The Jackson Sun from Jackson, Tennessee • 6

STATEDEATHS Saturday, Feb. 21, 1998 Pago 6 AThe Jackson Sun zq Nashville Banner prints its true 'final edition' Six plead guilty to killing family A migrant family, published the first issue. During the early years, the newspaper had the largest circulation in the state, more than 100,000 at one point. After more than nine decades, the Stahlmans sold the Banner to Gannett Co. The publishing giant sold it seven years later to three Nashville businessman when Gannett bought the competing morning newspaper, The Tennessean, now Nashville's only daily paper.

Two of those men, Irby Simp-kins and Brownlee O. Currey bought out the third in 1981 and owned the paper until its demise. Since 1937, the Banner and The Tennessean have shared a building, press time and advertising and circulation duties, but the reporters, editors and owners were fierce competitors. The Banner's circulation began declining in the 70s and was down to 39,838 this month, as opposed to 63,000 a decade ago. Projections showed that in two years, the number would drop to 25,000.

Beckner, who asked each of the six defendants, "Are you pleading guilty because you are in fact guilty?" Each answered, "Yes." None showed any emotion. The six are: Jason Blake Bryant, 15, of Marrowbone, Natasha Cornett, 19, and Crystal Sturgill, 18, both of Betsy Layne, Karen Howell, 18, and Dean Mullins, 20, both of Toler, and Joe Risner, 21, of Paintsville, Ky. Cornett, the reputed ringleader, told her first lawyer she is the daughter of Satan. Others in the group are interested in the occult, and prosecutors say two days before the killings they held a bizarre ritual in. a Pikeville, motel room that included self-mutilation and bloodletting.

The Lillelids were headed home from a Jehovah's Witnesses conference in Johnson City on April 6 when they stopped at an Interstate 81 rest stop near Baileyton, in northeast Tennessee. They were found in a muddy ditch along a gravel road several miles away. Vidar and Delfina, shot six and eight times respectively, died with their children in their laps. The couple's legs were run over by their own van, according to prosecutors. Two guns were used to shoot Young Kentuckians admit to slaying couple their daughter.

The Associated Press ir GREENEVILLE A teen-" ager who has said she's the i daughter of Satan and five young people from Kentucky pleaded guilty Friday to A murdering a Knox County cou-, pie and their 6-year-old daugh- ter. c' Under the agreement with prosecutors, none of the six will face the death penalty, but all could be imprisoned the rest of their lives without chance of parole. Prosecutor Berkeley Bell said deal was supported by the relatives of Vidar and Delfina Lillelid, who were shot to death their daughter Tabitha. Their 2-year-old son Peter sur-vived a bullet through his eye t-'-and is living with relatives in Sweden. "I'm happy that the families and the people who cared about the Lillelids are happy.

That means a great deal to us," Bell A gag order remained in ef- feet for the defense lawyers so they could not comment. The pleas came three days before the start of jury selection and were accepted by Criminal Court Judge James 1 DEATHS The Associated Press An undated family photo of Vidar Lillelid, his wife, Delfina and their children, Tabitha and Peter. The Lillelids, of Knox County, were carjacked in April 1997 and shot. Only Peter, then 2, survived. Six Kentuckians have pleaded guilty in the slayings.

122-year-old newspaper closes due to decline in circulation. The Associated Press NASHVILLE Tears glistened in Tonnya Kennedy's eyes Friday morning as she stood in the pressroom holding the true "final edition" of the Nashville Banner. But Kennedy the afternoon newspaper's managing editor put on a brave smile as she held the paper up for all the gathered reporters and Banner employees to see. There were hugs and tears, looks of shell-shock and a scramble for copies as they came off the press. Two hours later, those presses slowed to a stop and the 122-year-old newspaper was out of business a victim of declining circulation.

The headline read "End of Story." It was a long and proud story of a scrappy newspaper that began on April 10, 1876, when the Stahlmans, a German im- MIO ANNOUNCEMENT Information supplied by West Tennessee Funeral Directors James W. Sowell Services for Mr. James W. Sowell, 79, will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday from the South Chapel of George A.

Smith and Sons with the Rev. Kent Bailey officiating. Burial will follow in Ebenezer Cemetery. Mr. Sowell died Thursday evening at his residence.

A lifelong resident of Madison County, he was the son of the late Luther and Berdie Lee Morris Sowell. Mr. Sowell was a veteran of the U. S. Army serving in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Central Europe and Ardennes.

