Neil D. Brabson was born November 18, 1951. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He departed this life at Fort Sanders Medical Center on April 10, 2017. Neil was preceded in death by his father Marshall and mother Geneva Brabson Little. He leaves to cherish his memory devoted wife, Tommie Brabson; daughters, Marquisha and Christina Brabson; grandchildren, Nadia, Maleah, Christian and Malaysia; brothers, James “Jake” (Genois) Brabson, Gary (Mary) Brabson, both of Fort Wayne, IN; sisters, Elayne Brabson of Fort Wayne, IN and Carol Brabson of Memphis; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. The family will receive friends on Saturday, April 15, 2017 from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm, with the Celebration of Life Service to follow in the William V. Powell, Jr. Memorial Chapel of Unity Mortuary.

Limmie “Bear” Smith, age 60, was silently called home on April 5, 2017.  He was born on March 2, 1957 in Chattanooga, TN. He was preceded in death by his devoted mother, Lizzie Smith Knaff, and his brother Melvin. He leaves to cherish his memories his loving brother, Willie F. Pettus, Sr.; his siblings, Francis Burum and Taylor Smith; his sister-in-law, Limateen Smith; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. The family will receive friends on Friday, April 14, 2017 at 11:00 AM, with the Celebration of Life Service to follow at 12:00 PM at True Light Missionary Baptist Church, 3229 George Light Rd, Knoxville, with Elder Darris Waters officiating.

Josephine Brown, of Knoxville, departed this life peacefully on April 2, 2017. She was born on August 17, 1917. She was the loving and devoted wife of late Haywood C. Brown. She is preceded in death by her husband and her sons-in-laws, Homer Buffington and Earnest Allen.  She leaves to cherish her memories her beloved children, James H. (Neady) Brown, David C. Brown, Essieaurt Buffington and Mattie Allen; and a host of other relatives and friends. Mrs. Brown will lie in state in the William V. Powell, Jr. Memorial Chapel of Unity Mortuary on Thursday, April 6, 2017 after 12 noon.  Graveside services at will be Friday, April 7, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at Highland Memorial Cemetery, Sutherland Avenue, with Reverend A. Jean Delaney, officiating.

Lola Marie Huggins Allen, age 51, of Knoxville, departed this life on Sunday, April 2, 2017 at her residence.  She was a member of Children of God Ministries COGIC where she served faithfully until her passing.  She was a Knox County Schools retiree. She is preceded in death by her father Albert Lee Huggins. She leaves to cherish her memories her husband of 15 years, Alphonso J. Allen; daughter, Sydney E. Allen; son, Jarvis D. Allen; mother, Alice Craig Huggins; three sisters, Deborah H. (Kenneth) Taylor, Alice H. (James) Allen and Doretha H. Holmes; twelve nieces and nephews; five great nieces and nephews; a host of relatives and friends. The family will receive friends on Saturday, April 8, 2017 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Children of God Ministries COGIC, 309 Deaderick Avenue, with the funeral to follow at 1:00 PM, Superintendent Phillip Hamilton, Sr., officiating.  The final resting place will be at East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery,2200 E Governor John Sevier Hwy, on Wednesday, April 12, 2017 at 11:30 AM. In lieu of flowers, Lola has requested donations may be made to an educational GoFundMe account at www.GoFundMe.com/EducateSydney/ for her daughter Sydney.

Donald Gene Ragan of Knoxville passed away peacefully March 30, 2017 at the age of 82. He was born in Belfair, Washington on October 27, 1934 to Clifford and Mildred Ragan. His family moved frequently with Don attending over 30 different grade schools. By the age of 14, Don was independent and working at a local appliance store. At the age of 17, he enlisted in the US Navy and served in Korea aboard the USS Boxer and in Honolulu, Hawaii as a radio intelligence specialist. After his honorable discharge, Don’s entrepreneurial spirit led him into business ventures in the US and China. Although Don’s favorite pastimes were sleeping, fishing, and crabbing, he was often out looking for prime real estate, timber, or any other potential business opportunity. After earning a bachelor’s degree, Don became a professor in China where he taught English for more than ten years at three universities. Don married his current wife Mary (Changxia Dai) in 2001. The couple returned to the United States from China in 2003, living and working in Oregon and New York before settling in Knoxville. In recent years, Don, Mary, and their son Jack have been successful renovating and renting houses. Don is survived by his wife Mary, 11 children, 28 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren. Memorial services will be private for the family of Mr. Ragan.

