Fred Chappell

December 20, 2012

Mr. Fred L. Chappell, age 82, former circulation manager for The Daily Herald for 58 years, died early Thursday morning at Maury Regional Medical Center from complications of Parkinson’s disease.

Mr. Chappell was born in Valdosta, GA and was the adopted son of the late Ruben and Lillie Hedgepeth Chappell. He lived in the Lanton community of Spring Hill.

Visitation with the family will be from 4:00 – 8:00 PM Friday, December 21 in the chapel of Heritage Funeral Home and one hour prior to the funeral service, which will be conducted Saturday, December 22 at 11:00 AM in the Heritage Funeral Home Chapel. Pastor Keith Sherwood will officiate. Burial will follow in Neapolis Cemetery with Military Honors provided by the Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19.

Mr. Chappell was a 1949 graduate of Spring Hill High School, and he earned his Associates Degree in Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement from Middle Tennessee State University.

While working at The Daily Herald, Mr. Chappell and his colleague and friend Jim Dooley often rode with Maury County Sheriff Bill Voss, assisting him in his criminal investigations and writing news stories and taking photographs for the newspaper. Voss conveyed on him special sheriff’s deputy status in recognition for his many years of service to the department. During that time, Mr. Chappell experienced many true crime adventures and enjoyed sharing those stories with others. Mr. Chappell also served as a mentor to hundreds of young men who started their careers as newspaper boys at The Daily Herald.

He was a member of Neapolis United Methodist Church and was a 50-plus year member of The American Legion. While serving in the U.S. Army, he participated in the only firing of the atomic cannon at Camp Desert Rock.

He is survived by his wife: Sue McClure Chappell of Spring Hill; a brother: John Edmonson of Covington, KY; and two cousins: Steve Watson and Larry Watson, both of Spring Hill.

Family and friends will serve as pallbearers.

Honorary pallbearers will include his work family: The Daily Herald news carriers, Jim Dooley, Betty Stewart, Jamie Dungy, James Dickey, George Hanvy, Sam and Betty Kennedy, and many others with whom he worked over the years.

The family requests that memorials be made to Neapolis United Methodist Church: 2703 Old US Highway 31, Columbia, TN 38401.

Condolences may be sent to the family at the top of this page.