Echols, Ronald D. – passed away on December 17, 2014 at University Medical Center. He is preceded in death by his parents, Delarnes and Annie Lee Echols; aunt and uncle Cleveland and Sara Green. He leaves to cherish his memories: wife, Barbara Echols; sons, Don (Venisha) Winton, Lashawn (Sadjah) Echols; daughter, Shameka (Howard)  Hale; grandchildren, Audonest Winton, Chyna Echols, JaMya Lewis, DeShawn, Kaliyah and Kalaysia Hale, Elijah and Nehemiah Echols and Tavorres Weston; sister, Linda Weaver; a host of nieces and nephews Tracy, Stanley, Theresa, Travis, Tyrese, Marketta, TyShawn, Travis, Jalynn and Jairen, Waylon, Tion and Tionna; and a host of other relatives and friends. The Homegoing Celebration will be held Tuesday, December 23, 2014 from 11:00 – 12:00 Noon, with services to follow at 12:00 Noon at New Trinity Tabernacle C.O.G.I.C. with Pastor Willie L. Jefferson officiating. Interment to follow at East Tennessee Veterans Cemetery with military honors and full dove release.

Booker, Harold Van Buren (Woodson) – was born on December 26, 1950 to the late Susie Mae Booker and the late Van Buren and Alice Whatley. Harold was a graduate of Austin High School class of 1970. Harold departed this life on December 12, 2014. He was preceded in death by his parents  and siblings, Marilyn (Tina) Washington, George Frank Booker, Dean Booker and Debbie Booker; grandparents, George and Roma Davidson, Wade and Lena Whatley; mother-in-law, Barbara Jean Saffell. Left to cherish his memory: his children, Harold, Jr. (Boo Boo), Dontrell and YoShaun Booker: grandchildren, DeShaun, Justin, Jamal, Tre’Shaun, Daysha and Giovanni (Snookie); siblings, Sandra Tipton, Lisa Booker, Donnell (Sherry) Booker of Knoxville, TN., Earnest (Tabby) Booker,  Cleveland, Ohio, Diane (Steven) Brown, Sharon Whatley, Stanley (Sybil) Washington, Ricky (Ramonda) Washington, Maurice (Synetta) Whatley, Steven (Lynn) Whatley, Bruce (Oshea) Whatley and Pastor Zachary (Erica) Washington of Polk County, Georgia; sister-in-law Estella Booker, Memphis, TN.; longtime companion, Vickie Cullom; special friends, Roosevelt Williams, Peter Pole, Don Lauderdale and Anthony (Full) Johnson; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends. The Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, December 20, 2014 from 12:30 – 1:00 P.M. at Unity Mortuary Chapel with service to follow at 1:00 P.M. with Rev. Richard S. Brown, Jr. officiating. The family will assemble at 3233 Shields avenue at 11:30 A.M.

Atkins, James Lee (Slim) – passed away December 4, 2014 at his residence. He was preceded in death by his father, Charles James Atkins and uncle, Harry Atkins. He is survived by his one daughter, Kyrun Willis; mother, Dorothy Lewis Kyle; step-mother, Elnora Atkins; brothers, Marshall Kyle, Jr, Sydney Atkins and Stevie Atkins; sisters, Becky Kyle and Sandra Atkins-Howard; aunt, Beverly Atkins and a host of nieces, nephew and numerous friends, including special life partner Bobbie Jean Forbes. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, December 16, 2014 from 6:00 – 7:00 pm with service to follow at 7:00 pm at Unity Mortuary Chapel with Rev. Kenneth Jones officiating.

Monday, Teresa – of Knoxville, departed this life on Monday, December 1, 2014 at her residence. She was a devoted U.T. fan. She was preceded in death by her mother, Rita Monday and father, John Greenlee. She leaves to cherish memories: children, Michael Monday-Hines, Jazzmyne Monday-Hines, Sharron Moore and Justin Rodgers-Hines; grandchildren, Audrina Farley, KeAndre Monday-Hines, Kalissa Monday-Hines, Izayah Monday-Hines; foster, mother, Wanda Hines; special nephew, Savon Hines and other relatives and friends. Memorial Service will be held at 4:00pm on Sunday, December 7, 2014 at Morningside Gardens Center located at 1800 Linden Avenue, Knoxville, TN.

Imes, Gwendolyn Venice – joined our Lord and Savior on Saturday, November 29, 2014. She is preceded in death by her father, Raymond Reece, mother, Mildred Brown; sister, Raneda Reece and brother, Chris Brown. She leaves to cherish her memory: son, Arthur Darden; grandson, Shydarius Darden; sisters, Gail Robinson, Raetta Woodruff, Carolyn Cheeks, Sandra Maxey and Debra Brown; brothers, Raymond Reece, Daryl Brown, Kenny Imes, Johnny Imes and Michael Imes; devoted friend, Denise Smith and other relatives and friends. The family will receive friends on Saturday, December 6, 2014 at Unity Mortuary Chapel from 12:00 – 12:30pm with funeral services to follow with Rev. Michael Cleveland officiating. Interment will immediately follow at New Gray Cemetery. Service to conclude with full dove release.

