Petty Presents Soulful Hank's Life
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CCHS battles Commandments in Red Boiling vs. Islam’s Pillars See Page 13 See Page 6 Home of BARBARA CAMERON 131rd YEAR - NO. 10 Wednesday, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 TWO SECTIONS - 50¢ PER COPY Mixrd media artist Mi- chelle Sweatt ’s (left) cre- ations include several “portraits” of writer Edgar Allen Poe. MIKE WEST photos Bobby Edwards, above, splits white oak in prepara- tion for another basket at the White Oak Fesitval held Saturday and Sunday at the Arts Center of Cannon County. Right, Sara Dolph displays her colorful glass creations. Far right, Lordymercy, musican and artist Heather Moulder displays old-fashioned lett erpress prints. Petty presents soulful Hank’s Life DAN WHITTLE one’s health and personal life. Pett y shared about Hanks’ (June 11, 1949), the audience The Cannon Courier “Hank, the prolifi c song writ- drinking: “Hank was diagnosed went wild, causing him to per- It was like stepping back in er, lived every word he wrote,” with Spina Bifi da, which result- form eight encores of ‘Love Sick time, when impersonator Jason history professor Pett y instructed ed in continuous severe back Blues’, an encore record that’s Pett y transformed into Hank his audience of intense listeners. pain … pain to the point he sub- never been broken.” Williams Sr. at the recent packed “His music came straight from mitt ed to having surgery, which Pett y said the late Don Helms, out Arts Center of Cannon Coun- the heart. But Hank had a drink- unfortunately resulted in more as the last living member of The ty. ing problem. A fellow Grand Ole pain … and that resulted in more Drifting Cowboys, shared some Pett y took his audience back Opry performer once told Hank, whiskey and more pills … pills personal aspects of Hanks’ life. in time … a simpler time when he ‘had a million dollar talent, they learned later that came from “When joining the band, Don Hank injected his down-to-earth but a 10-cent brain.’” a man who only claimed to be a shared that Hank took him to a music into the veins of ordinary Audience member Jackie medical doctor.” pawn shop, with Don thinking Americans’ lives. Jones had tears rolling down After belting out “Tears In it was about some inexpensive Pett y also evoked emotions her cheeks when Pett y shared: My Beer,” Perry shared that two music equipment,” Pett y pre- when presenting songs such as “Hank was deeply religious, but milestone failures, his divorce sented. “Instead, Hank secured “Cold, Cold Heart” along with he was two diff erent men … ob- from fi rst wife Audrey and being a black jack for Don, because bringing rounds of laughter Jason Pett y as Hank Williams. viously gifted, but in a tremen- fi red from the Grand Ole Opry, Hank loved performing in row- while taking the 2015-era au- dous amount of back pain.” “broke Hanks’ heart.” dy honky tonks.” dience back to 1951-52 when a classroom of Hank Williams’ But when Pett y jarred down “Audrey and Hank were head Pett y gave an illustration that “Hank Williams was writing hit history, focusing on Hank’s glo- on “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” Mrs. over heels in love with one an- Hank could pen a song about after hit.” rious God-given talents while Jones and the person in an adja- other, but could not get along” any subject. Between songs, Pett y trans- a spinal disease and whiskey cent chair broke out in accompa- Perry noted. “And the fi rst time “Don Helms shared that he formed the Art Center stage into played havoc with the great niment with the entertainer. Hank appeared on the Opry See PETTY, Page 9 Cannon County High School Principal Mike Jones shares the emotion he experienced American Legion Post 279 offi cers Charlie Harrell and on 9/11. His emotions ranged from shock to anger. (See column, page 4) Christine Barrett led the emotional Patriots Day ceremo- ny at the Cannon County Courthouse. See Cannon Blast on Page 7 No Voice, No Choice The Voting Rights Act at 50 2:30 p.m., Tucker Theatre A voting rights panel discussion with y/vet ilit ili il i renowned civil rights leaders Reverend b Constitution Day, ab isab James M. Lawson and Reverend C.T. Photos by Vic Cooley, Thurs., September 17 O Vivian. Moderated by Aleia Brown, Nashville Banner, courtesy of EO/d EO E Free and open to the public Nashville Public Library, MTSU grad student and activist. Special Collections. AA/E PAGE 2 CANNON COURIER SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 CANNON COURIER OBITUARIES Elaine Alexander Martin Robert E Tooley Keith Merritt Ms. Elaine Alexander Martin, 66, a native of Cannon Robert E. Tooley, age 88, of Woodbury, TN. passed away Keith Merritt , age 67 of Murfreesboro, passed away August County died on September 6, 2015. She was born on June Sunday, August 30, 2015 at Woodbury Health Care Center. 