Obituaries
September 29, 2024
Joseph Dowe Thompson Jr. age 50 of Smithville, passed away on Saturday, September 28, 2024 at his residence. He was a retired factory worker.
He was born on October 9, 1973 in Nashville, TN. He is preceded in death by his father; Joseph Dowe Thompson Sr.
The family has chosen to respect Mr. Thompson’s wishes with a direct cremation. There will be no visitation.
Survivors include his mother; Joannia Martin Thompson, sister; Leeann Brakeall both of Smithville and brother; Dewayne Thompson of McMinnville.
Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements
Max Barney
September 28, 2024
Max Barney age 85 of Smithville, passed away Thursday September 26, 2024, at St. Thomas DeKalb Hospital. He was born December 25, 1938, to his parents the late Oscar and Mildred Burba Barney. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Rick Hankins. Mr. Barney was a member of Dry Creek Baptist Church and retired from the United States Navy after serving 21 years. He is survived by his wife, Jewell Barney of Smithville; son, Scott (Evelyn) Hankins of IL.; daughter, Karen Barney of SC; step-daughter, Deborah Gullion of IN; grandchildren, Erica and Robert Hankins and Ronald Walker; step-grandchildren, Brandon Perry and Leslie Boardmans; 1 great-grandson; sisters, Karen Chambers, and Janet Gerhardt both of FL; brother, Tom Barney. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM Monday September 30, 2024, at DeKalb Funeral Chapel with Bro. Jerry Osbourne officiating and burial to follow in DeKalb Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held Sunday 3 PM until 7: PM and on Monday 9:AM until the time of the service at 10:30 AM. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is honored to care for the Barney family.
Sharon Rust
September 28, 2024
Sharon Rust age 71, of Smithville, passed away Thursday night September 26,2024 at NHC Healthcare in Smithville. She was born November 10, 1952, to her parents the late John and Helen Skurja Malsky. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Curtis Rust; brother, John Wayne Malsky. Ms. Rust was of Russian Orthodox Faith and worked as a Bartender. She is survived by 2 daughters, Sherri (Bobby) Prater of Cookeville, Terese (Oscar) Pena of KY; grandchildren, Sienna Prater, Elena Prater, and Korrin Therrien; sisters, Carol Malsky and Diane Malsky; cousin, Dennis Skurjo of CT; host of nieces, nephews, family and friends also survive. Graveside services and interment will be 1 PM Thursday October 3, 2024 at DeKalb Cemetery with Chaplin Mike Ingram officiating. Visitation will be Thursday 11:AM until 12:45 PM at which time Mrs. Rust will be taken to the cemetery for the Graveside Service. The family ask that in lieu of flowers donations be made to Dekalb Funeral Chapel to help with final expenses. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is honored to care for the Rust family.
Dennis Michael Stacy
September 25, 2024
Dennis Michael Stacy age 60 of Alexandria, died Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024 at his residence. Born June 16, 1964 in Smithville, he was the son of the late Jack F. Stacy and Bobbie Malone Stacy. Dennis was a former employee and butcher at Prichard’s Grocery in Alexandria. He is survived by several cousins and his co-workers and friends in Alexandria. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024 at Hunter Funeral Home in Watertown. Visitation will be held from Noon till service time on Thursday. Interment will be at Salem Cemetery in Liberty.
HUNTER FUNERAL HOME, Watertown 615-237-9318.
Amy Nicole Taylor Cope
September 23, 2024
Amy Nicole Taylor Cope age 45 of Smithville, passed away Saturday September 21, 2024, at St. Thomas DeKalb Hospital. She was born September 23, 1978, to her father Jerry Taylor and her mother, the late Rachel Fay Taylor. She was a CNA. Funeral services will be held 1 PM Wednesday September 25, 2024, at DeKalb Funeral Chapel with Bro. Jerry Braswell officiating and burial to follow in Hale Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be Tuesday from 3 PM until 7 PM and Wednesday 10:AM until the time of service at 1 PM. Survivors include children: Zachary Aaron (Lilia) Taylor, Mia Inez Godinez, Rachael Nicole (Baltazar) Godinez all of Smithville; Grandchildren: Rhett, Cohen & Andres Taylor, Miguel & Kenya Munoz-Godinez, Jose Soto Godinez; Sister: Kaci (Derrick) Payne of Sparta; Brother: Wayne (Cindy) Taylor of Sparta; Father: Jerry Taylor of Smithville. Family asked that donations be made to DeKalb Funeral Chapel to help with funeral expenses. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is honored to care for the Taylor Family.
Donna Hall Hurst
September 23, 2024
Donna Hall Hurst, 84, of Jackson Hollow Road, Lancaster, died Friday night, September 20, 2024 at Alive Hospice in Nashville after being life-flighted to Vanderbilt Hospital the previous week following a major stroke. She was a longtime member of the Buffalo Valley Presbyterian Church.
Donna was born in the Newdale community of Burnsville, N.C., daughter of Herbert and Grace Autrey Hall. She and her husband, Jack moved to DeKalb County in 1985 from Chicago, where Jack had been a reporter for the Chicago Tribune. They met when she was working in Washington as personal secretary to U.S. Senator Ernest F. (Fritz) Hollings of South Carolina and Jack was working as a reporter for the Nashville Tennessean.
As a very young girl, Donna played piano for the Newdale Presbyterian Church as well as for a local gospel group called the Sunshine Trio. She was salutatorian of her graduating class at Micaville (N.C.) High School, and her first employment was as a secretary for the golf club at Biltmore Estate.
She volunteered to work in Fritz Holling’s first campaign for the U.S. Senate and was chosen by him to become a member of his first Senate staff. Moving to Washington on her own was a big step for a Carolin mountain girl, but she went to Capitol Hill and promised herself to stay at least six months to give herself a chance to like it. It was a hard, lonely, and not-well-paid life at first, but she stuck it out and grew to love it.
She particularly liked being a part of the Hollings office across a hall from Senator Ted Kennedy’s office. She said Senator Kennedy was very nice to her in the wake of her father’s death. She also enjoyed seeing such visiting Hollywood celebrities as Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. Hollings esteemed her to the point that, after she resigned to marry, he attended the wedding. She and Jack observed their fifty-third anniversary on April 17.
Donna loved to play the piano until a first stroke damage her right side in her late fifties. She was also very interested in country music and national politics. She had a fine sense of humor and a knack for memorably naming animals, including a calf named Lucille Bawl and dogs she dubbed Fancy Strut and Merle Haggard. She also loved to read and travel. Her favorite destinations included Greece and the Grand Canyon.
She is survived by her husband, Jack Hurst of Lancaster; niece, Jennifer ricks of Sneads Ferry, N.C.; nephew, Ralph McNeill of Washington, N.C. and a cousin, Edna Earle Fox of Burnsville, N.C.
Donna chose cremation, and plans for a memorial service are pending. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is honored to care for the Hurst Family.