Chestnutt, Sheila L. – age 59, of Knoxville passed away at Fort Sanders Regional on Monday, November 17, 2014. She was preceded in death by her mother, Annie Pearl Chestnutt, father, James Snodgrass and brother, Hayden Chestnutt. She is survived by her beloved children, Ericka and Kamiun Fowler and brother, Eric Chestnutt; also other relatives and friends. Family will receive Tuesday, November 25, 2014 from 1:00 until 2:00 PM at Unity Mortuary Chapel with funeral services to follow at 2:00 PM with Pastor Daryl Arnold officiating. Interment will immediately follow at Mount Olive Cemetery. Services will conclude with full dove release.

Henry, Sr., Marion Francis – age 99 passed away on Sunday, November 15, 2014. He was a faithful member of the Concord Original Church of God. He retired from Oak Ridge where he was a very skillful carpenter. He is preceded in death by mother, Josie Moulden; son, Marion Henry, Jr; wife, Bertha Henry; sisters, Ruby Fletcher and Beatrice Cornelius. He leaves to cherish his memory: son, Jerod (Deborah) Henry; sisters, Mary Robinson, Rosa Butts and Maggie Bolton; grandsons, Jalen, Lynn and Jerod, Jr; granddaughter, Nikkie; a host of other relatives and friends. He leaves devoted nieces, Peggy Billingsley and Mary Louise Henderson; nephews, Hughie Moulden and James Fletcher. The family will receive friends from 12:00 until1:00 PM on Friday, November 21, 2014 at Unity Mortuary Chapel with funeral service following immediately with Minister Alan Jones officiating.  Interment at Pleasant Forest Cemetery in Concord, TN. Service to conclude with full dove release. In lieu of flowers the family request donations be sent to Concord Original Church of God 801 Loop Rd., Concord, TN 37934.

Roberts, Kathleen Gaiter Lowery – age 65 entered peacefully into eternal rest on Saturday, November 8, at Island Home Park Health and Rehabilitation Center.  Member of Rogers Memorial Baptist Church and devoted choir member. A graduate of Allen High School, Asheville, NC and a member of the United Class of 1967. She attended Knoxville College. She is preceded in death by husband, Mark Roberts; father, Felix Gaiter; sister-in-law, Kathy Henderson Gaiter. She is survived by mother, Margaret R. Gaiter; children, Robin L. Barnes, Roger (Katherine) Lowery; twin sister, Peggy (John) Jackson; brother, Felix R. Gaiter; grandsons, Tariq and Jalil Barnes and Bishop Lowery; nieces Natalie Swift, Velvet and Kleopatra Gaiter; nephews,  Yusef (Michelle) Gaiter and Felix X. Gaiter; brother-in-law, Victor (Jacquelyn) Roberts; many devoted family members and friends. Special appreciation to Dr. Carla Gillespie and the staff at Island Home Park Health and Rehabilitation Center. The family will receive friends on Thursday, November 13, 2014 at Rogers Memorial Baptist Church from 11:00 AM – 12:00 noon with service to follow with Dr. Michel S.E. Caldwell officiating. Interment at Highland West Cemetery on Sutherland Avenue. Service to conclude with full dove release and blanket presentation.

Jones, Karen Avery – the firstborn of Annie Minter Jones and the late Casey C. Jones, was received with joy on August 15, 1969 in Knoxville, Tennessee.  Baptized at an early age at Mount Olive Baptist Church, Karen was active in the youth ministry where she served as an usher and was a member of the youth choir. She enjoyed summers spent at Camp Ba-Yo-Ca in Wear Valley and Webb School summer camp. After graduating from Catholic High School, Karen attended Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, where she earned BA degree in History. While at Spelman she participated in their study abroad program at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. She was awarded a scholarship for Master’s studies, in Archeology and Anthropology at New York University. Karen Avery Jones departed this life November 8, 2014, at her residence in Brooklyn, New York. She was preceded in death by father, former Councilman, Casey C. Jones; paternal grandmother, Lina Avery Jones; grandfathers, Russell G. Jones and Robert L. Minter. Karen will forever be loved and memories of her life cherished by her mother, Minister Annie Minter Jones; brother, Casey Maurice Jones (Marie) Denmark, sister, Keta Jones Barnes (Steven), Smyma, TN and grandmother, Mildred Minter. Loving aunts, of Knoxville, Lina Bejide, Nancy Jones, Doris (Rev. Harold) Roper, Lina L. Jones, Lillie (Jerry) Garner, New Jersey and Irma James, Atlanta, Georgia; aunt-in-law, Remedios Jones, uncles, Russell (Minnie) T. Jones, James Minter, Robert (Regina) Minter, Jr, Will (Carolyn) Minter and a host of family and friends. Memorial services for Karen Jones will be held on Saturday, November 29, 2014 at Mount Olive Baptist Church 1601 Dandridge Avenue. Welcoming of friends from 3:00 – 3:30pm with service to follow at 3:30 PM. Rev. Dr. Valentino J, McNeal officiating.

Dales, Lawrence Joseph – of Knoxville, passed away Wednesday, November 5, 2014 at Physicians Regional Medical Center. He was preceded in death by his mother, Pearlie M. Dales. Survivors are wife, Andrea Dales; son, Andrew; 2 step-sons, Sheldon and Adrian James; father, Isaac Dales; 2 sisters; 2 brothers; nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be held Thursday, November 13, 2014 from 6:00-7:00 pm with funeral services to follow at 7:00 pm at McDonald Drive Church of Christ with Minister Van Hardin officiating.