Melba Denise Mackey-Walker, affectionately known as “Ne-Ne” to her family and friends, was called home Friday, September 22, 2017 to be with her Lord and Savior. She was a devoted daughter, mother and grandmother. Melba attended Austin-East High School Class of 1977. She also attended Knoxville College. Melba worked for Sunrise Community of Tennessee for 20+ years. She also worked for the Cerebral Palsy. Melba lived her life doing what she loved, enhancing the quality of life for individuals with special needs. She is preceded in death by her father, Mr. James Lewis Mackey, Sr., and her aunt, Katrina Byrd.  She leaves to cherish her memory Mr. Jeremy Bowman; her mother, Mrs. Geraldine Mackey; son, Victor Horace (Rosalind Taylor); grandchildren, Nariah Taylor, Toria Horace, Dishawn Horace and Massiah Horace; sisters, Ms. Jacqueline Mackey and Aola Mackey-Olowoyo; brothers, Mr. Curtis Mackey, Mr. Calvin Mackey and Mr. James (Germaine) Mackey; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and special friend, Danielle Logan. A special thanks to Terminix, Inc., Mr. Jim Murry, Mr. & Mrs. Peter & Cindy Biasella and Mr. Bob Hutchison for your love and support. The family will receive friends on Saturday, September 30, 2017 from 12 noon to 1 PM at Payne Avenue Missionary Baptist Church, 2714 Martin Luther King, Jr., Ave., with the Celebration of Life Service to follow with Pastor R.S. Brown, Jr., officiating. The final resting place will be at Mount Olive Cemetery. Services will conclude with a white dove release.

Lillie Ann Ogletree, of Knoxville, departed this life on Wednesday, September 20, 2017 at her residence. She was born in Opelika, Alabama to the late Abbie Vinson, who preceded her in death. She is also preceded in death by sister, Annie M. Gibson; and brothers, Charles Hunter and John Vinson. Ms. Ogletree is survived by her nieces, Mary H. Bradley and Johnnie Ogletree; sister-in-law, Joyce Hunter; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends including Joyce Wippman. The family will receive friends on Saturday, September 30, 2017 from 12:00-1:00 PM in the William V. Powell, Jr. Memorial Chapel of Unity Mortuary, 1425 McCalla Avenue, with the Celebration of Life Service to follow at 1:00 PM, with Rev. Carter Hunter, Jr., officiating.

Carolyn Willis “Sissy” Winston, age 73, of Knoxville, peacefully entered into the arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Sunday, September 3, 2017, at Tennova-Physicians Regional Medical Center. She is preceded in death by her parents, I. T. and Alline Willis. Carolyn is survived by her devoted husband, Melvin Robert Winston; children, Kevin (Cheryl) and Sharonne Winston; grandchildren, Jacia Kpana, Lauren and Jonathan Winston; brother, Irvin (Margaret) Willis; a host of family and friends. The family will receive friends on Saturday, September 9, 2017, from 11 AM to 12 PM, with the Funeral Service to follow at 12:00 PM, at Rogers Memorial Baptist Church, 520 College Street, with Rev. Michel S. E. Caldwell officiating and Elder Joe B. Maddox, Eulogist. The final resting place will be at Highland South Memorial Park following the service. A white dove release will conclude the services. Please keep the Winston family in your thoughts and prayers.

LaTesha Jamae Bowen was called home to glory on Saturday, August 26, 2017 at the age of 41 years old in Knoxville, TN. She was born on December 14, 1976 in Knoxville, TN. She is preceded in death by her mother, Martha E. Davis; father, Samuel Smith; brother, Edward Bowen, Jr.; daughter, Jayla S. Moffett; grandmother, Minnie S. Fullwood-Davis; uncles, James H. Davis and Eugene J. Mitchell; aunt, Brenda M. Davis; and cousin, DeAries Davis-George. She is survived by her son, LaDeries Davis; daughter, LaMyisha Giffin; granddaughter, A’Nyla Hill; grandson, McClovin Tyler; grandmother, Betty Bowen; aunt, June Mitchell, all of Knoxville; uncle, Howard (Renda) Davis of Louisville, KY; godmother, Angela Mobley; sisters, Yancy Riddes and Lisa Fair; brothers, Jairon (Angie) Bowen, Ashaundae Bowen and James (Tina) Davis; cousins, Eugene (Pug) Mitchell; Samantha Mitchell, John Mitchell, James (JD) Davis, Frank Mitchell Jr., Tameka Davis, Derrick Mitchell, LaVon Davis, Jalon Tate, William Mcallister, Zerconia Davis, Daryl Rollins-Davis, Javieris Mitchell, DJ Mitchell, James “ManMan” Davis, DeEric Mitchell, Tator White and Justic Mitchell; and very special friends, Danielle Johnson, LaTisha Garden, Tony Gillespie and Steven McClue. The family will receive friends on Saturday, September 2, 2017 from 11-12 noon, with the Celebration of Life Service to follow at 12 noon, in the William V. Powell, Jr. Memorial Chapel of Unity Mortuary, with Rev. Reginald Jackson officiating. The final resting place will be at Mount Olive Cemetery following the service. A white dove release will conclude the services.