Dwayne Lee Goines, age 28, of Knoxville, departed this life on Saturday, March 25, 2017. He was born in Chicago, IL to Dorothy Goines and Earl Betts. He was also the youngest of five. Those that knew him BEST called him “Wayne”. He knew and accepted Christ at an early age. At age 14, he moved to Knoxville, TN, where he attended West High School. From there he met his high school sweetheart, Rebecca Galyon. During this union, God blessed them with a beautiful baby girl, Remy Marie Goines. Through the years, he spent several hours recording, producing and inspiring for his music to be heard! Wayne has ALWAYS had a passion for music. He was loving, caring, playful, outgoing, and just all together “Everybody’s Baby”. Wayne is preceded in death by his grandparents, James & Bernice Goines; and mother, Dorothy Goines. He leaves to continue to cherish his memories his grandmother, Archie Shelton; his father, Earl Betts; three sisters, Shawnda (Ralpheal) Goines-Lee, Bernice Goines and Danijah White; two brothers, Jesse (Miracle) Goines and Jerome Goines; and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. The family will receive friends on Saturday, April 1, 2017 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 noon at Overcoming Believers Church, 211 Harriet Tubman Street, with the funeral service to follow at 12:00 noon, with Rev. Dr. Joseph Smith officiating. The final resting place will be at Mount Olive Cemetery following the service. A white dove release will conclude the services.

Hazel Marie Richardson, age 78, departed this life on March 21, 2017. She was born in Natchez, MS on April 29, 1938. Hazel grew up in Oak Ridge, TN and traveled the world, living in California, Connecticut and Louisiana. She finally came back home to Tennessee eight years ago. She was a retired teacher’s assistant and loved working with kids. She was a faithful member of Trinity Seventh-Day Adventist Church, serving under Pastor Nathan Williams. She was the head deaconess, chairperson for Living Stones Senior Ministries and a member of the Hospitality Team. She is preceded in death by her parents Amos Robinson, Sr., and Lillian Robinson; and her sisters Ethel Robinson and Barbara Payne. She leaves to mourn her passing: brother, Amos Robinson, Jr.; niece, Sharon Wheat; nephew, Warren Robinson; great-nieces, Kizzie Jones and Ebony Jones; great-nephews, Lonnie Jones, Sr. and Warren Jordan; great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews, LiDaisha, Lonnie Jr, LiMonnie LiMaya, LaiLonnii and LaiShonii Jones; longtime friends Ruby Mason, David Miller, Mary Harris and Frank Gillespie; and a host of other relatives and friends. The family will receive friends on Saturday, April 1, 2017 from 2:00 PM to 2:30 PM at Trinity Seventh-Day Adventist Church, with the funeral service to follow at 2:30 PM, with Pastor Nation Williams officiating. The final resting place will be at Mount Olive Cemetery following the service. A white dove release will conclude the services.

Clarence Michael DeArmond, age 64, of Knoxville, went on to be with the Lord on March 20, 2017.  He is preceded in death by his father Clarence DeArmond, mother Frances L. DeArmond and nephew Bryan DeArmond.  He is survived by daughter Precious (Leopoldo Jr.) Richmond; three grandchildren: Jalisa Gillis, Maquay & Marquan Richmond; one great-grandchild, JaEden Hopson; brothers: Gregory & Jeffery DeArmond; sisters: Bevery Bonam and Sandra Gaston; nieces: Jamila Inman, Brina Tate, Anisha DeArmond and Ashley DeArmond; nephews, Jeffery DeArmond, Jr. and Orlando Harper; and several cousins. The remains of Mr. DeArmond will lie-in-state in the William V. Powell, Jr. Memorial Chapel of Unity Mortuary on Thursday, March 23, 2017 after 2:00 pm.  Per the request of the family, the Homegoing Celebration will be private.  The family will gather at 6020 Morning Glory Place, Knoxville, following the service.

