Current Obituaries
Robert Rufus Lewis
by DFH Inc. on 11/05/21
Robert Rufus Lewis went to be with the Lord on October 7th, 2021. He is preceded in death by his father Robert “Bobby” Lewis and mother Cora Agnes Bowen Lewis, former wife Katrina Carmichael Lewis. Survived by sister Francis (Bobby) Amos; children Renee Caine, Kenyu Lewis, Monica Lewis and bonus daughter Erika (Travis) Armstrong; grandchildren Alonzo Holly, Marisha Holly, DJ and Quaid Lewis Ahmina, ZaKiyah and ZaKirah Winstead, Bryson Stephens and Kobe Simpson; great grand children Tyson and Kellan Holly and Aubriegh George and Kelly D George Jr. And a host of neices and nephews cousins and friends. A memorial service will be held at at Dockerys Funeral home on Friday November 5th at 2PM.
Emma Frances Pate
by DFH Inc. on 11/05/21
EMMA FRANCES PATE
Emma Frances Pate, 89, died Wednesday, October 27, 2021 at the home of her daughter and son-in-law in Knoxville.
She was born September 10, 1932 to Alonzo William Goins and Lucy Cureton Goins in Morristown. In 1948 Emma Frances married Joseph W. Cox Jr., and had two children from that marriage, Joseph A. Cox and Rebecca Cox Wilker. They were married for 14 years. In 1976, she married Kenneth Pate.
In 1960-1961 Emma Frances was one of 20 women of color who made history in Hamblen County when they became licensed practical nurses (LPNs). Up to that time, women of color were not permitted to be educated as nurses. She began her nursing career at Morristown-Hamblen Hospital and worked 17 years at Hill Haven Nursing Home in Jefferson City, from where she retired. She loved being a nurse and in total worked for more than 30 years in that profession. She had a green thumb and loved working with her many plants both inside and outside.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 40 years, Kenneth Pate; her son, Joseph “Pudgy” Cox; grandsons, Courtney Cotner and Norman Cox; her parents, Alonzo and Lucy Goins; her brothers, James E. Goins and Hubert W. Goins; and sister, Willie V. Goins Dailey.
She leaves to cherish her memory daughter, Rebecca “Becky” (Al) Wilker of Knoxville; stepdaughter, Vanessa Pate Cotner, stepson, Steve (Carolyn) Pate of Jefferson City; grandchildren, Pamela Wilker Baidoo of Pensacola Florida, Tasha Wilker-Lee, James “Buddy” (Robin) Wilker, Aaron Houseal and Tina Bondaug of Knoxville, Marc (Beth) Cox of Morristown, Claudette (Michael) Ashley of Bulls Gap, and Britney Cotner of Augusta, Georgia; great-grandchildren, Dillon (Erin) Wilker of Shelby North Carolina, Rebecca Wilker, Emilia Zelaya, twins Keeley and Nicholas Wilker of Knoxville, Tiffany Cox and Cameron Cox of Morristown, Amber Cox of Houston, Texas, Alonzo Cox and Joseph Cox of San Diego, California, Letisha Brown, Charlotte, North Carolina, Chelsey (Al) Cooper of Columbus, Ohio, and Makyah Setzer of Augusta, Georgia; nephews, Ronald Dailey of Douglasville Georgia, and Michael Dailey of Morristown; nieces, Lynnis Richmond and Mary (Mike) Williams of Morristown; cherished cousin and sister-in-law, Eugenia Carter; life-long friends, Juanita “Peggy” Clark and Barbara Pearson of Morristown; and several great-great-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be held 1 p.m., Saturday, November 6 at Jefferson Memorial Gardens, 812 E Broadway Blvd., Jefferson City.
Arrangements by:
William Howard Rucker,
by DFH Inc. on 11/05/21
William Howard Rucker, age 75 of Morristown, passed away peacefully at Johnson City Medical Center, Monday, November 1, 2021.
William was a member of Citizens Baptist Church, where he served as trustee. He was a US Army Vietnam Veteran. William was a devoted husband, father, brother, grandfather, great-grandfather, and uncle who will be deeply missed by his family and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Charlie and Minnie Rucker; sisters Nell Rucker, Mary Helen Jackson, and Elizabeth McKinney; brothers J.W. Rucker, Earl Rucker, and Cecil Lee.
He is survived by his wife of 4 years Ella “Moe” Rucker; sister Martha Reed; daughters Jameszina (Barry) Rucker, Lynnette “Samantha” Jackson, Angie (Trevor) Lee, LaToya (Tory) House, and Dona (Phillip) Burns; William “Hammer” Rucker, William “Willie” Rucker Jr., and Terrell Thomas, grandchildren; great-grandchildren, sister-in-law Mary Jane Holt and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. He will also be missed by Theo (furson).
The family will receive friends at 1pm Sunday Nov. 7, 2021 at Dockery-Senter Funeral Home with the funeral service to follow at 3pm. Burial immediately following the service at Russellville Cemetery with Military Honors.
The family would also like to thank Brittany Ferguson, UT Home Health for her special care of Rucker.
Funeral Arrangements by Dockery - Senter Funeral Home
