Zykeise Raquan Forbes went to his heavenly home May, 10, 2016 at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He is preceded in death by grandfather, Ira Minnefee; great-grandmother, Lillie (Lad) Minnefee; great-grandfather, Joel D. Littlejohn Sr.; great-grandmothers, Mary E. Littlejohn; Marie Huggins, great-grandparents, Margaret and Joe Bob Forbes; brother, Dion Littlejohn Jr.; cousin, Devin W. Ware; uncles, Glenn Forbes and Joel D. Littlejohn Jr. He is survived by parents, Dionand Lenise Littlejohn; brothers, Dion III, and Darius Littlejohn; grandparents, Sandra and Leon Forbes, grandmother, Syvillia Littlejohn. Family will receive friends on Sunday, May 22, 2016 from 2:00 to 3:00 with services to follow at 3:00PM at Unity Mortuary Chapel with Pastor Robert Sherrod officiating. Interment will immediately follow at Mt. Olive Cemetery. Services to conclude dove release.

Vernita “Nee Nee” Clark born May 20, 1962 expired on April 27, 2016. She was preceded in death by mother, Betty Hampton; sisters, Wanda Simpson and Tangella Hampton; mother and father in-law, Evelyn and Herman; brother in-law, Pee Wee Clark, aunt, Rena Mae, uncles, Paul and Claude Goss, grandmother, Lilly M. Goss. She leaves to cherish her memories, husband, Hiram Clark Sr., father, Robert Hampton Sr.; children, Vernisha Hampton, Hiram Clark Jr. (Brionna) Maurice Hampton Jr., Markeeze (April) Clark, LaToya (Miguel) Gonzalez; 6 grandchildren; sister, Sharon Manning; brothers, Larry Coats, Kevin Dobson, Robert Jr., Maurice Hampton Sr.; sisters-in-law, Felita Hardin, Renita Clark; aunts, nieces, nephews, many friends including Denise Mackey and Deloise Cole. The family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff at Beverly Park Place. The family will receive friends Saturday, April 30, 2016 from 12:00 – 1:00 pm with the Homegoing Celebration to follow at Open Door Baptist Church 2806 Sherman Street, with Rev. Steve Simpson officiating. Interment will be held Sunday, May 1, 2016 at 2:00 pm, New Gray Cemetery. The service will conclude with the Unity dove release.

Benton, Betty Ann Womble of Oak Ridge, TN departed this life on April 12, 2016 in Charlotte, NC. She was preceded in death by her son, Richard Jackson; great-grandson, Mekhi Reid; mother, Naomi Womble; brother, Lawrence Womble; aunt, Mary Horton; cousins, William Holt, Paul Holt, David Holt and Revae Holt. She is survived by: daughters, Millicent Jackson and Christina Benton; grandchildren, Italy Drake, Cameron Tate, Joshua Brooks, Averie Brooks, and Nathaniel Brooks; great-grandson, Maurice Reid, Jr; sisters, Reverend America (Reverend Melvin) Miller and Janice (A. Maurice, Sr.) Donaldson; brother, James Womble; special friends, Priscilla and Mike Phillips, Deborah Long and Linda Williams; a host of loving nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Family will receive friends Saturday, April 23, 2016 at 2:00-2:30 PM with Celebration of Life Service to follow at Bentley Street Christian Church with Reverend America Miller officiating. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Alzheimer’s Association Western Carolina, 4600 Park Rd. Suite 250, Charlotte, NC 28209, in honor of Betty Benton.

Larry Charles Chapman was born to Christopher and Dorothy Chapman on November 15, 1959 in Knoxville, Tennessee. He passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on April 10, 2016. He fought a good fight, he kept the faith. Larry was a long time member of High Street Baptist Church, Roanoke, VA. Preceded in death by his father Christopher Chapman, Sr., brother, Jimmie Chapman, nephew and Lil Ike Crowder. He leaves to cherish his memories: mother, Dorothy Chapman, Knoxville, TN., brothers, Herman Chapman, Roanoke, VA., Drs., Chad (Marilyn) Chapman, Atlanta, GA., Reverend Chris Chaney, Chattanooga, TN., Sisters, Apostle Linda (Rosewill) Hayes, Charlotte, NC., Christine Brown, Selena Crowder, Mary Chapman, Knoxville, TN., Dorothy (Carlton) Simpson, Roanoke, VA., a host of devoted nieces, nephews and cousins to include, the Hemphill, Kennedy, Davenport, Stone, Truesdale, Taylor, Gordon and Thomas families, devoted friends, Gregory (Arnita) Harper, Ontario, CA. and Albert Workman, Knoxville, TN.  The family will receive friends at Unity Mortuary Chapel on  Saturday, April 16, 2016 from 11:00 to 12:00 with  the Homegoing Celebration to follow at 12:00 with Reverend Reginald Strong officiating and Apostle Linda Hayes, eulogist. Interment will immediately follow at Mt. Olive Cemetery with the Unity dove release to conclude. The family wishes to express thanks and sincere gratitude to Serene Manor Medical Center and University of Tennessee Cancer Center.

