The Daily News-Journal from Murfreesboro, Tennessee • A2

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POSTMASTERNOTICE ispublisheddailyby SendaddresschangestoTEAI NE SO RNA ,01 E.MainSt.,Suite00,Murfreesboro,TN3130. news jenningsandayers.com TN-0001157086 Margie Davis Stanford, 84, passed away Monday, July 31, 2017, peacefully in her sleep. Born in Miller County Georgia, she was the daughter of the late Daniel Belcher Davis and Louvenia Wilson Davis of Miller County. She was preceded in death by her husband, George Richard Stanford and is survived by her son Rich (Nan) Stanford of Murfreesboro; son Alan (Mary) Stanford of Smyrna; son Mike (Mandy) Stanford of Murfreesboro. She is survived by granddaughters Amy (Chris) Sias of Smyrna; Laura (Ben) Wildman of Signal Mountain, TN; Katie Stanford of Nashville.

Grandsons are Tripp Stanford of Chattanooga, TN; Scott Stanford of Nashville; Ryan (Noelle) Stanford of Smyrna; Emmitt Stanford of Murfreesboro; and Noah Goodwin of Halls TN. Margie had 5 great grandsons and 2 great granddaughters. Visitation with the family will be Saturday, August 5, 2017, from 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM at First United Methodist Church in Murfreesboro, with a memorial service to follow. Rev. Miriam Seyler will ciate Mrs.

Stanford graduated from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, Georgia where she was president of her class and was chosen Miss ABAC. She then transferred to University of Georgia in Athens where she graduated with a BS in Home Economics and Education. Mrs. Stanford was a member of the First United Methodist Church. She spent some time as a substitute teacher at Oakland High School.

She enjoyed reading more than anything, and leveraged that as a clerk at the Book Rack. In lieu of owers, donations can be made to St. Hospital, The Wounded Warrior Project, or First United Methodist Church, Murfreesboro, TN in memory of Mrs. Stanford. An online guestbook for the Stanford family is available at www.wood nchapel.com.

Wood Memorial Chapel. 615-893-5151. MARGIE DAVIS STANFORD Murfreesboro, TN Mary Jernigan Reed, age 88, passed away July 31, 2017 at St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital. She was a native of Co ee County and lived most of her life in Rutherford County.

Dot was a member of the Church of God of Prophecy. Dot was preceded in death by her parents, Burl Knox and Mary Lou Jernigan, husband, Frank Reed; and brother, Wayne Jernigan. She is survived by her daughters, Valerie (Eddie) Douglas, Michele (Je Pinkston; brother, Maurice Boyd (Irene) Jernigan; sister-in-law, Nell Jernigan; grandchildren, Spencer Blake Pinkston and Lindsey Marie Pinkston; and several nieces and nephews. Visitation with the family will be PM, Thursday, August 3, 2017 at Jennings and Ayers Funeral Home. A chapel service will be 11:00 AM, Friday, August 4, 2017 at Jennings and Ayers with Verlin Thornton ciating.

Burial will follow in Roselawn Memorial Gardens with family and friends serving as pallbearers. Arrangements are under the direction of Jennings and Ayers Funeral Home, 820 South Church Murfreesboro, TN 37130. 615-893-2422. Please leave online condolences at www.jenningsandayers.com. MARY JERNIGAN Murfreesboro, TN Mrs.

Josephine Ralston Farris, age 93, of Rockvale, TN, died July 31, 2017 in Murfreesboro, TN. Mrs. Farris is survived by her children, Nona Taylor Stacey, Rockvale, TN, Cathey Taylor Ragland, Murfreesboro, TN, Theodore Binkley, Unionville, TN; sister, Betty Ralston Beech, Chapel Hill, TN; grandchildren, Robbie Stanley Stacey, TX; Herbert Bowling, III, Murfreesboro, TN, Theodore Binkley, III, Chapel Hill, TN, Sandra Lynn Binkley, CA, Lavonda Lindsey, Rover Chandra Inglis, Eagleville, TN, Kendra Floyd, Eagleville, TN; ten great grandchildren; ten great great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews. Family members will receive friends on Aug. 3, 2017 from 1:00 p.m.

until 4:00 p.m. at Lawrence Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted at 4:00 p.m. on Thur. from the Chapel of Lawrence Funeral Home with Rev.

