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Johnnie Sue Grissom Smith
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McMinnville resident and Van Buren County native Johnnie Sue Grissom Smith died Aug. 14 at Raintree Manor Nursing Home following a brief illness.
The retired director of the Senior Volunteer Program and member of Oasis Baptist Church, she was the daughter of the late Herod and Dora Measles Grissom. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one sister, Kate Grissom Barnes.
She was married to Ray Smith of McMinnville. In addition to her husband, she is survived by two nephews, Joe Bob Mills of Rock Island and Eddie Barnes of Spencer; three great-nephews, Bill Barnes and Cody Barnes, both of Spencer, and Kent Mills of Gallatin; one great-niece, Daphnea Alexander and husband Seth of Tullahoma; three great-great-nephews, Matthew Mills, Brandon Barnes and Owen Alexander; several cousins and three stepchildren, Melody Jones and Alan Smith, both of Chattanooga, and Terry Smith of Alabama.
Funeral service will be held at noon today in High’s Chapel with Steve Breedlove officiating. Burial will follow at Long Cemetery in Van Buren County. Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until time of service today at High’s.
High Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) Aug. 17, 2011

Thomas Norman Theiss, Sr., 77
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Thomas Norman Theiss, Sr. was born May 24, 1947 and went home to be with Jesus on Friday afternoon, March 28, 2025. He was born and lived in Michigan for 45 years and then moved to McMinnville, Tennessee for the last 32 years.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Frederick Donald and Caroline Filipowski Theiss; brother, Donald Theiss and father-in-law and mother-in-law, Robert and Eula Presley.

He leaves to cherish his memory, his wife of 51 years, Glenda Marie Presley Theiss; children, Susan (Mark) Long, Brandy Perez, Cindy Hale, Gwendolyn (Richard) Holt, Tammy Norma Theiss, and Tommy Norman Theiss, Jr.; grandchildren, Sean, Gabriel, Jaylen, Gavin, Tommy Ray, Hannah, and Diane; great-granddaughters, Lea and Luci; sisters, Cheryl (Butch) Galyon, Lorry Cantrell, Debra Prokoff; brother, Larry (Carolyn) Theiss; many sisters-in-laws, brothers-in-laws, nieces and nephews.

Mr. Tom enjoyed fishing, hunting, serving the Lord as well as playing games with the children, cooking and eating wild meat. He really enjoyed his church family at Peoples Pentecostal Church, where he faithfully attended.

Funeral Services will be 1 p.m. Tuesday at Peoples Pentecostal Church with his pastor, Michael Hewell and Jay Young officiating and burial will follow in DeKalb Cemetery. Visitation will be on Sunday 2 p.m. until 7 p.m., Monday 1 p.m. until 7 p.m. and Tuesday 10 a.m. until the time of the service at 1 p.m. al visitation at Peoples Pentecostal Church.

DeKalb Funeral Chapel is honored to care for the Theiss family.