In Memoriam: Lula Cooper Blanton (1861 - 1920)

 

Lula Cooper Blanton

Born:  November 19, 1861

Died:  March 6, 1920

Buried in Simpson Cemetery

Married W. T. Blanton November 4, 1886

She was a member of M. E. Church but united with

Union Ridge Baptist after her marriage.

Died of Tuberculosis

Predeceased by Father John B Cooper (d. 1915)

Survivors:

Husband-- William Thomas Blanton (m. November 4, 1886)

Mother-- Rebecca F Landers Cooper

Siblings

Washington Cicero Cooper

Ella Cooper Fuqua

Maggie Cooper Condra

Algie Bell Cooper Craig

American Lillian Cooper Boyd

Johnnie Anna Cooper Pickle

William Emmett Cooper

Children

Willie Elmer Blanton

Mary Ella Blanton

Sam B Blanton

Nora B Blanton Taylor

Georgia L Blanton Simpson

Sources:

Baptist and Reflector, April 29, 1920, p  23, col 2 & 3; image, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/baptist-and-reflector-lula-cooper-blanto/206819632/ : accessed September 27, 2026), clip page for Lula Cooper Blanton- Obituary.

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/66488903/lula-blanton: accessed 27 Sep 2026), memorial page for Lula Cooper Blanton (19 Nov 1861–6 Mar 1920), Memorial ID 66488903, citing Simpson Cemetery, Bedford County, Tennessee, USA.

In Memoriam: Eris Kimmons Simpson (1900 - 1923)

 

Eris Kimmons Simpson

Born:  October 17, 1900

Died:  May 3, 1923

Contracted Typhoid while working in Akron Ohio.

Survivors:

Parents:  Benjamin Isaiah Simpson and Edna Angeline Kimmons Simpson

Siblings:

Naomi E. Simpson Davis

Alta Dugan Simpson Clay 

Robert Webb Simpson

Thomas Edgar Simpson

Benjamin Frederic Simpson

Roy Jennings Simpson

Sources:

Baptist and Reflector, August 16, 1923, p  13, col 2; image, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/baptist-and-reflector-eris-simpson-obit/206720933/ : accessed September 25, 2026), clip page for Eris Simpson--obit.

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/131422937/eris_kimmins-simpson: accessed 25 Sep 2026), memorial page for Eris Kimmins Simpson (17 Oct 1900–3 May 1923), Memorial ID 131422937, citing Simpson Cemetery, Bedford County, Tennessee, USA,

In Memoriam: Minerva May Cook Lamb (1870-1913)

 

Minerva May Cook Lamb

Born: December 12, 1870
Died:  February 18, 1913

Cause of Death:  Tuberculosis

Buried at Simpson Cemetery

Married Thomas Lamb on October 3, 1894 in Bedford Co. Tennessee.

No Children

Christian for 17 yrs(saved in 1896) and member of Union Ridge Baptist since 1907

Predeceased by 

Parents--James Polk Cook and Susan Carson Ferguson Cook

Paternal Grandparents--William Clifford Cook & Elizabeth Putman Cook

Maternal Grandparents--Jesse H Carson & Nancy Gillespie Carson

Survivors

Sisters:

Tennessee "Tennie" Ferguson Hill(Maternal half sister)

Harriet Sophie Cook Boyce(Wife of Humphrey Hastings Boyce)

Brother--William Clifford "Billy Kid" Cook

This is a cropped photo of May from an original picture of

May and Tom Lamb that was posted on Ancestry by BobbieLonas94 

that I had Gemini adjust for clarity.

Sources:

Baptist and Reflector, August 21, 1913, p  14, col 2; image, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/baptist-and-reflector-obituary-for-miner/206177405/ : accessed September 17, 2026), clip page for Obituary for Minerva May  Cook Lamb.

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/113719628/minerva_may-lamb: accessed 17 Sep 2026), memorial page for Minerva May Cook Lamb (12 Dec 1870–18 Feb 1913), Memorial ID 113719628, citing Simpson Cemetery, Bedford County, Tennessee, USA.

In Memoriam: Sallie Phillips Gentry (1862- 1891)

 

Sallie Phillips Gentry

Born:  August 31, 1862

Died: November 15, 1891

Daughter of Wm & Amanda Phillips.

Granddaughter of Ivie Phillips

Married Sam Gentry Dec 1 1881

Buried at Simpson Cemetery

Survived by 

Parents Wm L & Amanda Phillips

Husband: Samuel Gentry

Sons:

Raleigh Gentry

Benjamin Gentry

Zona A. Gentry

Ivey Gentry

Sources:  

Baptist and Reflector, January 21, 1892, p  15, col 2; image, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/baptist-and-reflector-sallie-gentry-obi/205605217/ : accessed September 8, 2026), clip page for Sallie Gentry--Obit.[This announcement was placed in the Baptist and Reflector publication of the Union Ridge Baptist Church Committee--Edna Simpson, Edna Elmore and Alta Reid.]

