LON BENTON BYRUM, SR.

LON BENTON BYRUM, SR., a resident of Somerville, United States Veteran and Owner of Byrum's Vehicle Repair Garage and Used Cars in Somerville before his retirement, died Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at the Quince Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Memphis where he had been a patient for one week. He was 87 years of age and died following an extended illness.

Funeral services for Mr. Byrum were conducted at 1 P.M. Saturday, July 19th at the Peebles Main Funeral Chapel in Somerville with Dr. Frank Crawford, Pastor of the Somerville First Baptist Church, officiating. Interment, with Military Recognition followed in the Memphis Memory Gardens Cemetery on Raleigh-LaGrange. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes-Main Chapel of Somerville.

Mr. Byrum was born April 29, 1921 in the Mercer Community of Madison County, the son of the late Lon Jasper Byrum and Minnie Oler Lewis Byrum. He received his education in the Madison County Public School System and was married in 1940 to the former Nina "Louise" Prince, who survives. Mr. and Mrs. Byrum would have celebrated their 68th Wedding Anniversary on December 30th of this year.

Mr. Byrum served in the United States Navy in earlier years and was a former resident of Haywood County before moving to Fayette County in 1962. He was a member of the Somerville First Baptist Church and was a charter member of the Somerville Moose Lodge. He was employed as a bus mechanic for the Fayette County Public School System for a number of years and also operated Byrum's Garage and Used Cars in Somerville before his retirement in 1983. He enjoyed hunting as long as health permitted and had a lifelong love for repairing vehicles. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather who enjoyed the friendship of many in his community.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Byrum is survived by his daughter, Joetta B. Ray (Charles W.) of Olive Branch, MS; his daughter-in-law, Linda Byrum of Whiteville; four grandsons: Jack Ray, Lon B. Byrum, III, Jeremy Byrum and Timothy Byrum; three step-grandchildren: Charles Ray, Jr., Robert Ray and Denise Behr and seven great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his son, Lon B. Byrum, Jr., a City of Memphis Police Officer who died May 16, 2007.

Those honored to serve as casketbearers were Benton Byrum, III, Jeremy Byrum, Timothy Byrum, Jack Ray and Robert Ray.

The family request that Memorials be directed to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718, Phone: 1-800-ACS-2345.