Judy Sides ciating. In lieu of Flowers, Memorial Donations may be made to the American Kidney Foundation, the Shriners Hospital for Children, or St. Jude Hospital. LAWRENCE FUNERAL HOME and CREMATION SERVICES, Chapel Hill, TN, 931-364-2233 (www.law- rencefuneral.net) in charge of arrangements. JOSEPHINE RALSTON FARRIS Rockvale, TN There will be a celebration of the life of Betty Co ey Russell, age 78 of Shelbyville at 11:00 am Friday August 4, 2017 at First Baptist Church with Dr.

Kevin Minchey ciating. Burial will follow in Willow Mount Cemetery. Ms. Betty passed from this life Sunday night in Murfreesboro after an extended illness. Visitation will be held Thursday from 4:00 until at the church.

Born June 4, 1939 in Bedford County, she was the daughter of the late James Dewey Co ey Maggie Gladys Co ey and was preceded in death by the love of her life, her husband Haywood Russell, sister Marie Co ey King and brothers Ray, Herman, Charles and Joe Co ey. Betty was married to Haywood for 56 years prior to his death. She was a faithful member of First Baptist Church in Shelbyville and served on the weekly prayer team until her death. For anyone who knew her, they knew that her faith never waivered over the years of declining health. She worked along side of Haywood as the of Russell Dodge for 20 years.

After that she became a Realtor for many years until she was forced to retire from injuries su ered in a car accident. She was a member of the Club and was a volunteer at Heritage (Tennova) Hospital for many years. She was an avid supporter of the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration for over 60 years. While she attended in a wheel chair for the last 10 years, she never missed cheering on wonderful friends made over the years of her beloved horse show. Survivors include her daughters; Tammie L.

Russell Dawn Russell (Marvin) Barnett all of Murfreesboro, sisters, Evelyn Co ey of Murfreesboro, Peggy Co ey (Herbie) Gibson of Shelbyville, Dot Co ey Dooley of Luka, Mississippi, Shirley Co ey Davis of Tampa, Florida, sisters-in-laws, Evelyn Co ey of Shelbyville, Mai Co ey of Rhoda Gunter of Shelbyville and by a host of nieces, nephews as well as great nieces and great nephews who she loved dearly. Memorials may be made to Alive Hospice of Rutherford County, 1629 Williams Drive, Murfreesboro, 37129. Doak-Howell Funeral Home is serving the family. www.doakhowellfuneralhome.com BETTY COFFEY RUSSELL Shelbyville, TN Earl Gene Wright, age 57. Gene was born November 15, 1958 to the late Donnie and Earl Wright.

Gene attended New Beginning Church in Rockvale Tn. Pastor Roy Robinson. Formally attended First Baptist Church in Christiana, Tn. Pastor Franklin Brown. Surviving Family: Niece Debby Baker (Danny) of Christiana, Tn.

Great Niece Crystal Travis of Estill Spring. Elizabeth Abbott of Christiana, Tn. Great Nephew Dannie Baker Jr. Preceded in Death by Parents; Earl Wright Donnie Wright, Sister Sue Abbott, brother- in-law Wayne Abbott, Nephew Kenneth Abbott. Gene worked at Huddle House Restaurant at exit I-23 exit for 25 years as a for Danny and Debby Baker before retiring.

A memorial will be Held Sunday August 6 2017 at at New Beginning Church 9303 Rockvale, Tn. 37153 Bro. Roy Robinson Bro. Franklin Brown and Bro. Danny Baker will ciate the Memorial.

EARL GENE WRIGHT Christiana, TN Farris, Josephine Ralston Rockvale, TN 93 4 PM Lawrence Funeral Home Lawrence Funeral Home, Chapel Hill 931-364-2233 Gammon, Raymon Murfreesboro, TN 77 6 PM First United Methodist Church Jennings and Ayers 615-893-2422 Gordon, Gloria Nashville 89 Arrangements are pending Neighbours Life Celebration Services 615-956-6999 Jernigan, Mary Murfreesboro, TN 88 11 AM Jennings and Ayers Jennings and Ayers 615-893-2422 Nolen, Lera Murfreesboro, TN 96 11 AM Jennings and Ayers Jennings and Ayers 615-893-2422 Russell, Betty Coffey Shelbyville, TN 78 11 AM First Baptist Church Doak Funeral Home 931-684-5011 Stanford, Margie Davis Murfreesboro, TN 84 2 PM First United Methodist Church Wood Memorial Chapel 615-893-5151 Wright, Earl Gene Christiana, TN 57 2 PM New Beginning Church Private Private Death Notices Name City, State Age Death Day, Time Place of Service Funeral Home Phone an ethical said McCreary, who noted two younger firm members were listed on the Rutherford Neighborhood Alliance complaint even though they were yet to work for the firm when the billing in question about setting up a legal services contract with the county took place. the fairness and ethics in that Ethics Committee members Brad Turner, Joyce Ealy and Chairman Teb Batey agreed to dismiss the complaint in a 3-1 vote with Robert Peay Jr. opposing. Ethics Committee member Rhonda Allen was absent because the firm had done work for her in her private life, Batey said. Peay said he agreed there was no violation but wanted to refer the issue to the district attorney general to enable a more conclusive decision about clearing the present county attorney and firm partners pertaining to billing from Cope.

