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Archiver > TNCAMPBE > 2005-08 > 1125146407
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Subject: Obits From the Oak Ridger
Date: Sat, 27 Aug 2005 08:40:07 EDT
From The Oak Ridger 25 Aug 2005
Edward Davis, 65, of Knoxville,
Isaiah York Fitzgerald, 87, of Georgetown, S.C.,
Chester Lawrence Hedgecoth, 70, of Knoxville,
Julian Jason Langley Jr.,
Alma Ruth Richardson, 73, of Oak Ridge,
James Patterson, 70, of Devonia,
Kathleen Ward Giannola, 74, of Oak Ridge,
Edward Davis, 65, of Knoxville, died Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2005, at home.
He was a Baptist.
Mr. Davis was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel Davis Sr. and Beatrice
Davis; a brother, Samuel Davis Jr.; and a nephew, Michael York.
He is survived by his former wife, Jo Ann Loy Davis; his children, Debbie
Davis and Wayne Davis of Knoxville, Steven Davis of Cayce, S.C., and Theresa
Johnson of Knoxville; four grandchildren, Michelle and Erica Davis, Jeremy
Johnson, and Ajah Fields; his twin brother, Andrew Davis and wife, Bonnie, of
Clinton; his sisters, Betty Green and husband, James, of Oak Ridge, and Marjorie York
Allsup and husband, Bill, of White Pine; and several nieces and nephews.
Mr. Davis' family and friends will meet at 10:45 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 27,
2005, at Bakers Forge Cemetery for an 11 a.m. graveside service. The Rev. Irby
Russell will officiate.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26, at Mynatt
Funeral Home in Knoxville.
Mynatt Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Isaiah York Fitzgerald, 87, of Georgetown, S.C., died Sunday, Aug. 21, 2005,
at Georgetown Memorial Hospital in Georgetown, S.C.
Mr. Fitzgerald was born Oct. 3, 1917, in Celina, Tenn., a son of Isaiah and
Martha York Fitzgerald, who are deceased.
He attended Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, and Middle
Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro until he was drafted. He served in the
U.S. Army during World War II and earned the Bronze Star for heroic service
during the Normandy Invasion.
He helped establish The Humane Society of Crossville in the 1990s. Mr.
Fitzgerald was chief of the Coastal Surveys Section with the U.S. Department of
Commerce's Coast & Geodetic Surveys; in that position, he surveyed for Dulles
International Airport in Washington, D.C. During his career, he was awarded the
Bronze Medal in 1967 and the Silver Medal in 1972 for meritorious service.
Mr. Fitzgerald was a member of Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church in
Georgetown, S.C., where he was a former president and vice president of the
United Methodist Men, and ushered and served on the offering and counting
committees. He also volunteered for Habitat for Humanity.
Mr. Fitzgerald is survived by his wife, Elaine C. Fitzgerald of Georgetown,
S.C.; a stepson, Oliver Cooper of Georgetown; a brother, Don Fitzgerald of
Somerset, Ky.; two sisters, Birdie Childs and Martha Shelton, both of Oak Ridge;
and two grandchildren, Victor D. Cooper of Hughesville, Md., and Albert Y.
Cooper of Georgetown.
A memorial service was held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2005, at Duncan
Memorial United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Phillip C. Thrailkill
officiating.
The family asks that memorials be made to Duncan Memorial United Methodist
Church, 901 Highmarket St., Georgetown, SC 29440.
Mayer Funeral Home, Georgetown Chapel, was in charge of arrangements. An
online guestbook can be signed at www.mayerfuneralhome.com.
Chester Lawrence Hedgecoth, 70, of Knoxville, died Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2005,
at Baptist West Hospital in Knoxville.
Mr. Hedgecoth was born March 14, 1935, in Crossville, the son of Mr. and Mrs.
Chester Arthur Hedgecoth.
He began playing the drums as a member of the Cumberland County High School
Band. Immediately after completing high school, he attended the Roy Knapp
School of Percussion in Chicago, Ill., where he studied music.
After leaving Chicago, he attended Tennessee Polytechnical Institute (TPI) in
Cookeville, where he came under the influence of Dr. W.J. Julian, former head
of the University of Tennessee band program.
Mr. Hedgecoth graduated from TPI in 1959 with a bachelor's degree in music
education and began his teaching career in Chattanooga as the band director at
East Ridge High School.
He received his master's degree in music education from the University of
Tennessee at Knoxville in 1966. After receiving his degree, he was hired as band
director of Bearden Middle School in Knoxville, where he remained until his
retirement in 1989 due to health problems.
His family said Mr. Hedgecoth was not only an outstanding music teacher, he
also excelled as a jazz drummer, and played with big bands headed by Tony
Pastor, Ray McKinley and others. At one time he had five of his former percussion
students touring nationally.
The walls of the band room at Bearden Middle School are covered with plaques
citing his band's accomplishments over the years as having earned "Superior"
ratings in the State Band Festival Competition.