He had received the Theater Ribbon with five bronze stars, the Bronze Arrowhead, the Defense Service Medal, and the Good Conduct Ribbon. Mr. Sowell was a retired employee of the Madison County School Department with over thirty years service. Mr. Sowell is survived by his wife, Dorathy Sowell of Jackson; one daughter, Barbara Jean King and husband Joe of Jackson; two grandchildren, Lisa Carnal and husband Robin and Cheryl Rogers and husband Eric; three greatgrandchildren, Ashley Rogers, Amanda Carnal and Bethany Carnal; three sisters, Rebecca Terry of Jackson, Margaret Thompson of Jackson and Virginia Hef ley of Humboldt, TN.

The family will receive friends at the South Chapel of George A. Smith and Sons today from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. George A. Smith and Sons South Chapel 423-2212 Death Notice Policy: The Jackson Sun provides free death notices for families in our area.

However, those desiring more than basic information provided in the death notice may purchase a paid obituary through their funeral home or the classified advertisement department of The Sun. ij 423-0300 or 1-800-372-3922 i7 tJL Ax i witness, jailer Shawn Farrell, has a felony record. The suspects were arrested two days after the murders in Douglas, driving the Lillelids' van. The group had been turned away at the Mexican border because two people in the van were juveniles. United Methodist Church.

Mrs. Maher, a homemaker, died Friday at her residence of cancer. She is survived by two sons and a daughter, Patrick Maher and Woodson Maher, both of Brownsville, and Mary Bradford Williams of Memphis. For more information, call Brownsville Funeral Home at 772-1551. Viola Reed, 90, homemaker Services for Viola Reed, 90, will be at 1 p.m.

Sunday at Progressive Baptist Church. Burial will be in Highland Me-' morial Gardens. Mrs. Reed, a homemaker, did Tuesday at West Tennessee Skilled Nursing Center of heart failure. She is survived by three daughters, Willie Eva Monie and Willie Mae Lewis, both of Jackson, and Evelyn Jean Phillips of St.

Louis; a brother, Jimmy Rivers of Somerville; and five sisters, Christine Rivers and Josephine Selby, both of Somerville, Ogia Campbell of Nashville, and Katie Williamson and Gertie Taylor, both of Memphis. For more information, call Bledsoe Funeral Home at 427-1521. Bonnie Traylor Stutts, 70, retired Services for Bonnie Traylor Stutts, 70, will be at 1 p.m. today at Dyersburg Funeral Home. Burial will be in Dyer County Memorial Gardens.

Mrs. Stutts, retired data reviewer for the Social Security Administration, died Thursday at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital of cardiac arrest. She is survived by her husband, Eugene Stutts; a daughter, Sherry Turner of Milan; and three sisters and a brother, Margaret Combs of Nashville, Ann Mehaffey of Denver, Bettye Sheffield of Biloxi, and Marvin Traylor of Trenton. For more information, call the funeral home at 285-3021. Lester Thaxton, 87, retired farmer BROWNSVILLE Services for Lester Thaxton, 87, will be at 2 p.m.

today at Brown Creek M.B. Church. Burial will be in Brown Creek Cemetery. Mr. Thaxton, a retired farmer, died Monday at Meth-odist-Haywood Park Hospital of heart disease.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Louise Bond Thaxton. He is survived by two daughters, Lela M. Holiday of Louisville, and Lavada Weddle of Denmark; and three sons, Louis Frank Thaxton of Gary, Harvey Thaxton of Brownsville, and Willie N. Thaxton of Louisville, Ky. For more information, call Rawls Funeral Home at i the family and Bryant, who was 14 at the time, was one of the killers, Bell said.

Investigators were unable to determine who else pulled the trigger. Bell offered the plea agreement to defense lawyers Wednesday after learning a key Cynthia Wallace Jones of Selmer; a son and daughter, Marty D. Jones of Lexington and Donna Williams of Murfreesboro; and a sister, Opal Huggins of Selmer. For more information, call the funeral home at 968-2544. Lillie L.

Jones, 82, homemaker BROWNSVILLE Services for Lillie L. Jones, 82, will be at noon today at Brown Creek M.B. Church. Burial will be in Brown Creek Cemetery. Mrs.

Jones, a homemaker, died Tuesday at Methodist-Haywood Park Hospital in Brownsville of respiratory failure. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lewis T. Jones. She is survived by three daughters and two sons, Mary Perkins, Ann Bond and L.C. Jones, all of Brownsville, Margaret Jones Sweeney of St.