The previous county attorney resignedfrom the office in October a day before pleading guiltyto insider trading through his private role as a board member with Pinnacle Financial Partners. me not quite right or taste right to bill for making the decision on how you wanted the Peay said. me you were doing work for yourselves Peay says County Commission failed to manage billing Peay repeated a question about whether Cope and the partners were billing on behalf of themselves or on behalf of the county. He also asked the firm partners if they would be billing for a couple of hours of their time spent before the Ethics Committee. McCreary and his senior partners said they would not be billing for being present at the meeting and stopped using the previous contracted model of hourly billing in question.

Part of the issue resolved on whether Cope could both serve as a county attorney with a salary and benefits while also being a contractor who billed the county $10,030 for his work to set up their legal services agreement for the county. McCreary and his senior partners said the billing in question took place under the guidelines of a previous contract in 2010 that required billing for hours of service for the County Commission. Commissioner Peay is among the commissioners who have questioned the billing. able to review your bill is like searching for a needle in a said Peay, who concluded that the billing issue was caused by a lack of management by the County Commission. extremely hard to lay your hands County Mayor Ernest Burgess confirmed to the Ethics Committee that he had reviewed the bill in question and authorized payment after determining the firm could bill for hours of service in crafting the legal services agreement.

Cope leaves firm, but son remains partner The 2012 contract was set up based on adhering to county private act laws authorized by the Tennessee General Assembly in 2010, McCreary said. Cope in 2012 was the only officer of the firm subject to the county code of ethics requirements, but all of the attorneys are bound by strict code of ethics within their profession if they want to retain a license to practice law in Tennessee, McCreary and his partners repeated to the Ethics Committee. Cope is no longer a partner in the firm, McCreary said. After Cope pleaded guilty, U.S. District Court Judge Aleta A.

Trauger sentenced him to two years of probation with conditions, a $200,000 fine and a $100 special assessment. The former county son, Evan Cope, is still a member of the firm, and he sat in the audience during the meeting next to the two younger firm members who were not present when the 2012 billing in question took place. County Commission previously wanted in-house legal department McCreary said he and his firm members are always open to discussing any concerns with the Rutherford Neighborhood Alliance and other members of the public. The RNA issues in this complaint were more appropriate for policy discussions among members of the County Commission than for the Ethics Committee, McCreary added. The RNA has advocated for the county to establish an in-house legal department rather than to use a private firm, and a past County Commission makeup that included Peay backed that idea in late 2009 and early 2010.

voted to hire an in- house said Peay, who noted how new commissioners elected in August 2010 persuaded the majority of the 21-member County Commission to renew the contract with Cope and his firm partners in 2012 because of their experience and institutional knowledge. Firm billing has been questioned for land, development issues The RNA has questioned other county billing issuesbefore filing the ethics complaint. The group released a statement to commissioners in February that noted billing for Halls Hill Pike widening, in which legal fees totaling $77,024 were charged to condemn property valued at only and Eagleville School expansion with a $125,137 in legal fees billing for condemnation work to obtain 7 acres worth $70,680. Although the past condemnation billing was not part of the ethics complaint, McCreary briefly addressed this by saying these issues on obtaining land for public use can be complicated, such as facing property owners demanding more money or parcels in an estate with multiple heirs who may not all agree. The easiest way to resolve issues in the county buying land is to pursue condemnation proceedings through court, McCreary said.

billing has also involved issues with uncompleted subdivision roads that involved developers that obtained financing from Pinnacle. Reach Scott Broden at 615-278-5158. Follow him on Twitter Cleared Continued from Page 1A.