The Bearden Middle School Concert band performed the opening ceremonies for
the Dogwood Arts Festival from 1971 through 1976, and the Tennessee School
Boards Association meeting in 1980 and 1983. The band also participated at the
East Tennessee Symphony Bands and Orchestra Association Festival and the Solo and
Ensemble Festival each year.
Along with teaching private percussion lessons, Mr. Hedgecoth also judged at
local band competitions and music festivals throughout the South. He was one
of those teachers dedicated to molding lives and teaching students about
respect and responsibility. He was a true motivator.
In 1987, Remo Inc., maker of drum sets and drum hardware, presented Mr.
Hedgecoth with the EPPI Award for Excellence in the Profession of Dedication and
Contribution to the field of the Percussion Arts and Education. He also received
the Knoxville city schools' Citizenship Award for the 1966-1967 school year.
On May 7, 1987, Mr. Hedgecoth was honored with a special tribute as hundreds
of friends, former students, and admirers gathered to honor the modest band
director. An evening concert was held featuring the UT Percussion Ensemble and
the UT Marimba Choir. Several former students also performed as guest soloists.
Mr. Hedgecoth was associated with the following organizations: American
Federation of Musicians Local 546, Band and Orchestra National Association, the
Barnum & Bailey Circus, the Chattanooga and Knoxville Symphony Orchestras,
Holiday On Ice, Knoxville Musician's Association, various local dance bands, Parent
Teachers Association, and Phi Beta Mu - National School Bandmaster Fraternity.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Hedgecoth was preceded in death by his
sister, Mary Jane Mabry of Crossville; and by his niece, Nancy Buckner of Orlando,
Fla.
He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Evelyn Bonney Hedgecoth, formerly of
Oak Ridge; sisters, Helen Buckner and Myra Hedgecoth; aunt, Leah McCuiston;
niece, Martha Jane Turner; great niece, Destiny King; and great nephew, Kyle
Turner all of Crossville, along with many other relatives.
He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Pat Bonney Dunlap Hartman of Oak
Ridge; niece, Denise Dunlap Billings and her husband Tom of Nashville; and
nephew, Cleon S. Hartman II and his children, April, Tanner, and Reid all of Oak
Ridge.
According to Mr. Hedgecoth's wishes, his body was donated to the Medical
Education and Research Institute (MERI), Genesis - Gift of Life program located in
Memphis.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to the Chet
Hedgecoth Scholarship Fund at The University of Tennessee School of Music, 1741
Volunteer Blvd., Knoxville, TN 37996.
Plans for a memorial service celebrating his life have not yet been
finalized.
Julian Jason Langley Jr., infant son of Dawn Dison and Julian Langley of
Briceville, passed away Thursday, Aug. 25, 2005, at Fort Sanders Parkwest Medical
Center in Knoxville.
He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Loas Dison Jr.; and his
great-grandparents, Clifford and Martha Hall.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by his sister, Hannah Loas of
Briceville; grandparents, Stella Dison of Briceville, and Kerry and Nancy Langley
of Oliver Springs; aunt, Rebecca Hopper and family of Heiskell; uncle, James
Langley and family of Beaufort, S.C.; special godmother , Kayla Hall of Oliver
Springs; and a host of other friends and relatives.
A graveside service will be held at noon, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2005, at Browns
Flat Cemetery with the Rev. Charlie Marlow officiating.
Sharp Funeral Home in Oliver Springs is in charge of arrangements.
Alma Ruth Richardson, 73, of Oak Ridge, died of cancer Thursday, Aug. 25,
2005, at NHC HealthCare of Oak Ridge.
She was born Oct. 9, 1931, in Vonore. She was the daughter of William and
Gertrude Gregory Wright.
She was a loving mother who loved working with people. She was last employed
as a certified nursing assistant at Keystone Adult Daycare, before becoming
ill.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. Richardson was preceded in death by her
husband, Rowell Richardson, by two sisters, Cleo Mills and Jewel Easter, and by a
brother, Clyde Wright.
She is survived by her daughter, Angela Richardson of Oak Ridge and her
fiance, Sean Newman; her sister-in-law, Sharon Fuller and husband, Harold, of Oak
Ridge; two nieces, Patsy Hawkins and husband, Clarence, of Maryville, and
Patricia Waddell and husband, David, of Philadelphia, Tenn.; and one nephew, George
"Bill" Easter and wife, Carolyn, of Cumming, Ga.
A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26, 2005, at Oak
Ridge Memorial Park with the Rev. J. E. Wiseman officiating.
Weatherford Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. An on-line guest book can
be signed at www.weatherfordmortuary.com.
James Patterson, 70, of Devonia, died Friday, Aug. 26, 2005, at Methodist
Medical Center of Oak Ridge.
Sharp Funeral Home in Oliver Springs is in charge of the arrangements, which
were incomplete at press time.
Kathleen Ward Giannola, 74, of Oak Ridge, died Monday, Aug. 22, 2005, at
Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge.
All services were private.
Martin Oak Ridge Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
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