Edward Burnel "Bernie" Caperton

Edward Burnel "Bernie" Caperton, 66, retired wildlife technician with the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency, died Monday, September 11, 2017 at his residence on Love Branch Road. Funeral services will be conducted Thursday at 2:00 P.M. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens with military honors provided by Herbert Griffin American Legion Post #19. The family will visit with friends Wednesday from 4:00 - 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com. Born December 1, 1950 in Lawrence County, Tennessee, he was the son of the late J. B. Caperton and the late Dorothy Jean Vanderford Caperton. He was a 1968 graduate of Columbia Central High School and served in the United States Army during the Vietnam era. He also retired from CSX Railroad. Mr. Caperton was a storyteller, adventurer, and avid outdoorsman, who enjoyed hunting and fishing. Caperton Road at Williamsport Lake was named in his honor. Survivors include his son, Matthew Dylan (fiancée Ashley Terry) Caperton of Hampshire; sisters, Freida (Joe) Dobbs of Murfreesboro; Regena (Ray) Flowers of Hohenwald; Amy (Mike) Bridges of Columbia; grandson, Waylon Lee Caperton of Hampshire; aunt, Pat Vanderford of Austin, Texas; and several nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and cousins. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his nephew, James Corey Sanders. Active pallbearers will be Mike Bridges, Ray Flowers, John Dobbs, Mike Damron, James Cope, Chris Brock, and John Deveno. Honorary pallbearers include friends at Williamsport Lakes and former co-workers of TWRA and CSX Railroad.