmy Bowen of Hickman County, Bob and Elizabeth Lovelace Lecroy of Chattanooga, Billie Lovelace Carringer and David of Oak Ridge; and a host of friends, grandnieces and nephews. Vera was known as a very caring person. Her greatest joy was in helping those at Methodist Medical Center and the Hospice House. When asked about all those hours of no pay, her answer was always, "I'm paid every day by a thank you, a smile and a hug!" The family will receive friends on Tuesday, December 30, 2003 from 6-8 p.m. at Schubert Funeral Home in Wartburg. Funeral services will begin at 8 p.m. with Rev. Tom Mooty officiating. A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, 10 a.m. in Wartburg City Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Hospitality House, MMC or First Baptist Church of Wartburg where she was a member for many years. CARDEN, JOE E. - age 65 of Jacksboro, passed away Saturday, December 27, 2003 at St. Mary's Medical Center of Campbell County. He was a member of Cedar Hill Baptist Church. Joe was a loving husband, father, and grandfather who enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. Joe was preceded in death by: parents, Arthur and Fannie Seibers Carden; sister, Lucy Carden. Joe is survived by: wife, Claudia Carden; son, Clyde Brown; and daughter, Michell Marian, all of Jacksboro; granddaughters, Ashley and Aleiha James; brothers, James Asbury of Dayton, Ohio and Arthur Carden, Jr. of LaFollette; sisters and brother-in-law, Mary Dow of Knoxville and Rosalee and Don Asbury of Heskiel; and a host of other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday, December 31, 2003 in the Chapel of Martin Wilson Funeral Home with Rev. Ronnie Arnold and Rev. Ronnie Freeman officiating. Interment will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends Monday and Tuesday from 6 till 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Martin Wilson Funeral Home of LaFollette will be in charge of arrangements. KENNEDY, OMEY - age 94, of LaFollette, passed away Monday morning, December 29, 2003 at her home. She was a member of Fundamental Missionary Baptist Church. Preceded in death by husband, Dewey Kennedy; sons, Iralee, James, Mark, Eugene, Charlie and Carlos; daughters, June, Cardella, Imogene and Adgelee. She is survived by sons, Lonnie Kennedy of Stinking Creek, Bob Kennedy of LaFollette, Don Kennedy of Duff and Tommy Kennedy of Oak Ridge; daughters, Faye Taylor of Florida and Mae Sutton of Duff; 49 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren; sisters, Julie Bunch of Lak City and Maxiee Seiber of Wartburg; several nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be 1:00 p.m. Thursday, January 1, 2004 at Fundamental Missionary Baptist Church, Rev. Larry Russell officiating. Interment will be at Bowman Cemetery, Eagan. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, December 31, at Cross Funeral Home. Cross Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. McGHEE, LUTHER DEWEY (L.D.) - age 67, of Pioneer, passed away Sunday, December 28, 2003 at Jellico Community Hospital. He was a member of Pioneer Baptist Church. Preceded in death by parents, Thomas and Mildred McGhee and a brother, Carl McGhee. He is survived by sons, William McGhee of Ohio and James McGhee of Georgia; daughters, Kathy Lynn McGhee of Kentucky and Novalee Smith of Ohio; brother, Ronnie McGhee of Ohio; sister, Jean Ann Madison of Ohio; companion, Diana Whaley; step-children, Thomas Whaley, James Whaley, Jason Whaley and Melissa Whaley, all of Tennessee; aunts, Pauline, Maxine, Barbara Jean and Ada; uncle, Gordon; 11 grandchildren; 12 nieces and nephews; special friends, Ed Hall, Doug Turner, Bill Elliot, Von Byrd, Bud and Artie Gardner and Ada Merideth. The funeral service will be 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 30, 2003 at Cross Chapel, Rev. James Adkins officiating. Interment will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 31, at Meredith Cemetery in Pioneer. The family will receive friends from 6- 8 p.m. Tuesday before the funeral service. Cross Funeral Home in charge of the arrangements. KESTERSON, JAMES "JIM" C. - age 79 of 207 Pleasant Ridge Rd., LaFollette, passed away Monday, December 29, 2003 at St. Mary's Medical Center in Knoxville. Jim was a loving father, grandfather and great grandfather who enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. Preceded in death by wife, Jewell Goins Kesterson; son Jimmy Kesterson; parents, Raymond and Ora Bailey Kesterson. Survived by son and daughter in law, Danny and Lisa Kesterson of Jacksboro; daughters and sons in law, Carol and J.R. Marcum of Lawrenceville, Ga., Connie and Eddie Jackson of Knoxville, Tammy and Benny Thomas of LaFollette, Donna Kesterson and friend, Rico Caiata of LaFollette; 8 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren; brothers, J.G. Kesterson of Jacksboro, Alvin Kesterson of Knoxville; sisters, Ruth Sittums of LaFollette, Alma Coker of Knoxville, Judy Bolton of Jacksboro and Joyce Futrell of Spring Hill, Fla.; several nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be 8 p.m. Wednesday, December 31 in Martin Wilson Chapel with Rev. Andrew Ayers officiating. Interment will be 11 a.m. Thursday in Woodlawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday night before funeral services. Martin Wilson Funeral Home of LaFollette in charge of arrangements. McCARTY, ELDER ORUS D. (O.D.) - age 91 of LaFollette, passed away Tuesday, December 30, 2003 at St. Mary's Medical Center of Campbell County. He was born and raised in the Mossey Springs Community of Union County and had a very vast knowledge of the area and loved to visit and talk about it. He was a life long farmer in his community, where he was called Mayor of Camp Ridge. Retired from the LaFollette Post after 29 years as letter carrier. He was ordained as an Elder in the Powell Valley Association of Primitive Baptist in March 1993. Member of Pleasant Hill Primitive Baptist Church in Speedwell. President of Campbell County Farm Bureau and had the honor of having the building named after him in 2003. Preceded in death by wife, Mollie (Lamb) McCarty and son, Odell McCarty. He is survived by sons and daughters in law, Olen McCarty, LaFollette, Herschel and Carol McCarty, LaFollette, David and Susie McCarty, Panama City Beach, Fla.; daughter and son in law, Cobia and Frank Stagnolia, LaFollette; 20 grandchildren; 30 great grandchildren; and 4 great-great grandchildren. Funeral service 2 p.m. Friday January 2, 2004 at Cross Chapel Elder Bill Rymer, Elder Larry Anderson and Elder Glen Davis officiating. Interment will be in Sunrise Cemetery. The family will receive friends 6-9 p.m. Thursday at Cross Funeral Home. =========================================== SUPPORT OUR TROOPS---FLY THE FLAG "Genealogy is like playing hide and seek. They hide I seek!!! www.byrge.com/genealogy/ Searching: BYRGE/BUNCH/DAUGHERTY/DUNCAN/KENNEDY/ PATTERSON/PHILLIPS/SEIBER/TACKETT/WARD