Winfred Donald Weatherford

Mr. Winfred Donald "Don" Weatherford, 69, died peacefully in his sleep Sunday morning, December 8, 2002, at his home on Sunnyside Drive after a long and courageous battle with cancer. A celebration of his life will be held Wednesday at 12:30 P.M. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Dr. J.B. Miller and Rev. Bob Vassar officiating. Burial will follow at the Lynnwood Cemetery in Lynnville. The family will visit with friends Tuesday from 4:00 until 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Highland Rim or the American Cancer Society.The Giles County native was the son of the late John Lee Weatherford and Bessie Callahan Weatherford. He was a graduate of Central High School Class of 1952. Later he graduated from the Tennessee Military Institute and was commissioned as a lieutenant. He served sixteen years with the Tennessee National Guard and Army Reserve. He retired after twenty-six years with Monsanto as a land reclamation supervisor. He then became a realtor and a partner of Action Property Real Estate Company. He worked in this field for fifteen years. He was an active member of the Maury Educators Credit Union Board of Directors and a member of the Pleasant Heights Baptist Church. He is survived by his wife, Sara McKee Weatherford, whom he married December 25, 1952. They would have celebrated their 50th anniversary on Christmas day. Other survivors include his children, Beth (Mitch) Johnson of Jacksonville Beach, Florida, Beckie (Ric) Pipkin of Columbia, W.D. "Donnie" (Patti) Weatherford, Jr. of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; four grandchildren, Sgt. Justice (Sabine) Johnson of Veilseck, Germany, Rachel Jones of Murfreesboro, Valerie Jones of Jacksonville Beach, Florida, and W.D. "Chip" (Kimberly) Weatherford, III of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; six step-grandchildren; two brothers, John Jr. (Betty Guy) Weatherford of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, Ray (Jo Ann) Weatherford of Columbia; three sisters, Margaret (T.K.) Rich of Columbia, Linda Weatherford of Nashville, Betty Hubble of Culleoka; a special aunt, Mable Callahan of Lynnville; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Hazel Roland and Okie Mayo. Pallbearers will be William Reed, Larry Murphy, Marty Murphy, Gary Tucker, Richard Callahan and Bill Chaffin. Honorary pallbearers will be Lem and Imo Wagster, Johnny and Suzanne Franklin, Dewayne and Beverly Wesley, Leslie and Celia Clark, Ann Murphy, Marlin Wade, Leslie Patterson, Joe B. Matthews, Chucky Nixon, Cam Hale, present members of Maury Educators Credit Union Board of Directors, retirees of Monsanto Company, retirees of Tennessee National Guard and doctors and staff of Columbia Oncology.