Christine “Chris” Towns was born to her parents on January 15, 1941 in Knoxville, TN. She went home to our Heavenly Father to receive her wings on August 22, 2017. She passed away in her home in the comfort of her daughter’s arms while sleeping. She was preceded in death by her mother, Virginia Jones and her loving husband, Johnny Towns, Sr. She is survived by her children, Mary Towns, Anthony Towns and Johnny Towns, Jr.; and a host of family from the Towns, Porter, Smith, Taylor, Jones and Mills families. The family will receive friends on Friday, September 1, 2017 from 5:00-5:30 PM, with the Celebration of Life Service to follow, in the William V. Powell, Jr. Memorial Chapel of Unity Mortuary, with Pastor Jeremy Weaver officiating.

Baby Boy Mapendo, child of Sala Mapendo, of Knoxville, departed this life on Tuesday, August 22, 2017 in Henderson County, TN. Funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced at a later time with integrity by Unity Mortuary.

Sala Mapendo, age 22, of Knoxville, departed this life on Tuesday, August 22, 2017 in Henderson County, TN. Funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced at a later time with integrity by Unity Mortuary.

Nancy Tate, age 62, of Knoxville, departed from this life on Monday, August 21, 2017 in Knoxville, TN. She was born March 8, 1955 in Knoxville, TN to the late James Whitson and Sallie Mae Tate. She was preceded in death by her parents, James Whitson and Sallie Mae Tate. She is survived by her son Orlando and daughter Tecola Tate; her sisters, Jewell Whitson, Christine Tate and Peggy Bassett; her brother, James Tate; and a host of other family members and friends. The family will receive friends on Sunday, August 27, 2017 from 2-3 PM, with the Celebration of Life service to begin at 3 PM, in the William V. Powell, Jr. Memorial Chapel of Unity Mortuary.

Stephanie Sherron Hines Mangrum, age 47 of Knoxville, Tennessee passed away peacefully in her sleep on August 20, 2017. Stephanie was a graduate of Austin-East High School class of 1988. She cooked the best fried chicken, loved to grill, watch old movies and absolutely enjoyed her ‘211’. She was preceded in death by her grandmothers Willie Phelps and Katherine Washington; and her father James Phelps. She leaves to cherish her memories, her mother Wanda Mae Hines; children, DeMichael Hines and Savon Hines, all of Knoxville; her sisters, Trevice Lawrence, Tammy Hines of Nashville and Jazzmyne Monday-Hines; brothers, Michael (Keisha) Monday-Hines, Justin Rodgers-Hines, Joseph Drew and Dios Tate; devoted friend, Renee (Stephen) Frank; nephew, Anthony “Pete” Lawrence; nieces, Talysha Lawrence and Zalysha Lawrence; grandchildren, KiAnthony Hines, Laniya Hines, Perry Hines, Ava Marie Hines, Paris Hines, Ariana and Adrian Daugherty; her bonus grandchildren, ZaNeeya Noel, King Young, KShawn Young, Montana Tate and her very special butterfly IanaRose Wanda Tate, affectionately known as Moo-Moo. She will be truly missed by the Phelps Family and a host of other family and friends. The family will receive friends on Saturday, August 26, 2017 from 4-7 PM at 2908 Badgett Drive, Knoxville, TN 37217.

Juan G. Ramirez Morales, age 56, of El Paso, TX, departed this life on August 20, 2017 at UT Medical Center. Mr. Ramirez Morales will return to his native home of Ciudad Lerdo, Durango, Mexico for funeral services the and final resting place.