STEWART, DIEDRÉ CELESTE– born February 18, 1962 in Chicago, Illinois who, with her family by her side, went home to be with her Lord on Thursday, February 24, 2011.  Diedré was a devoted servant for Christ and longtime member of the Mount Zion Baptist Church in Knoxville as well as in North Carolina. She was a graduate of Austin East High School and a proud graduate of Knoxville College. Diedré was currently serving as the Executive Assistant to the Dean of Student Affairs at Winston-Salem State University in Winston Salem, North Carolina. She was a devoted daughter, sister, aunt, niece, cousin and friend. Diedré was a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. as well as other community organizations.  She had a servant’s heart, a loving spirit, a friendly smile and she never met a stranger.

Diedré is preceded in death by her father, William Stewart; brother, William Stewart III; sister and best friend, Marcia Brown; maternal grandparents, Roy and Gwendolyn Netherland; maternal great aunt Mildred Netherland, paternal grandparents, Rev. W. A. and Dessie Stewart.

She leaves to cherish her memory her godson and nephew, Mark A. Brown II; a devoted loving mother Aleece Stewart; brother in-law, Mark A. Brown; aunts Marcia (Walton) Davis and Anora Edwards; cousins, Adrienne Davis, Lisa (Ray) Richardson, Victoria Hays, Arelia (Mark) Dossous, Kenton Edwards, and Alan Edwards of Chicago, IL and many more loving relatives from the Netherland, Hardin, Brandenburg, Stacker and Brown families. She will be missed by her Mount Zion family, friends and loved ones to include sister friends, Jenelle Martin, Yalonda Carson, Betty Witt and Michelle Releford; The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 26, 2011 at Greater Warner Tabernacle AME Zion Church, 3800 Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue with the funeral service to follow.  Rev. Dr. Johnnie W. Skinner, Sr. Eulogist.  In lieu of flowers, please make donations in the name of or in honor of Diedré Celeste Stewart to the American Heart Association.

BROWN, MARCIA ELAINE– born November 11, 1958 was a devoted servant for Christ and longtime member of Mount Zion Baptist Church who, with her family by her side, went home to be with her Lord on Friday, February 18, 2011. Marcia was a graduate of Holston High School and a proud graduate of Tennessee State University. She was a retired Knox County School Commercial Food Instructor at Austin East High School where she was instrumental in motivating, inspiring and securing positions for her students in the food service industry. Marcia was a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. as well as other community organizations.  Marcia was fondly loved by all who knew her. She had a servant’s heart; a loving spirit and a friendly smile.

Marcia is preceded in death by her father, William Stewart; brother William Stewart III, maternal grandparents, Roy and Gwendolyn Netherland; maternal great aunt Mildred Netherland, paternal grandparents, Rev. W.A. and Dessie Stewart; and father in-law Elder James E. Brown, Sr.

She leaves to cherish her memory a devoted and loving husband, Mark A. Brown,  her son of whom she is most proud, Mark A. Brown II;  devoted mother Aleece Stewart; loving sister and best friend Diedré Stewart;  mother in-law, Patricia Brown; brother in-law Timothy Brown of Georgia; sisters in-law Monica Brown of Georgia and Barbara Brown of Knoxville;  aunts Marcia (Walton) Davis and Anora Edwards; cousins, Adrienne Davis, Lisa (Ray) Richardson, Victoria Hays, Arelia (Mark) Dossous, Kenton Edwards, and Alan Edwards of Chicago, IL and many more loving relatives from the Brown, Netherland, Hardin, Brandenburg, Stacker, Walker and Downs families. She will be missed by her Mount Zion family, students, and loved ones to include special friends, LaRoyce Beatty, Keira Wyatt, Valeri Otey-Nellis, Tammy Gwen Campbell, and Renee Kesler; special thanks to the Mount Zion Noon Day Bible Study Class; Dr. Kyle Klarich and staff at the Mayo Clinic; Dr. Diana Cobb and Staff of UT Family Physicians; and Dr. James Cox and Staff of UT Cardiologists.  The family will receive friends on Saturday, February 26, 2011 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. with the funeral service to follow at Greater Warner Tabernacle AME Zion Church, 3800 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave.  Rev. Dr. Johnnie W. Skinner, Sr. Eulogist.  Interment will immediately follow the funeral service at Sherwood Memorial Gardens, 3176 Airport Highway, Alcoa.  Service will conclude with a full dove release.  In lieu of flowers, please make donations in the name of or in honor of Marcia Elaine Brown to the American Heart Association.