31, 2015 at St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital. He was a 14, 1949. Her parents were the late Jake Alexander and He was a native of Town of Sheldon, NY. native of Cannon Co. Mildred Finley Alexander. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Marlene Taylor and Jessie Burr Litt le Jackson. Survivors include his brother, Arthur Tooley of North Survivors include his wife, Sharon Elkins Merritt of Tonawanda, NY; sisters, Euleta Lapp of Batavia, NY & Murfreesboro; Daughter, April Merritt White of Smyrna; She is survived by her daughter, Rhonda (Jeff Cawthon) Reta Tooley of Akron, NY; and nephew, Edward Mallory Granddaughter, Victoria Elaine White of Smyrna. Also Hibdon of Milton; son, Jamie (Jill) Martin of Grove City, of Buff alo, NY. surviving are several cousins. Ohio; brothers, Buddy Alexander of Woodbury and Gerry Alexander of Hillsboro; sisters, Lillian Alexander of He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur & Ida He was preceded in death by his parents, Jim Merritt & Woodbury and Mary Dale (Buddy) Clark of LaVergne ; a Lapp Tooley; Brother, Norman Tooley; Sisters, Arlene Hatt ie Mai Gilley Merritt ; and a son, Allen Keith Merritt . granddaughter, Della Laine Martin and close friends, Joyce Mason, Hilda Hammond, Roberta Mallory, & Carolyn Burns, Anita Cantrell and Rhonda Roberts. Tooley. Mr. Merritt was a member of the church of Christ and was a machinist at Quality Industries. Ms. Martin grew up in Cannon County in a large close knit Mr. Tooley was a member of the Sunny Hills Baptist family. She later lived in McMinnville for many years. She Church and was a retired truck driver for Buff alo Crushed Funeral services were held 1 PM Thursday, September moved from McMinnville and worked for Community Care Stone. 3, 2015 in the Chapel of Woodbury Funeral Home with of Rutherford County for a long time. She was a member Bro. Jerry Gilley offi ciating. Interment followed at Elkins of the Dillon Street Baptist Church. Ms. Martin enjoyed A memorial service will be 6 pm, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015 Cemetery. Visitation was held from 4 to 8 PM Wednesday, traveling. Two of her favorite places were Gatlinburg and at Woodbury Funeral Home, 504 W. Main St. Woodbury, September 2, 2015 at Woodbury Funeral Home. Florida. She liked listening to country music. Her family TN. 37190. Visitation will be from 4 pm until 6 pm. enjoyed her cooking, especially, the oatmeal cookies. Her In lieu of fl owers, donations may be made to Woodbury granddaughter was her pride and joy. She spent all the Woodbury Funeral Home, 615-563-2311 or www. Funeral Home to help the family with funeral expenses. time she could with her. woodburyfuneralhome.net Cannon Courier, September 16, 2015 Visitation will be held at Smith Funeral Home on Sunday, Cannon Courier, September 16, 2015 Woodbury, Tennessee September 20, 2015 from 2-4 pm. Memorial services will Woodbury, Tennessee follow in the Smith Funeral Home chapel. Her son, Jamie Martin, will share memories and stories from family and friends. In lieu of fl owers the family requests donations to two local charities, S.A.V.E. Program or Woodbury Church of Christ Outreach Center. Donations may be made by Reba Jo Sparkman Boyd Bessie Thomas Miller contacting Smith Funeral Home. Share memories and condolences with the family on the guestbook page of Reba Jo Sparkman Boyd, age Bessie Thomas Miller, 97 of Woodbury, was born, reared www.smithfuneralhomewoodbury.net. Smith Funeral 79, of Clarksville, passed and lived all of her life in Cannon Co. She rode her pony to Home, (615)563-5337 away Thursday, September att end Bradvyille Elementary School, which was built the 10, 2015, at her residence. same year in which she was born, 1918. After graduating Cannon Courier, September 16, 2015 from Woodbury High School and receiving her teaching Woodbury, Tennessee Reba was born May 28, 1936, certifi cate from Middle Tennessee State University (known in Woodbury, TN, to the then as State Teachers’ College) at 17, she began her late Leonard B. Sparkman teaching career at Bradyville Elementary. Because she and Sudie Elizabeth Turner was only 17 when the school term began, offi cials delayed Sparkman. She was also the opening two weeks to allow Bessie to turn 18. Her R L Cawthorn preceded in death by her fi rst class at Bradyville had an enrollment of 50 fi rst and R.L. Cawthorn, 78, of Bradyville died Friday, 09/04/15 at brother, L.B. Sparkman; and second-graders. After teaching for 11 years, “Miss Bessie” Vanderbilt Hospital. He was a native of Cannon Co., Tn. three sisters, Willene Lane, as she is known by most everyone, began working with Sue Hudgens, and Ann the Department of Human Services, a career which lasted He is survived by his wife of 59 years: Dewalene Bryson Powell.