Cleveland Carson Walls, Sr.

Cleveland Carson Walls, Sr., 90, died Monday, July 9, 2018 at Poplar Estates, where he made his home for several years. Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday at 2:00 P.M. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Eddie Rogers officiating. Burial will follow in Lynnwood Cemetery with military honors provided by the Herbert Griffin American Legion Post #19. The family will visit with friends Wednesday from 12:00 P.M. until service time at the funeral home. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnicholos.com. Born March 12, 1928 in Limestone County, Alabama, he was one of eleven children born to the late Floyd Walls and the late Minue Edith Chapman Walls. He married Martha Elizabeth Gray, after two years of service in the United States Army in Korea, on November 23, 1952. Born to them in 1954 and 1956 respectively was son Cleveland Carson, Jr. and Edith Jane. Cleve was employed during early years on farms in the Maury and Giles County areas, as well as Foremost Dairy in Columbia. After serving in Korea, he was employed by Fuller Brush in Chicago then returned to Columbia to help with family. In Columbia, he was employed by Carlton Oil Company and then Chiles Oil Company. After retiring from Chiles Oil Company, he worked part time as a courier for First Farmers & Merchants Bank. Mr. Walls was a member of Scott’s Hill Baptist Church in Giles County. Cleve is survived by his daughter, Jane Walls of Hermitage; son, Carson (Jolene) Walls, Jr. of Columbia; grandsons, Colin Joe (Mallory) Walls of Brentwood; Carlson Gray Swafford of Nashville; Mike (Jenny) Swafford of Virginia; Jeromy (Beth) Swafford of Mt. Juliet; granddaughter, Arielle Swafford (Daniel) Thigpen of Aurora, Colorado; eight great grandchildren; and one great great grandson. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Martha Elizabeth Gray Walls; brothers, Melvin Walls; Roy Walls; Felix Walls; Irvin Walls; Newt Walls; Carl Walls; and sisters, Tess Graves; Stela Young; Lillie Lovell; and Shirley Bills. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers.