AREA OBITUARIES -- BILLY “FREEBIRD” FREEMAN

Billy “Freebird” Freeman, a resident of Newbern, Tenn., died Jan. 25 at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital in Jackson, Tenn. He was 67.

Funeral services will be held at 12 noon Jan. 31 at Johnson-Williams Funeral Home, in Newbern, with President Brent Jensen officiating. Interment will follow in Fairview Cemetery in Dyersburg, Tenn. Pallbearers will be Jerry Freeman, Clint Shawver, Eric Fussell, Chad Ladd, Joey Freeman and Chris Kerley. Honorary pallbearers will be Scott Langston, Robert Warden, Michael Arguello, Chris Dearing, Bill Fussell and Jay Garza.

Visitation will be held Jan. 30 from 4 - 7 p.m. at Johnson-Williams Funeral Home. Johnson-Williams Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

He is survivedy by his wife, Susan Freeman, of Newbern; five sons, Johnny Freeman, of Salt Lake City, Utah, Joey Freeman and Chad Ladd, both of Newbern, Jerry Freeman (Carolyn), of Dyersburg, and Eric Fussell (Autumn), of Knoxville, Tenn.; four daughters, Angela Dearing (Chris), of Louisville, Marsha Hamil (Mike), Melanie Wells (Zane), and Hanna “Nanners” Freeman, all of Newbern; three brothers, Ray Freeman (Pauline), of Fayetteville, N.C., Don Freeman (Barbara), of Dyersburg, and Jerry Freeman (Donna), of Millington, Tenn.; one sister, Charlene Johnson (William), of Dyersburg; 13 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond E. Freeman and Viola Mitchell Freeman; and one grandson, William Anthony Young.

Born Sept. 10, 1952 in Dyersburg, he was an employee of SRG, in Newbern, a retired employee of Goodyear, in Union City Tenn., and was a welder for the NASA Moon Rover while working at the Oak Ridge Department of Energy.

He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Dyersburg, where he served as a mission leader.

He retired from the Tennessee National Guard and proudly served his country in the United States Army in Iraq during Endearing Freedom and while stationed in Hawaii he was a member of the 173 Rangers. He was a member of the NRA.

Tributes may be left at johnsonwilliamsfuneralhome.com.