Loftis P. Benn, USN-Ret., departed from this life peacefully on Saturday, April 22, 2017 in the comfort of his Lions View home. He was the oldest son of Joe and Ada Benn. He was a retired United States Navy veteran, serving in World War II, and the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Loftis retired after 30 years of service to his country. He resided in Chicago, Illinois for 30 years and then relocated to Knoxville, where he resided for 12 years. Loftis was an avid square dancer with the Knoxville Squares and with his Illinois team. He had a passion for playing party bridge, participating in Illinois and locally with the Catholic, O’Conner Center and Elmcroft leagues. After his health declined, he truly enjoyed watching sports on television. Loftis was gifted with a love for people and had a passion for God. He looked forward to his weekly Bible study with Rev. Langston. He was a member of St. Joseph’s House of Prayer, Inc. He is preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Joe Jr., Roy and Varnell Benn, Sr.; nephews, Juan Sr., and Michael Benn. He is survived by his nephews: Varnell (Cathy) Benn, Jr., Henry Dwayne Benn, Calvin Benn, Roy Cole, Jr., and Von Davis; nieces, Alice Davis, Elizabeth Bagwell, Valerie McAliley and Anita Benn; special friend and sister-in-law, Mary Hodges; and a host of cousins and friends. Mr. Benn will lie-in-state on Wednesday, April 26, 2017 after 11:00 AM in the William V. Powell, Jr. Memorial Chapel of Unity Mortuary. Entombment will be held on Thursday, April 27, 2017 at 2:00 PM at Sherwood Memorial Gardens with full military honors and Overseer Tonya Tucker officiating. Services will conclude with a white dove release. Special thanks to UT Hospice and caregiver Valencia Thompson.
Archive for April, 2017
Loftis P. Benn
Saturday, April 22nd, 2017Walter A. Neal
Thursday, April 20th, 2017
Walter Andrew Neal, age 32, of Knoxville, departed this life on Thursday, April 20, 2017. He is preceded in death by his father, Walter Andrew Harris; devoted aunt, Carolina Anderson; grandfathers, Charles F. Neal and Walter Harris, Sr.; and grandmother, Louise Carson. He is survived by his wife, Tamara Howard; children, Walter Andrew Neal, Jr., Daniel Jakai Neal, Frannisha Howard and Jakira Howard; mother, Cynthia Neal; mother-in-law, Susan Howard; sisters, Michelle Neal and Shetaria Neal; brothers, Ronald Flack, Marcus Eskridge, Demetree Harris and DaShawn Harris; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, April 25, 2017 from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM in the William V. Powell, Jr. Memorial Chapel of Unity Mortuary, with the funeral service to follow, with Minister Jeremy Ruby officiating. The final resting place will be on Wednesday, April 26, 2017 at 11:00 AM at Sherwood Memorial Gardens. Services will conclude with a white dove release.
Hazel M. Woods
Thursday, April 13th, 2017
Hazel Mercedes Ewing Woods, born November 13, 1927, of Knoxville in Goin, TN to the late Alfred and Ellen Ewing, passed peacefully into the hands of her loving Savior Jesus Christ on Thursday, April 13, 2017 at Tennova Physicians Regional Medical Center. She is preceded in death by six sisters and her husband James Gilbert Woods, Sr. She is survived by four children: Sandra (James) Hoffman, Ellen Anita (Ralph) Parker, James Gilbert (Cookie) Woods, Jr., and Cathy Jamesena Woods-Gales; five grand-children and three great-grandchildren; special friend Lillian Dirl; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. The family will receive friends Thursday, April 20, 2017 from 6:00 PM to 6:30 PM at Foster Chapel Baptist Church, 2101 Ault Rd, with Pastor Joseph Tolbert as eulogist. Open visitation will be Wednesday, April 19, 2017 after 11:00 AM in the William V. Powell, Jr. Memorial Chapel of Unity Mortuary and Thursday, April 20, 2017 after 4:30 PM at Foster Chapel Baptist Church. The final resting place will be at East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery, 2200 East Gov. John Sevier Highway, on Friday, April 21, 2017 at 9:30 AM. Services will conclude with a white dove release.
Neil D. Brabson
Monday, April 10th, 2017
Neil D. Brabson was born November 18, 1951. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He departed this life at Fort Sanders Medical Center on April 10, 2017. Neil was preceded in death by his father Marshall and mother Geneva Brabson Little. He leaves to cherish his memory devoted wife, Tommie Brabson; daughters, Marquisha and Christina Brabson; grandchildren, Nadia, Maleah, Christian and Malaysia; brothers, James “Jake” (Genois) Brabson, Gary (Mary) Brabson, both of Fort Wayne, IN; sisters, Elayne Brabson of Fort Wayne, IN and Carol Brabson of Memphis; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. The family will receive friends on Saturday, April 15, 2017 from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm, with the Celebration of Life Service to follow in the William V. Powell, Jr. Memorial Chapel of Unity Mortuary.
Limmie “Bear” Smith
Wednesday, April 5th, 2017
Limmie “Bear” Smith, age 60, was silently called home on April 5, 2017. He was born on March 2, 1957 in Chattanooga, TN. He was preceded in death by his devoted mother, Lizzie Smith Knaff, and his brother Melvin. He leaves to cherish his memories his loving brother, Willie F. Pettus, Sr.; his siblings, Francis Burum and Taylor Smith; his sister-in-law, Limateen Smith; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. The family will receive friends on Friday, April 14, 2017 at 11:00 AM, with the Celebration of Life Service to follow at 12:00 PM at True Light Missionary Baptist Church, 3229 George Light Rd, Knoxville, with Elder Darris Waters officiating.
Josephine Brown
Sunday, April 2nd, 2017
Josephine Brown, of Knoxville, departed this life peacefully on April 2, 2017. She was born on August 17, 1917. She was the loving and devoted wife of late Haywood C. Brown. She is preceded in death by her husband and her sons-in-laws, Homer Buffington and Earnest Allen. She leaves to cherish her memories her beloved children, James H. (Neady) Brown, David C. Brown, Essieaurt Buffington and Mattie Allen; and a host of other relatives and friends. Mrs. Brown will lie in state in the William V. Powell, Jr. Memorial Chapel of Unity Mortuary on Thursday, April 6, 2017 after 12 noon. Graveside services at will be Friday, April 7, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at Highland Memorial Cemetery, Sutherland Avenue, with Reverend A. Jean Delaney, officiating.
Lola H. Allen
Sunday, April 2nd, 2017
Lola Marie Huggins Allen, age 51, of Knoxville, departed this life on Sunday, April 2, 2017 at her residence. She was a member of Children of God Ministries COGIC where she served faithfully until her passing. She was a Knox County Schools retiree. She is preceded in death by her father Albert Lee Huggins. She leaves to cherish her memories her husband of 15 years, Alphonso J. Allen; daughter, Sydney E. Allen; son, Jarvis D. Allen; mother, Alice Craig Huggins; three sisters, Deborah H. (Kenneth) Taylor, Alice H. (James) Allen and Doretha H. Holmes; twelve nieces and nephews; five great nieces and nephews; a host of relatives and friends. The family will receive friends on Saturday, April 8, 2017 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Children of God Ministries COGIC, 309 Deaderick Avenue, with the funeral to follow at 1:00 PM, Superintendent Phillip Hamilton, Sr., officiating. The final resting place will be at East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery,2200 E Governor John Sevier Hwy, on Wednesday, April 12, 2017 at 11:30 AM. In lieu of flowers, Lola has requested donations may be made to an educational GoFundMe account at www.GoFundMe.com/EducateSydney/ for her daughter Sydney.
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