George Land Middlecoff

George Land Middlecoff, longtime resident of the Somerville Community, United States Naval Veteran, retired mail carrier for the United States Postal Service and husband of Maxine Kelley Middlecoff departed this life Wednesday morning, August 14, 2013 at the Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis where he had been a patient for one day. He was 78 years of age and died following an extended illness.

Services of Remembrance with Full Military Honors for Mr. Middlecoff were conducted at 2 P.M. Saturday, August 17th at the Somerville First Baptist Church with Bro. Phil Lovelace and Dr. Ken Story officiating. Personal remarks and reflections were given by Bernice Mullikin and Laurie Rhea. Interment followed in the Somerville City Cemetery. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes and Cremation Center — Main Chapel of Somerville.

Mr. Middlecoff was born September 27, 1934 in Somerville. He was preceded in death by his parents, Emmett L. Middlecoff and Bertha Inez Hawk Middlecoff. He received his education in the Fayette County Public School System and was a graduate of the Fayette County High School Class of 1952. He attended the University of Tennessee at Martin and Memphis State University. He was married November 25, 1955 to the former Maxine Kelley, who survives.

Mr. Middlecoff served his country for over 40 years in the United States Navy and the Navy Air Reserve, retiring as a Master Chief, which was one of his proudest accomplishments. He was employed as a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service for over 30 years before his retirement 23 years ago.

Mr. Middlecoff was one of the oldest members of Somerville First Baptist Church, where he had been a member all of his life. He served as an Alderman for the Town of Somerville for 16 years and also served as Vice-Mayor of his community. He was a world traveler and enjoyed visiting over 69 countries.

In addition to his wife of 57 years, Mr. Middlecoff is survived by four daughters, Laurie Rhea (Mike) of Somerville, Anita Dowdy (Wayne) of Somerville, Melissa Luthe (David) of Searcy, AR, Mindy Dyce (Doug) of Maitland, Australia; his sister, Carolyn Clark of Hernando, MS; ten grandchildren and four great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his brother, Lawrence Middlecoff.

Those honored to serve as casketbearers were Cory Rhea, Joshua Dowdy, Dustin Dowdy, Jake Dowdy, Jonathan Luthe, Johnathan Cook and Shane McKay.
Honorary casketbearers were Bernie Mullikin, Alton Feathers, Bob Morris and the Men’s Sunday School Class at Somerville First Baptist Church.

The family requests that memorials be directed to the Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief Fund, P.O. Box 728, Brentwood, TN 37024 or the Somerville First Baptist Church, 12685 S. Main Street, Somerville, TN 38068.