Louis, and Joe Thomas Jones of Jackson. For more information, call Rawls Funeral Home at 772-1472. Kenny Wayne Kemp Kenny Wayne Kemp died Thursday at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital. Arrangements are incomplete. For more information, call George A.

Smith and Sons Main Street Chapel at 427-5555. Bishop C.A. Kirkendoll, 83, retired Bishop Bishop Chester Arthur Kirkendoll, 83, died Friday at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital. Arrangements are incomplete. For more information, call Ford Funeral Home at 427-5585.

Cassie McCullough, 87, homemaker Services for Cassie Lee Robinson McCullough, 87, will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Bible Hill Baptist Church in Cedar Grove. Burial will be in Bible Hill Cemetery in Cedar Grove. Mrs. McCullough, a home-maker, died Wednesday at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital of cancer.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Juge McCullough. She is survived by five daughters, Helen Pate and Janice McCullough, both of Cedar Grove, Melba McCullough of Nashville, Curtis Lester of Chattanooga, and Linda Bowers of Freeport, and three brothers, J.D. Arnold of Jackson, Vernell Arnold of Lexington and Adell Arnold of Detroit. For more information, call Parham Mortuary at 968-5882. Mary Sorrelle Maher, 55, homemaker BROWNSVILLE Memorial services for Mary Sorrelle Woodson Maher, 55, will be at 2 p.m.

Sunday at Tabernacle Joe W.Miller Graveside services for Joe W. Miller will be Monday at 10:00 AM in Calvary Cemetery with Father William Parham officiating. Lawrence-Sorensen Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Miller died Friday morning at the Jackson-Madison County General Hospital.

He was the son of the late Fred W. Ruth S. Miller, who were from Mobile, AL. He moved to Jackson with his parents at an early age and attended St. Mary's School Jackson High School.

He attended Vocational Agriculture School after the war for 4 years. He served in the US Army Infantry in World War II for 4 years and served in the European Theatre. Mr. Miller was a communicant of St. Mary's Catholic Church.

Mr. Miller was formerly with Sumner Williams, Inc. of Jackson for 18 years was general manager of Julian Townsend Enterprises for 8 years. Survivors include his wife, Doris Miller of Jackson; two daughters, Cindy Piechorowski husband Frank of German-town Jana Miller of Jackson; a brother, Richard Miller of Savannah, Tn. Mr.

Miller was preceded in death by a son, Joey Miller. There will be no visitation at the funeral home. Lawrence-Sorensen Funeral Home 424-2424 Mr. John D. Chambers Graveside services for Mr.

John D. Chambers are scheduled for 2:00 pm, Sunday, February 22 at Spring Hill Cemetery in Sardis with Rev. Greg Stanford officiating. Pafford Funeral Home will be in charge of arrangements. Mr.

Chambers was born In Decatur, Illinois on April 18, 1948 to Mrs. Helen Stone Chambers and the late Thomas G. Chambers. He retired after 25 years of service as a New Orleans Police Officer, and was a U. S.

Army Veteran, serving 2 tours in Vietnam. Survivors include his mother, Mrs. Helen Chambers of Lexington, one son, John Douglas Chambers II of Mc Allen, TX, one sister, Sally D. Boyd of Lexington, and one brother, Thomas Gene Chambers II of New Orleans, LA. The family requests memorials be sent to Spring Hill Cemetery Fund, co Peoples Bank, P.O.

Box 98, Sardis, TN 38371. Pafford Funeral Home 968-2544 opportunity, full and part time. With the right computer software all of the work for one doctor can be done in about one hour a day. One software company, Professional Claims, says minimal experience is necessary and an income of up to $60 an hour is possible. They promise to show you how getting doctors is easy.

For more information on how you can get started in this business you can attend a free, no obligation, 1 hour seminar this week. The free seminars will be held in Jackson this week at the Holiday Inn, 541 Carriage House ton. Times are: Feb. 23 at 7:00 pm and Tues Feb. 24 at 7:00 pm.

No reservations are required. If you cannot attend one of the free seminars and would like more information call Professional Claims at 888-283-8113. (See FTC Dodo, lure Document for substutatioo of earnings cliims.) The AMA is not ffili-ated with Professional Claims, and docs not endorse or sponsor this busi-ess opportunity. tist Church. Burial will be in Hickory Grove Cemetery.

