Raymond William Naylor

Henderson, TN: Raymond William Naylor, age 95, passed away Sunday morning January 8, 2017 at his home in Henderson.

Mr. Naylor was born and reared in McNairy County, near Finger, the son of the late Harmon and Willie Edna Young Naylor. He attended schools in McNairy County and farmed as a young man. He married Gracie Terry in 1942. He entered the U. S. Army and served with the 32nd Infantry Division (Red Arrow Division) for 37 months overseas in the Pacific Theater of Operations. When he returned he continued to farm and was also employed at Bemis Mill Company for 30 years, retiring in 1982. He served on the Chester County School Board for 16 years (1968 – 1984) and had been a Deacon at Sweetlips Baptist Church since 1949, where he was a member.

He is survived by a daughter, Nancy Crews (Sonny) of Mt. Juliet, TN and a son Tommy Naylor (Martha) of Henderson. Mr. Naylor is predeceased by his parents, two sisters (Minnie Plunk and Marie White), four brothers (Floyd, Arthur, Johnny, and A.J.) and his wife of 62 years, Gracie Terry Naylor. Mr. Naylor is survived by one brother, Buford Naylor (Dartha) of Bethel Springs. In addition, he is survived by five grandchildren: Camille Crews O’Donnell (Sean) of Brentwood, TN, Gai Crews Davis (Berkley) of Franklin, TN, Jamie Crews of Murfreesboro, TN, Mica Naylor Freeman (Jason) of Henderson, and Jana Naylor Mills (Nick) of Henderson. Survivors also include fifteen great-grandchildren: Cole O’Donnell, Olivia O’Donnell, Crews O’Donnell, Cassie Davis, MacKenzie Crews, Eli Davis, Hope Davis, Sawyer Davis, Tripp Davis, Carson Crews, Meredith Crews, Eden Crews, Skyler Freeman, Gracie Freeman, and Peyton Mills.

Visitation for Mr. Naylor will be Monday, January 9, from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Shackelford Funeral Directors Casey Chapel in Henderson, Tennessee. Funeral services will be January 10, at 2:00 p.m. at Casey Chapel with Larry Harper officiating. Burial will be in the Sweetlips Cemetery.

Serving as pall bearers are Tommy Naylor, Sean O’Donnell, Berkley Davis, Cole O’ Donnell, Jason Freeman, and Nick Mills. Honorary pall bearers include Dr. Julie Antique, Dr. Marie Antique, all staff of the Wound Management Center and Hyper Beric Department of Jackson Madison County General Hospital, and Tennessee Quality Hospice Personnel (Brian Reeves, Tina Holbrook, Lisa Riggins, Jonathan Cooksey, and Terri Crabtree.

A very special thank you is extended by the family to Mr. Naylor’s in-home caretakers: Helen Phelps, Matilda Massengill, Linda and John Curry, Linda Matthews, and Eboni Burton.