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.

Richard Carlock, age 56 departed this life on Monday, February 15, 2016, at Fort Sander Regional Medical Center. Preceded in death by his birth mother Susie Mae Harrris and mother and father that raised him Mr. and Mrs. Evie and Ammie Carlock; sister, Gertrude Carlock and brother, Darnel Parks. He leaves to cherish his memory, 4 sisters, Rochelle (Ronnie) Owen, Mary (Calvin) Parks of Greenville, Ga., Teresa (Jafus) Truitt, Jackie (Justin) Delaney all of Lagrange, GA.  1 brother, Mr. Crawford Parks Jr. of Lagrange, GA.; special dear friend Patricia Swift and devoted friends Mr. Charles and Mrs. Trish Clark; a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends. The family will receive friends on Sunday, February 21, 2016 from 1:30 – 2:00 with funeral service to follow at 2:00PM, Unity Mortuary Chapel with Rev. Johnny Reid  officiating. Interment will be at a later date.

Mr. Willie J. Lakes, Jr. – of Knoxville, TN. was born July 23, 1977 in Atlanta, GA passed away Friday, February 5, 2016 at U. T. Medical Center. He was preceded in death by his mother, Dolly Faye Lakes; several aunts, and uncles. He is survived by his grandmother, Annie Rene Lakes; father, Willie James (Deborah) Lakes, Sr.; children, Asia, James, Semaj, Jicerra, and Jayceon: special friend, Lakeisha Baker; sister, Keisha, Cherry; brothers, Jason (Kristi], Gilleam Jacque Lakes (Zilphia), Willie James (Pedie) Grier; aunts, Anniedora, (Ridley) Laye and Patricia (William) Johnson, devoted aunts, Sarah Jones and Wanda Hines; he will be remembered by cousin, Dandris that was raised as a sister; cousins, Charles and Trey that were raised as brothers; a host of family and friends too numerous to mention. Special thanks to Terrance Curtis. The family will receive friends on Saturday, February 20, 2016 from 1:00 – 2:00 with Homegoing Celebration to follow at 2:00PM, Unity Mortuary Chapel with Overseer Farris Long officiating. Interment will immediately follow at Mt. Olive Cemetery. Services will conclude with full dove release and blanket presentation.

Dorothy Miller Snow, 74 of Ewing, Va., walked through the pearly gates of Glory on February 3, 2016. Those that met her inside the gates were John E. Snow, husband; Clyde and Frances Miller; parents, Louise Miller Blankenship, sisters, Lorene Miller, Turnmire Goddard; brother, William C. Miller. She left behind and now watches over: John W. Snow of Montvale, VA, son, Josh Snow, son (wife LaShel1 Snow) of Ewing, VA, Frances Snow Whitaker, daughter, (boyfriend, Mark Islitzer) of Maryville, TN., step-daughters, Laura Helen Valleroy (husband Jim) of Sparta, TN, Sonja Jenkins of Sparta, TN,; grandchildren, Ahijah Snow of Ewing, VA; Isabella Whitaker of Maryville, TN, Elias Whitaker of Maryville, TN, Aleeya Snow of Ewing, Va. step-grand-daughter, Kim Pruit (husband David) of Sparta, TN. along with several nieces, nephews and numerous special friends. The family will receive friends Thursday, February 11, 2016 from 2-4pm, Memorial service will
follow from 4pm-Spm at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church at 608 Ed Davis Rd. Maryville, TN., with Pastor Allen Burchfield presiding. The graveside service will be held at the Harrogate Cemetery in Harrogate, TN. on Friday, February 12, 2016 at lpm with Garry Bingham presiding.

Della Sue Wright, of Knoxville passed away on Tuesday, February 2, 2016, after a long illness. Della is preceded in death by her former husband, Lonnie Brabson, her parents; K. Ruth Cannon-Wright and Clyde E. Wright; brother-in-law, Walter A. Cox, Sr., of Minneapolis, MN. She is survived by her children: Peter Van (Bonnie) Brabson and Phyllis Ann Brabson, her sister; the Rev. Dr. Mildred L. Cox of Minneapolis, MN, grandsons; Michael Brabson, Donald Brabson and Anthony Brabson, and great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. The family will welcome friends from 1:30 – 2:00 p.m., Saturday, February 13, 2016 at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church with funeral service to follow at 2:00 p.m., the Reverend James Anderson, officiating. Della was baptized at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, spending many years in her church work. She was a quiet, loving person who loved children and spent many hours with her grandchildren. She was a beloved daughter, sister and “Gran-Gran.” May God bless her.