Douglas Ray Hethcoat

View Funeral WebcastDouglas Ray Hethcoat, 67, retired sergeant with the Columbia Police Department and resident of Hampton Road, died Monday, April 4, 2016 at Maury Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be conducted Friday at 2:00 P.M. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Kevin Maxey, Randy Sprouse, and Calvin Essary officiating. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens with military honors provided by Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19. The family will visit with friends Thursday after 3:00 P.M. at the funeral home. The family suggests memorials to Mooresville Pike Church of Christ, 417 Mooresville Pike, Columbia, TN 38401. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com. A native of Norfolk, Virginia, he was the son of the late Robert Virginia Hethcoat and Frances Nixon Hethcoat. He served in the U. S. Army during the Vietnam War. Sergeant Hethcoat proudly served his community with the Columbia Police Department for twenty-seven years. A licensed pilot, he enjoyed flying and was a member of Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. He was also fascinated with researching ancestry and visiting Civil War battlefields. A member of Mooresville Church of Christ since 1972, he had served as an Elder for many years. His children say "his family flourished under his kindness, gentleness, and the guidance of his faith". Survivors include his wife whom he married November 12, 1972, Joan Smith Hethcoat of Columbia; daughters, Elizabeth (Cosmin) Cazan and Jennifer (Kevin) Maxey, both of Columbia; grandchildren, Alexandra Cazan, Brian Cazan, Samuel Cazan, Gabriel Cazan, Jessica Maxey, Ethan Maxey, Joshua Maxey, Zachary Maxey, Eden Maxey; brothers, Gerald (Billie Earl) Hethcoat of Williston, Florida; Gayland (Cynthia) Hethcoat of Alexandria, Virginia; sister, Sabrina (Allen) Shorte of Ohio; niece, Rachel Doherty; nephews, Robert Hethcoat and Michael Hethcoat; and several other nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a brother, Charles Hethcoat. Active pallbearers will be Michael Hethcoat, Cosmin Cazan, Brandon Sprouse, Michael Smith, Harold Richardson, Ethan Maxey, Gayland Hethcoat, and Allen Shorte. Honorary pallbearers will be members of Columbia Police Department.