Houston, Jr., Alex J. “Brother” – age 61, of Knoxville, went to be with our Heavenly Savior on Monday, October 31, 2011.  Preceded in death by father Alex J. Houston, Sr., sister, Barbara (Houston) Upton, brothers, David and John Houston; nephews, David and Michael Houston.

Alex graduated from Austin High School in 1968.  He was an U.S Army Veteran served in Vietnam and served for 17 years as a U.S. Army Reserve.  While in Vietnam, he dedicated his life for protecting our country.  He was also a faithful employee by the City of Knoxville Garage for many years. 

Alex Jr. leaves to mourn his passing: children: Reggie, Alex III (Ahbani) of OH, Maurice and Tiffany Houston, former wife and children’s mother, Francine (Stinson) King; 12 grandchildren; 3 great grandchildren; mother, Paula Houston; siblings Ray, Fannie Jo Houston and Judy (Bill) McCoy; a host of other relatives and friends.  On Monday, November 7, 2011, the family will receive friends from 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. with the funeral to follow at the Unity Mortuary Chapel.  Pastor David Upton officiating.   Interment will immediately follow the service at Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery, John Sevier Highway.  The service will conclude with full military honors and doves will be released.

Crutcher, Annie Lue– peacefully departed this life on Sunday, October 30, 2011.  She was born May 24, 1925 to the union of Carrie and Albert Turman, Sr. in McCormick County,SC.  Mrs. Crutcher was a devoted member and Mother of Victory View Baptist Church for over 60 years.  She provided dedicated community service through Eastern Star and NAACP organizations.  She was a licensed insurance agent and possessed a degree in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.  She was employed by Union Protective for a number of years and retired from Universal Insurance Company. 

 Mrs. Crutcher was preceded in death by her loving husband of 50 years, Percy (departed 1996), parents and brothers: James, Teet, Albert, Jr. and Otis Turman.  Left to mourn her passing and cherish her memory are daughters, Alice Crutcher of Knoxville and Sharon Okoye of CT; four grandchildren: Tameka and Anthony Flack, Jr. of Knoxville, Anita Okoye of CT and Kenisha (Bradley) Sanderson of KS; 3 great grandchildren: siblings: Drucilla (Junior) Thomas, Shirley Kennedy, Louise Brown, Catherine and Bessie (James) Cade, Charlena Anderson, DaisyBell McCier, Louis (May Lee) Turman and Oralee, all of SC, Geneva (Jack) Madison and Melvin (Delores) Turman, both of CT;  a host of other relatives and friends.  The family will receive friends from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Friday, November 4, 2011 at Unity Mortuary Chapel.  The funeral will immediately follow, officiated by Reverend Dexter Jordan.  Interment will immediately follow the service at Sherwood Memorial Gardens in Alcoa.  The service will conclude with a full dove release.

Colbert, James E. – age 70, of Knoxville passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, October 30, 2011. He retired from Knoxville City School System. He was a member of Greater Bush Grove Baptist Church. Preceded in death by parents, James and Inez Colbert, stepson, Eric Neal, and daughter, Felicia Colbert. Survived: by wife, Brenda Colbert; sons, Tyrone and Kelvin (Jamice) Colbert; step-daughter, Stephanie Wilson; devoted grand-daughters, Jennifer, LaTasha, Janaya Colbert, Jenay and Shenay Meullion; grandson, Roshaun Colbert,  brothers, William, Norman (Nancy) Colbert; sister, Darlene (Charles) Dukes; devoted brother-in-law- Reginald Neal; special friends, Charles Rogers, Donald Hemphill, James Reid, James Wombel, Larry Davis and  Eddie Cade; a host of other relatives and friends. The family will receive friends on Thursday, November 3, 2011 from 3:00-4:00 p.m. at Unity Mortuary Chapel with funeral services to follow. Pastor Eugene Carter officiating.

