RUTH M. (COFFMAN) MEALS
- Services for Mrs. Ruth Meals were Thursday at Reed's Chapel with the Rev. Bobby Beecham officiating. Burial was in Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Mrs. Meals, who was 87, died Tuesday night at Methodist Hospital of Lexington. She was the widow of Jim Meals. She leaves a daughter, Amy Ruth Meals of Chicago; a son, William E. Meals of Memphis; two sisters, Zora Tines and Cora Sipes, both of Lexington; two brothers, Avon Coffman and Charlie Coffman, both of Lexington, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
The Lexington Progress, January 29, 1992
SALLIE (BOBBIT) MEALS
, widow of the late Columbus Meals, died at her home near Bargerton on February 18th, and was buried at the Pleasant Hill
Cemetery the day following. Mrs. Meals was a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Bobbitt, who lived in the
community in which Mrs. Meals died, and she was a sister of the late W. A. Bobbitt, who was a Lexington
merchant for several years. More than sixty years ago, she was married to Mr. Meals and to them were born
three children-Ida, Lizzie and Jimmie. Lizzie died at about the age of 17 years. Jimmie, who lived in Florida,
contracted pneumonia when here to attend his father's funeral about five years ago, and Ida (Mrs. Henry Patton)
is the only survivor. Mrs. Meals was a member of the Methodist Church, South, and Rev. R. B. Mackey,
assisted by Rev. J. R. Page, conducted the funeral ceremony.
(The Lexington Progress, February 24, 1939)
Headstone Photo
BLUFORD CLOVIS MIDDLETON
, age 97, of Montrose, died Saturday afternoon, Nov. 11, 2006, at the San Juan Living Center in Montrose. He was a former resident of Escondido. Bluford was born on June 1, 1909, in Scotts Hill, Tenn., the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Cook Middleton. He spent his childhood in the Ebenezer Community in Tennessee. He graduated from Lexington High School in 1938 in Henderson County, Tenn. On April 2, 1950, Bluford married the love of his life, Valerie Elizabeth Willis, in the Church of God in Washington, D.C. He spent two months in the Horse Calvary and from 1929 to 1930 he was at Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. Bluford then served his country as an administrative officer on an aircraft carrier with the United States Navy during World War II, serving from 1931 to 1959. After serving for more than 20 years in the military, Bluford retired in 1959 as a chief warrant officer III. His Naval career took him to Guam, Alameda and San Diego, Calif., Washington, D.C., and Albuquerque, N.M. Above all else in his life, Bluford loved and enjoyed his family and grandchildren. He also enjoyed woodworking, reading and classical music. He leaves his imprint on all those he influenced while fulfilling his special place in this world. As he was loved in life, Bluford will be profoundly missed in death. Surviving family members who were honored to share Bluford's life include his wife, Valerie Middleton of Montrose, Colo.; one son, John Middleton and wife Karen of Arlington, Va.; three daughters, Valerie and husband Bill Hoadley of Chula Vista, Calif., Marti Middleton Petro and husband, Joe Petro of Summerville, S.C., Terri Middleton-Huntley and husband, Ron Huntley of Montrose, Colo.; eight grandchildren: Jason Middleton of Rochester, N.Y., Lee Middleton of Capetown, South Africa, Bill Hoadley and wife, Angie of San Diego, Calif., Kristen Hoadley of Chula Vista, Calif., Corrigan and husband, Matt Rutherford of Summerville, S.C., Caitie Petro of Greenville, S.C., Lacey Huntley, Nathanael Huntley and Keifer Huntley, all of Montrose; one stepgrandchild, Ronnie Huntley of Rescue, Calif.; 10 great-grandchildren of San Diego, Chula Vista, Calif., Summerville, S.C., Montrose and Delta, Colo.; and one brother, Guest Middleton and wife, Joy of Collierville, Tenn. Bluford was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers; and two sisters. At Bluford's request, cremation has taken place. A private family service will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice & Palliative Care of Western Colorado, in memory of Bluford Middleton, P.O. Box 1804, Montrose, CO 81402. Arrangements are being handled under the direction and care of the Crippin Funeral Home & Crematory, 802 E. Main St., in Montrose, (970) 249-2121.
IVA (SILL) MIDDLETON
- Services for Iva Sill Middleton were Saturday at Chapel Hill Baptist Church with Dr. E. E. Duesner officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery with Pafford Funeral Home in charge. Mrs. Middleton, who was 66, died early Thursday at her home here. She leaves her husband, Alex Middleton; a son, James Middleton, Lexington; a daughter, Mrs. Jeanette Johnson, Scotts Hill; a brother, Earl Sill, Missouri; four sisters, Mrs. Lorene Horton, Memphis, Mrs. Beulah Yates, Dell, Ark., Mrs. Myrl Ballard, Kensett, Ark., and Mrs. Ester Allen, Indianapolis, Ind., and three grandchildren.
The Lexington Progress, January 1, 1975
TONY MIDDLETON
- Services for Tony Alfred Middleton, 11 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Middleton of Lexington will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Mt. Gillead Presbyterian Church near Shady Hill, with Dr. E.E. Deusner officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery with Pafford Funeral Home in charge. Tony was a third grade student at South Haven school he was a Baptist. he died late Thursday at Jackson General. Other than his parents, he leaves a brother, William Middleton; two sisters, Judy Faye Middleton and Dorothy Faye Middleton and
his paternal grandmother Mrs. Bertha Middleton, all of Lexington.
Lexington Progress 17 Mar 1967.
WILLIE MAE (BROUNT) MIDDLETON
- Funeral services for Mrs. Willie Mae Middleton, age 76, held Friday, July 13, in the chapel of Pafford Funeral Home with Bro. Randall Woods and Bro. John D. Small officiating. Burial followed in Mt. Gilead Cemetery. Mrs. Middleton died late Tuesday in Jackson. She was born February 18, 1931 in Lexington to the late Lloyd and Lessie Overman Brount. She was a homemaker and a member of Mazies Chapel Missionary Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Mr. William Alfred Middleton, two sons, Tony and Charles Middleton, a grandchild, Kim Parrish, and a great grandchild, Starlyn Parrish. Survivors include her son, William G. Middleton of Decaturville, two daughters, Dorothy Faye Mooney and Judy Bingham of Lexington, one sister, Nellie Gray Robertson of McKenzie, seven grandchildren, thirteen great- grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
Contributed by Linda Fiedor from the Lexington Progress July 18, 2007
DOROTHY MAE MILAM
was almost instantly killed about 8 o'clock Monday night when the automobile she was riding in crashed into a tree in front of the home of Mr. and Mrs. Cleo Wilson about two miles east of Union Cross School and about ten miles north of Lexington. Other occupants of the car were Luther Fesmire, Edward Milam and Mrs. Evon Wilson. Mr. Fesmire was driving and Miss Milam was riding in the front seat with him when the crash occurred. He stated that the lights on the automobile went out as they were going down a hill and that he lost control of the car which left the road and crashed at the foot of the hill. Miss Milam was thrown through the windshield and her neck was broken and the jugular vein severed. She died almost instantly. The drive of the car sustained chest and head injuries. Edward Milam was not seriously hurt. Funeral services were conducted at Stray Leaf Church by Elder John W. Jarrett of Henderson. She was 15 years old and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bob Milam and is survived by them and three sisters. All parties lived in the Union Cross community and were en route to Lexington to see Roy cuff and the Smoky Mountain boys when the crash occurred.
Lexington Progress 13 Mar 1942