Brabson-Carero, Wilma Rosalie– departed this life to be with the Lord on Monday February 14, 2011. Preceded in death by her parents Pearl and Vanderbilt Brabson Sr.; children, Wade and Claudia Carero; siblings: Claude, Vanderbilt, Ronnie, Harding, Hobert and Alvin Brabson, Della Mae Harris, and Edna Johnson. She leaves to survive her passing devoted children: Ingrid Davena Dale and Tonya Carero, Edris, Victor, and Sheldon Carero; grandchildren: Reda Michelle (Tony) Teasley, Nikki (DC) Smith, Desmond Dale, Rico, Kristen, Victor, Vincent, Victoria and Vintrice Carero, both of Lebanon, TN, Saraya and Sheldon Carero Jr. both of Virginia, and Elaina Jackson of North Carolina; 13 great-grandchildren and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank the UT 2^nd and 7^thFloor Critical Care Staff, and personal caregivers Sheryl Walker, Erika Johnson, and Robbie Battle.  Receiving of family and friends will be Friday, February 18, 2011 from 12 noon to 1:00 p.m. with the funeral to follow at the Unity Mortuary Chapel.  Pastor Fredrick E. Brabson officiating.  Interment will be at Bethlehem Cemetery on Miller Town Pike. The service will conclude with a full dove release.  In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Sarah Moore Greene School PTO at 3001 Brooks Road, Knoxville, TN 37914.

Williams, Minnie L. – passed away on Sunday, February 13, 2011 at the age of 96. She was a member of Pleasant View Baptist Church in Laurens, SC. She was preceded in death by: parents, Frank and Mamie Parks, her husband, John C. Williams, a son, Kenneth Williams, two daughters, Sarah Campbell and Mamie Golden, two sons-in-law, Clarence E. Forney and Ed Campbell, her sister, Alice Spurgeon, and two brothers, JD Parks and Toy Lee Parks. She leaves to cherish her memory, two daughters, Betty Forney and Vickie Williams; four sons, Johnny (Carolyn) Williams, James Williams, Alonzo William, all of Knoxville, Jimmy (Marlene) Williams of Fayetteville, NC.; 38 grandchildren; 70 great-grandchildren; 33 great-great-grandchildren; and 1 great-great-great–grandchild; and a host of nieces and nephews residing in Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, New York, New Jersey and Washington, DC. Family will receive friends on Saturday, February 19, 2011 at Unity Mortuary Chapel from 11:30am-12:00 noon with funeral service to follow. Interment to follow at Highland South Memorial Park.

Scruggs, Johnnie Lee. – departed this life on Friday, February 11, 2011. He was the son of the late Josephine Scruggs. He leaves to celebrate his life son, John Scruggs Jr.; daughters, Alice,  Asia, Temerial, Vernal and Tiawana (Damien) Farmer; sister, Lillie White; brothers, Jessie, Frank and Freddie Scruggs; sixteen grandchildren;  devoted friends, Claudine Warren, Susan McRoy and a host other relatives and friends.

Patterson, Beverly Van– age 61, departed this life on Sunday, February 6, 2011 at St. Mary’s Hospital.  She was a graduate of Catholic High School, Class of 1967.  She received a BS degree in Home Economics from Howard University in 1971.  For many years, she was employed by Mill Agent Outlet and Hancock Fabric as a Design Consultant responsible for home décor.  Ms. Patterson was preceded in death by parents, Charles and Mamie Patterson and a sister, Mattie Patterson Nance.  She leaves to cherish her memory a devoted brother, Fheopatrick Patterson; nephews: Wando Stacey and Phillip Tucker; niece, Raeaunna Nance; a fiancé, Tommy Nalory; devoted friends, Ingrid Porter, Paula Roper and Janice Davis and a host of other relatives and friends. Service will be Saturday, February 12, 2011, receiving of friends from 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. with funeral to follow at First AME Zion Church.  Rev. Robert W. Monroe officiating.