Harris, Pauline Mary- born November 18, 1943 to the late John Thomas and Mary Coleman Poore.  As a youth, she was a member of Cansler Street Church of God in Christ under the leadership of Bishop William Pankey.  After graduating from Austin High School, she went to work for Silver Manufacturer for over 10 years.  Pauline was also a Crossing Guard for Knox County Schools and was a Certified Nursing Assistant for over 34 years.  She enjoyed her work as a CNA working at Holston Healthcare, Northhaven, Hillcrest West, Shannondale and retiring in 2009 from NYC Emerald Avenue. Granny Harris was a foster grandparent at Fair Garden as well.  Pauline was a loved woman. Her spirit was inviting and holy and loving the Lord was just as natural as taking a breath.  She attended both Overcoming Believers Church and All Nations Church.  She never met a stranger and instilled the same love in her children.

Preceded in death by two sons, William and Charles Edward “Ooda” Hopkins, grandchild, Mashy Hopkins, parents, grandparents, Emmanuel (Willie Bell) Coleman, sister, Lois C. Robinson and best friend, Cathleen Neal.

Pauline leaves to mourn her passing and cherish her memory: devoted friend and father of her children, William Augusta Hopkins; children: Ardina, William Anthony and Treasa Hopkins and LaTanya Hopkins-Welch; daughter-in-law, Teri Hopkins; stepchildren: Denise (Albert) Goodin, Roderick (Karen), Sabrina and Derrick Washington, Terra Brabley, Lakeisha and Tyrone Hopkins and Sonya (Sam) Sims-Speed, all of Florida; 19 grandchildren of Florida and 15 grandchildren of Knoxville; brother, Paul Grimes, Sr.; brother-in-law, David Robinson of Georgetown, SC; nieces: Andrena and Shondia Grimes, Equilla (Danny) Howell and Marie Robinson of Georgetown, SC; nephews: Paul Jr. and Aric Grimes, Michael (Carrie) of Dover, DE, Marvin (Kathy) of Amarillo, TX, and Makino (Sonya) Robinson of Fayetteville, NC; best friends, Judy Newlin of Knoxville and Majean Reddick of Florida; a host of other relatives and many friends to include the Smith-Weston, Pankey, Neal, Bennett, Wright, Flint, Kessler, Jordan, Wynn-Whitehead, Gray, Mason and Martin families.  On Saturday, October 29, 2011, the family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. with the funeral to follow at Overcoming Believers Church.  Pastor Daryl Arnold officiating.  Interment will immediately follow the service at Mount Olive Cemetery, Maryville Pike.  A full dove release will conclude the service.

Turner, Jesse Willard – of Knoxville, departed this life on Monday, October 17, 2011.  He was born February 1, 1924 to the late Carrie Welcome. 

He leaves to cherish his memory: wife, Susie Turner; daughter, Kathy Walker, Cincinnati, Ohio; sister, Mamie Bond, Cincinnati, Ohio; best friend and closer than a brother, Charles Williams, Knoxville, Tennessee; two nieces; Sally Welcome of Cincinnati, Ohio; Kathy Welcome, Knoxville, Tennessee; a dear and devoted friend, Linda Mathis; a host of nieces; nephews and other relatives and friends. 

The family will receive friends on Saturday, October 22, 2011 from 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. with the funeral service to follow at Unity Mortuary Chapel. Reverend Robert W. Monroe officiating. Interment will take place on Monday, October 24, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at Sherwood Memorial Gardens. The service will conclude with a full dove release.

Cunningham, James “Doodle Bug”– of Knoxville, departed this life on Friday, October 14, 2011.  He was born September 16, 1951 to the union of James and Modestine Martin Cunningham.  James was educated in Knoxville City Schools and grew up in Bethel AME Church.  He later became an employee at Baptist/Mercy Hospital retiring with over 34 years of service.  His hobbies were building model cars, gun collecting and always living life to the fullest.  James loved his family and friends and to have known him, you would know you were in great company.  

