Jeffrey Newsome

Jeffrey Newsome, age 69, a resident of Columbia, Tennessee, went home to be with the Lord on October 16, 2024. He was born on September 16, 1955, in Pikeville, Kentucky, and was the youngest son of the late Gardner and Wadie (Little) Newsome of Melvin, Kentucky. He was preceded in death by his brother, Gary Blake Newsome. 

Jeffrey married Anna (Isaac) Newsome in 1977 and was blessed with two children: Jeffrey Shane Newsome of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, married to Jennifer (Nordhoff) Newsome, and Rilla Dawn (Newsome) McCrary of Acworth, Georgia, married to David McCrary. He is also survived by a sister, Gwendolyn (Newsome) Akers of Marietta, Georgia, and three grandchildren, Jackson Carter McCrary, Lily Melisandre Newsome, and Gavin Slade Newsome.

A devout Christian, Jeffrey accepted the Lord as his savior at the age of 25 and lived a life devoted to God. As a member of Loyal Chapel Free Will Baptist Church, he started a food pantry for the community and taught an adult Sunday school class for over 30 years.

Jeffrey was a licensed electrician and worked in the coal mines of Eastern Kentucky before moving his family to Atlanta, Georgia, where he served as a skilled tradesman for General Motors. He eventually relocated to Columbia, Tennessee and completed his career at the local plant as a member of the United Auto Workers Union, local 1853.

In 2020, Jeffrey was honored with the title of Kentucky Colonel, recognizing a lifetime of service to the communities in which he lived. He had a passion for cars, motorcycles, drag racing, and the great outdoors. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

A funeral service will be held on Sunday, October 20, 2024, at 2:00 PM at Heritage Funeral Home with Steve Swango officiating. Burial will follow in Friendship Cemetery. A visitation will be held on Saturday, October 19, 2024, from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM at Heritage Funeral Home and again on Sunday, October 20, 2024, from 1:00 – 2:00 PM at the funeral home. Heritage Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. 

Those serving as pallbearers will be Jeff Howard, Aaron Akers, Craig Yonts, David McCrary, Jackson McCrary, and Charles Letson. Honorary pallbearers will be the men of Loyal Chapel Free Will Baptist Church and members of the local UAW 1853.