Travis A. Frazier was born on February 21, 1982 to Rosetta Harkness. He attended Overcoming Believers Church under the leadership of Pastor Arnold. He was presently employed by JFG. Mr. Frazier departed this life on Monday, March 6, 2017 at home. He is preceded in death by his father Robert Davison and grandparents Francis Frazer and Charles Stone. He leaves to cherish his memory his children: Trashauna  Ewing and Travis Frazier, Jr.; mother, Rosetta Harkness; stepfather, Roland Harkness; siblings: Torrey Frazier, Tara Frazier, Tunya Williams, Phillip, Kevin, Carmen and Curtis Harkness, Shayla Brown, Tashayna Davison, Ashley Eskridge and Jordon Hardy; nieces and nephews: Shantarah Upton, Sharise Bryant, Lyonesha and Monik Holland, Jayden Bryant, Torrey Patterson, Janaysia Roberts; great-aunts, Mary Hickey and Rosa Osborne; and a host of relatives and friends. The family will receive friends on Saturday, March 11, 2017 from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm with the Homegoing Celebration to follow at Overcoming Believers Church, 211 Harriet Tubman Street, Knoxville, where Pastor Daryl Arnold is Senior Pastor. Immediately following the service, the family will proceed to the final resting place at Mt. Olive Cemetery, where a white dove release will conclude.

Frank William Bowden Jr., age 89, went home to be with the Lord on February 23, 2017. He was born June 4, 1927, in Goldsboro, NC, to Frank and Retha Bowden, Sr. Following graduation from Dillard High School, Frank was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in Germany and France during World War II. Once he returned, Frank enrolled as a student at North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, NC and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. With a love for science and math, Frank went on to become a teacher. He was first employed in Monroe, GA where he faced many obstacles within the segregated school system. He later married the love of his life, Martha Lee Burden, an East Tennessee native whom he met during his first year in college. Frank continued his teaching career in Washington, NC, and then moved to Knoxville, where taught at Vine Junior High School and worked to integrate the Southern Appalachian Regional Science Fair. Frank made it his duty to be a public servant towards civil rights initiatives. Whether providing transportation and bail money for students of Knoxville College during the lunch counter and theater sit-ins or pushing integration in the school system, he stayed very busy and remained vocal against injustices. Frank continued his education, receiving his Masters of Science degree in Biology from Virginia State College and post-graduate studies from New York University and University of Tennessee. On September 25, 1969, he was appointed principal of Eastport Elementary School. One year later, he was promoted to principal of Park Lowery Elementary School. After two years, he was promoted again to serve as the first principal of Sarah Moore Greene Elementary School. Following his retirement in 1987 after 30 years of service with the city schools, Frank was appointed to serve on the Knox County School Board and later was elected as a Knox County Commissioner. As Commissioner, Frank submitted a resolution to make Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday a legal paid holiday. Despite opposition the request was finally approved. Throughout his career Frank remained active in local youth organizations including Boy Scouts of America and Optimist International. Through the Optimist Club, Frank served as Charter President of the East Knoxville Chapter and became the first black governor of a district with Optimist International, serving Tennessee. He was a devoted and lifetime member (60 + years) of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. serving multiple terms as District Representative for the TN and KY regions. Frank also served several years in the Supreme Council of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity at the National Headquarters in Washington, DC. He received numerous awards and recognitions for his service including the local chapter Omega Man of the Year.Frank was preceded in death by his grandparents, Preston and Leah Bowden; parents, Frank W. Bowden, Sr. and Retha Johnson Bowden; sisters, Carrie Isler and Ethel Murphy. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Martha Lee Burden Bowden; son, Frank W. (Carla) Bowden III, M.D., FACS of Jacksonville, FL; daughter, Jennifer (Danny) Zialcita-Simon; four grandchildren, Valdemar Zialcita, Zachary Zialcita, Chanel Bowden, and Morgan Zialcita; niece, Cardrina Bowden of Los Angeles, CA; a host of other relatives and friends.Mr. Bowden will lie in repose on Sunday, February 26, 2017 from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM in the William V. Powell, Jr. Memorial Chapel of Unity Mortuary, 1425 McCalla Avenue. The family will receive friends on Monday, February 27, 2017 at 10:00 AM with the funeral mass to follow at 10:30 AM at Immaculate Conception Church, 414 W Vine Ave, Knoxville. The final resting place will be held at New Salem Cemetery in Sevierville, TN. Services will conclude with a white dove release.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to local charities.