Preceded in death by his father, James C. Cunningham, Sr.  Left to cherish his memory: sons, Kevin (Christalyn Dale) Cunningham and Barin Harris; seven grandchildren; mother, Modestine Cunningham; siblings: Gloria Tipton, Pennie (Keith) Bragg, Clifford (Carla Morris) Cunningham and Richard (April) Hardin; a host of other relatives and friends too numerous to name.  Friday, October 21, 2011, the family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with the funeral to follow at Foster Chapel Baptist Church.  Reverend Joseph Tolbert officiating.  Interment will take place on Saturday, October 22, 2011 at Sherwood Memorial Gardens, Alcoa at 11:00 a.m.  The service will conclude with a full dove release.

Cowley, Bryon Eugene “Pete”- age 51, of Oak Ridge, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, October 5, 2011.  Bryon was a graduate of Fulton High School, served in the U.S. Army and was a longtime employee at Pizza Palace.  Preceded in death by biological father, Walter “Alley” Johnson and sister, Michelle Upton.  Survived by parents, James T. (Mary Jo) Rice; children: Bryon “Duck” Jr., Xavier and Bryonesha Cowley; two grandchildren; longtime companion, Barbara Gray of Oak Ridge; brothers: Rick Rice, Wayne Rockmore of Pennsylvania, Kenny Sullivan of Maryland and Bobby Henry of California; sisters: Kathy Buley, Cindy Sullivan of Maryland, Deborah Rockmore of Chattanooga, Charlotte, Denise, Karen, Yvette and Shelly Rice, Saeeda and Kamilah Johnson, Almeda Murphy and Kathy Buckson of South Carolina; uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Larry Johnson; devoted nephew, Tony Buley; devoted friend, Dexter Jackson; a host of other relatives and many great friends in Oak Ridge.  On Sunday, October 16, 2011, the family will receive friends from 2:30 to 3:00 p.m. with the funeral service to follow at the Unity Mortuary Chapel.  Reverend Rick Rice officiating.

Muckle, Louis D. – born September 1, 1936 to the union of John and Pearlie Mae Muckle.  He was a graduate of Austin High, Class of 1956.  Mr. Muckle was employed at U.T. Medical Center with over 30 years of service.  Preceded in death by father, John and sister, Armour Jean Ponders.  Survived by: loving and devoted wife of 50 years, Elnora; children: Curtis and Vanessa Askew, Kim Rocker, Lecia (Johnny) McBee and Karen (Bruce) Williams; 10 grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren; mother, Pearlie Mae; siblings: Willie Mae (Albert) Hill, John (Dorothy) and Johnnie Mae Muckle and Mary (Jesse) Rhodes; a host of other family and friends.  A special thank you to his caregivers at Hillcrest North. The family will receive friends on Saturday, October 8, 2011 at 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. with the funeral service to follow at the Unity Mortuary Chapel.  Reverend Gerald Littlejohn, Eulogist.  Interment will be Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at 9:30 a.m. at the Tennessee State Veterans’ Cemetery, John Sevier Highway.  The service will conclude with full military honors and a full dove release.

Mason, Eric Van– age 60, of Knoxville, departed this life on Sunday, October 2, 2011, Athens, TN.  He was a graduate of Bearden High School, Class of 1968.  He served his country from 1971 to 1973 in Germany.  He was honorably discharged from the United States Army in 1973. After returning to Knoxville , he was employed at U.T. Medical Center as a Central Supply Manager and worked there until his health began to decline. He was preceded in death by mother, Angie Wandaline Mason.

Survived by wife, Glenda Mullins Mason; daughter, Erica Danielle Mason Godfrey; grandson, Aiden Godfrey; father, Ervin Edward Mason; brothers, Reginald Grant (Edna) Mason and Edward Lowery Mason of Smyrna, TN; sisters, Kathy Maxella Mason and Angela Maria Hart; aunt, Katherine Mason Chavis; uncle, Cornelius G. Mason, Jr., both of Nashville, TN; great aunt, Lucille (Jesse) Sharp of Chattanooga, TN; great uncles, Nathaniel and James D. Chesney; brother-in-law, Rev. Dean (Gail) Mullins; sister-in-law, Mary (Richard) Smith; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.  Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at 1:30 p.m., a graveside service will take place at Tennessee State Veterans’ Cemetery, John Sevier Highway.