September (Aretha Coleman) Massey-Goolsby age 68, of Knoxville born on February 2, 1948 went home to be with our Heavenly father on Sunday, April 3, 2016. She is a former DC resident of 35 plus years, a retired DC motor vehicle Distributor and Federal Government employee and a former Knoxville City Council Candidate in 2005. September was a loving caring daughter, mother, grandmother, sister-in-law, aunt, cousin and friend who would do anything she could to assist in whatever she could. She loved to shop, travel, write, decorate, debate; dress up, was bold, feisty, and glamorous and loved to visit family and friends. She was known for her home made cards, gifts, crafts and various performances. She will be truly missed. She was a faithful member of Peace and Goodwill Missionary Baptist Church on Washington Avenue and a childhood member of Greater Bush Grove Baptist Church in Mechanicsville. She is preceded in death by mother, Ruth Johnson Coleman, guardians, Arthur and Hattie Walton, first husband, David E  Massey, mother-in-law, Annie M. Massey, father-in-law, Freddie Massey, Sr. second husband, Marlon Goolsby and granddaughter, London Skky Barno. She is survived by her only daughter, Pleshette R. Massey, godmothers, Frankie Riddles and Laurease Harvey, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, cousins, nieces, nephews and very close friends. The family will receive friends on Saturday, April 9, 2016 from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. with Homegoing Celebration to follow at 6:00 p.m. with Pastor John B. Jordan officiating.

Valerie Denise McDowell – of Knoxville departed this life on February 26, 2016. She worked in the healthcare field for several years and attended St. Paul Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by father, James Alexander. She leaves to treasure her memory her devoted mother, Joyce Alexander, fiancé Claude Robinson, children, Troy, Kamara, Desmond and Chasity Erskine; 5 grandchildren; brother, Joseph McDowell,; sisters, Kim (Lennis) Logan, and Debbie McDowell; stepfather, Richard McDowell; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends. On Sunday, March 6, 2016 the family will receive friends from 3:30- 4:00 at Unity Mortuary Chapel with the Home Going Celebration to follow at 4:00 pm, with Pastor Dexter Mims officiating. Interment to follow at Mt. Olive Cemetery with full dove release and blanket presentation.

Lozerik Shantell Boyd – age 34 years old passed away February 25, 2016 at his residence. He is survived by his mother, Alice Boyd, father, Clarence Brown; 3 children, Tynasha Boyd, Madison Boyd, Cor’Vae Parham; special friend Latasha Brown; 2 sisters, Lakeisha Campbell and Elzene Boyd; brother, Brian Corhn, (father whom he raised Brian Corhn); nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends. On Saturday, March 5, 2016 the family will receive friends from 12:00- 1:00 at Unity Mortuary with the Home Going Celebration to follow at 1:00 pm, with Elder William Ellis officiating.

David Roman Dixson, Jr., age 69 of Knoxville, Tennessee, passed away Wednesday, February 18, 2016. He was born on July 12, 1946. He is preceded in death by his parents, David and Glorious Dixson and his loved daughter, Angela Dixson-Martin. He is survived by his wife of 43 years Joyce L. Dixson; daughter, Cynthia (James) Shelton; son, David (Angel) Dixson III; grandchildren, Christopher Downs, Victoria Martin, Arianna and Roman Dixson; brother, Lawrence (Mary) Dixson; sisters, Shirley (Wiley) King, and Quilla Cantrell; aunt, Clara Collins and numerous nieces, nephews other relatives and a host of devoted friends. The receiving of friends will be held Tuesday, February 23, 2016 from 5:30 to 6:30 at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church located at 1807 Dandridge Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37915 with funeral services immediately following, Pastor Leroy Franklin and Reverend Steve A. Simpson, officiating.

E-3 Robert Milton Cowan Sr., 79, passed away February 18, 2016 at Ft. Sanders Regional Medical Center with his family by his side. Robert was born on November 28, 1936 in
Knoxville, Tennessee to the late Lew and Helen Francis Delaney Cowan. He was better known as “Puddin” to his family and close friends. He graduated from Austin High School in 1954 and in 1956, Robert enlisted in the United States Navy as Signalman. He proudly served on the USS Loftberg. After being honorably discharged, he became employed by the Knoxville Utility Board for 28 ½ years and served in the position of automobile mechanic and assistant foreman. After retiring from KUB he obtained a position at Unity Mortuary for many years. Robert is preceded in death by parents, Lewis and Helen Cowan; step-mother, Marie Cowan; sister, Barbara Shands; brother, Walter Cowan; and sister, Lillian. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Gladys Sheely Cowan; and their 4 children, Helen Ruth (Carl) Kincaid, Robert Milton Cowan Jr., Sharon Denise (Joe) Meady, Sabrina Diane (Jarvis) Johnson; sister,
JoAnn Satterfield, sister-in-law, Pauline Cowan; brothers-in-law, Edger Johnson and Sylvester Sheely; 13 devoted grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, and other family members. The family will receive friends from 11:00-12:00, Thursday, February 25, 2016 at Sentertown Missionary Baptist Church with funeral service to follow at 12:00 Noon, Pastor Keith Elliott officiating. Interment to follow at East Tennessee Veterans Cemetery. Services to conclude with full military honors, dove release and blanket presentation. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the church.

Janice A. Brown-Gaillard, of Knoxville departed this life on Wednesday, February 17, 2016 at her residence. She was preceded in death by her husband, James S. Gillard II; parents, Aaron Brown, Sr., and Eloise Brown. She is survived by son, James Gaillard III; daughter, Jennifer Gaillard; 2 grandchildren; brothers, Aaron (Tina) Brown, Jr., Michael (Linda) Brown and Alvin Brown all of Knoxville; sisters, Cheryl Carter and Dorothy Smith of Knoxville; nieces, nephews others relatives and friends. On Tuesday, February 23, 2016 the family will receive friends from 12:00 – 1:00 PM with the Homegoing Celebration to follow at 1:00 PM at Unity Mortuary Chapel with Pastor Karen Arter officiating. Interment to follow at Mt. Olive Cemetery with a concluding dove release and blanket ceremony. The family will assemble at 203 E. Springdale Avenue.