Mr. Bond died Feb. 14 in Brownsville of injuries sustained in an automobile accident. He is survived by five daughters and a son, Holli Nicole Bond, Jamecia Bond, Alexia Shardae' Bond and Jamari Bond, all of Brownsville, Der-rise Kinney Bond of Milwaukee, and Imani McAboy Bond of Lansing, two sisters and four brothers, Nikki Bond, Carlis Bond and Jarvis Bond, all of Brownsville, Paula Bond of Toledo, Ohio, and Michael Anderson of Memphis; and his grandfather, Hayes Anderson of Brownsville. For more information, call Rawls Funeral Home at 772-1472.

Bob Adams Carlton, 83, farmer TRENTON Services for Bob Adams Carlton, 83, will be at 10:30 a.m. today at Spring-hill Baptist Church. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Mr. Carlton, a farmer, died Thursday at his home of respiratory failure.

He is survived by his wife, Belen Carlton of Trenton; two daughters and a son, Patsy Bickerson of Trenton, Tammie Ayers of Jackson and Bob A Carlton II of Gadsden; and two brothers, Larry Carlton and Ralph Carlton, both of Trenton. For more information, call Shelton Funeral Home at 855-1621. Lou Willie Howard, 80, homemaker MEDON Services for Lou Willie Howard, 80, will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at St. Paul Baptist Church.

Burial will be in the church cemetery. Mrs. Howard, a homemaker, died Wednesday at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital of heart failure. She is survived by her husband, James Howard of Medon; three daughters and three sons, Charlene Reeves, Brenda Gray, Janice Washington, Samuel G. Newbern, the Rev.

Jerry Howard and Marvin Howard, all of Jackson; and two sisters and two brothers, Imogene Thomas of Jackson, Elizabeth Fisher of Jackson, Fred Newbern of Terre Haute, and Curtis Newbern of Paducah, Ky. For more information, call Stephenson-Shaw Funeral Home at 427-7411. Donald Malvern Jones, 68, retired Services for Donald Malvern Jones, 68, will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Pafford Funeral Home in Lexington. Burial will be in Lexington Cemetery.

Mr. Jones, retired factory worker for Brown Shoe Company, died Friday at Alvin C. York-VA. Medical Center in Murfreesboro of cancer. He is survived by his mother, Sylvesta B.

Barnett, -vA 79, retired Services for Sylvesta B. Bar-' nett, 79, will be at 2 p.m. Sun- day at Berean Baptist Church. Burial will be in St. John No.

1 Baptist Church Cemetery. Mrs. Barnett, a retired for the Jackson-Madison Schools system, died '(Monday at Jackson-Madison 'County General Hospital of cancer. She is survived by four sons, Zelner Barnett Jr. of Herbert Earnest of Chattanooga, Barnett of Midwest and Larry Barnett -of Aurora, four daughters, Rosa Marie Robinson of 'Aurora, Carolyn Leverne of Mesa, Shirley Ann Jackson of Decatur, 111., and Shelia Barnett of Fort Worth, Texas; a brother, John Walker "of Muskagoa, and four Careathar Jacobs of Cleveland, Ohio, and Lillie Mae Jones, Charlene Lewis and Kay Frances Tomlinson, all of Jack-; son.

For more information, call Bledsoe Funeral Home at Lynn Bateman, 93, retired SELMER Services for Lynn Bateman, 93, will be at p.m. Sunday at Shackel-ford Funeral Home. Burial will 'be in Lake Hill Memorial Gardens near Bethel Springs. Mr. Bateman, a retired pro- fessional photographer with his business, died Thursday at his residence in Selmer of heart failure.

''-Be is survived by his wife, Bateman of Selmer; two 'daughters and a son, Doris Wallace of Montgomery, Lyndall Goff of Parsons and Dr. Jim Bateman of Nashville; and sister, Yvonne Moss of Corinth, Miss. For more information, call the funeral home at 645-3481. Carolyn Beard, 70, retired 7- DRESDEN Services for Carolyn Brannon Beard, 70, will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Funeral Home.

Burial "will be in Tansil Cemetery near Sharon. Mrs. Beard, retired legal secretary and homemaker, died Thursday in Dresden of congestive heart failure. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert M. Beard Jr.

She is survived by two sons, Macon Beard of Vidalia, and Brian Beard of Atlanta; and two sisters, Mary Ann Wil-; son of Gleason and Gloria Holt ofMaryville. For more information, call the funeral home at 364-3101. Hollis Jerome Bond, 21 BROWNSVILLE Services for Hollis Jerome Bond, 21, will be at 1 p.m. today at First Bap- ADVERTISEMENT How to Make Money Using Your Home Computer How secure is your job? Many people are saying there is no longer any job security in corporate America. Now 8,000 people a day are starting their own home-based businesses.

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