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/78209356/sarah_t-gentry: accessed 8 Sep 2026), memorial page for Sarah T. Phillips Gentry (31 Aug 1862–15 Nov 1891), Memorial ID 78209356, citing Simpson Cemetery, Bedford County, Tennessee, USA.

In Memoriam: Margaret Thomason Simpson (1830-1909)

 

Margaret Thomason Simpson

Born:  May 6, 1830

Died:  August 15, 1909

Buried in Simpson Cemetery

Joined Union Ridge Baptist in August of 1851

Married John W. Simpson on May 6, 1855

Widowed:  October 21, 1869

Survivors:  4 children

James William Simpson 

Benjamin Isaiah Simpson

Mary Elizabeth Simpson Faris

Thomas David Simpson

Sources:

Baptist and Reflector, November 25, 1909, p 14. col 2; image, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/baptist-and-reflector-margaret-thomason/205342753/ : accessed September 5, 2026), clip page for Margaret Thomason Simpson--Obit.

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/95244494/margaret_w-simpson: accessed 5 Sep 2026), memorial page for Margaret W. Thomason Simpson (6 Mar 1830–15 Aug 1909), Memorial ID 95244494, citing Simpson Cemetery, Bedford County, Tennessee, USA.

In Memoriam: Nannie Elizabeth Sanders (1919-1936)

Nannie Elizabeth Sanders
Born: March 26 1919
Died: July 29, 1936
Joined Union Ridge Baptist at age 13.

Buried at Simpson Cemetery
Survived by
Parents-- Mr & Mrs John Sanders
Two Sisters
Nine Brothers

Source:

Baptist and Reflector, October 1, 1936, p 17, col 2, Nannie Sanders; image, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/baptist-and-reflector-nannie-sanders-ob/205041266/ : accessed August 31, 2026), clip page for Nannie Sanders--Obit.

In Memoriam: Mrs. Edna Kimmins Simpson (1861-1943)

Mrs. Edna Kimmins Simpson

Born:  April  5th 1861(Not given in article--date from FindAGrave)
Died:  July 20th, 1943

Buried at Simpson Cemetery in Rover.

One of the oldest members of Union Ridge Baptist Church at Rover, Tenn.
She united with this church in early life and was a willing worker in Sunday School, the W.M.U. and all church work.

She was married to B.I. Simpson in 1880. They had 7 children, 5 of which survive her.

To know her was to love her and she had made many friends during her eighty-two years.
Her influence will live on in her children, grandchildren and friends.

Source:

Baptist and Reflector, February 17, 1944, p 17, col 2, obituary of Edna Kimmins Simpson; image, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/baptist-and-reflector-obituary-for-edna/204967014/ : accessed August 30, 2026), clip page for Obituary for Edna Kimmins Simpson.

Evander Warren Boyce(2 April 1866- 17 Dec 1944)

Funeral Services For Evander Warren Boyce

Funeral services for Evander Warren Boyce, 78, who died at 5:30 A.M. Sunday at his home in the 11th Civil District near Poplin's Cross Roads, were held Monday at 1:30 P.M., at the Rover Baptist Church by Rev. Crawford Reed and Rev. Bill Gentry. Burial was in Simpson Cemetery at Rover.

Mr. Boyce was the son of William Moody Boyce and Minerva Cook Boyce, both natives of Bedford County. Forty-seven years ago he married Miss Alda Epperson who survives. He was a farmer and had been a member of the Ray's Chapel Methodist Church twenty-two years.

Surviving besides his wife are five children; one daughter, Mrs. Pearl Wright of Chapel Hill; four sons, Clyde and Jno. of Chapel Hill, Forest of Eagleville and Herschel of Rockvale; 24 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild; one brother, H. H. Boyce of Unionville.

Source:
"Funeral Services for Evander Warren Boyce," The Shelbyville Gazette, Thursday, 21 Dec 1944, p. 3, col. 2; digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHK-93TS-532M : accessed 23 May 2024), IGN 8992189, image 105 of 1103.

Mary Amanda Morton Newsom

Mrs. Mary Amanda Morton Newsom
Died:  Aug 6th 1953 1:25am
Age:  78
Services:  Rover Baptist church on Friday Aug 7th 1953
Burial:  Simpson Cemetery
Lawrence Funeral Home in charge of services
Parents:  Elijah & Mary Culverhouse Morton
Husband:  Jerry Newsom(d. 1935)
Member of Baptist Church
Lifelong Bedford Co. resident

Survivors
Daughters:  Mrs. Albert Hudson of Rover & Mrs. Tanner Farris of Rockvale
Sons:      Frank Newsom of Morrison
                    Roy Newsom of Nashville
            Howard Newsom of Christiana
            James P Newsom of Rover Community
18 Grandchildren
7 Great Grandchildren
One sister, Mrs. Anna Anthony of Lakeland Florida
Two Half-brothers:  Jacob Morton & Robert Morton of Rockvale

Source:

"Mrs. Mary Morton Newsom," Nashville Banner, 6 August 1953, p. 10, col 2; digital images, Newspapers.com(https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 15 April 2023).