Category: 1958

Mr. Barney Brooks Regen, of Dickson, Tennessee passed away on Monday, May 23, 2022, in Dickson, Tennessee, he was 86 years old.

Mr. Regen was born February 29, 1936, in Nashville to the late Eugene Marshall Regen, Sr. and Laverne Cummins Regen.

He attended Duncan School and Montgomery Bell Academy and was a graduate of Davidson College (1958) and Vanderbilt University School of Law (1968). Prior to law school, he served in the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Corps in Europe, and upon graduation, he entered the practice of law in Dickson with his friend and mentor, Roger G. White.

Mr. Regen is survived by his beloved wife, Catharine Louise Emmert Regen; by his sons, Barney Brooks Regen, Jr. (Sandra), of Murfreesboro, and Benjamin Cummins Regen (Jennifer), of Dickson; by his grandsons, Clinton Buell Emmert Regen, Judah Benjamin Regen, and James Allen Emmert Regen, all of Dickson; by his granddaughter, Amanda Lydia Saxer, of Terre Haute, Indiana; by his brothers, Eugene Marshall Regen, Jr. and David Marvin Regen, both of Nashville; and by his precious dog “Nibbles.” He and Catharine had been married for over 62 years at the time of his death.

Visitation with the family will be Thursday, May 26, 2022 from 1:00 to 5:00 PM at Taylor Funeral Home. His remains will be buried with the ashes of a former pet in a private ceremony for family members. http://taylorsince1909.com

Memorial gifts may be made to the Dickson Community Clinic; the Humane Society of Dickson County, Tennessee; and to Disabled American Veterans. A kindness shown to someone in need would be especially welcome.

William Dent Acree, 85, of Atlanta, Georgia met with a gentle death on March 26, 2022 with his wife and children at his side. Dent was born on April 14, 1936 in Knox City, Texas to William Allen Acree and Addie Mae Cozart. As a cherished only child, he moved with his family to Cedartown, Georgia at the age of six. After some infamous soap box derby races, Dent embraced all sports and academics. In 1952, he battled Polio and subsequently spent many days traveling for treatment during his teenage years.

In 1954, after graduating from high school, Dent ventured to Davidson College where he pledged Sigma Alpha Epsilon and excelled in Varsity Wrestling. After his Sophomore year Dent could no longer ignore the call of Athens. As a part of the University of Georgia family he spent a semester at the University of Mexico, earned his bachelor’s in History and ultimately his Juris Doctor degree in 1960. Along with graduating a full year early and being President of his Senior Law class, Dent thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of college life. In conjunction with cheering on his beloved Bulldogs, he was known far and wide as an exuberant member of SAE and Phi Delta Phi fraternities.

Not long after graduation, Dent smartly made Jennie Lee his bride. He completed six years of service with the Air National Guard of the U.S. Air Force. The story goes that he used his charm to negotiate free legal advice in exchange for bed making services. Simultaneously, Dent had begun a compelling General and Civil litigation career while being admitted to practice before the Georgia and US Supreme Courts. For twenty years, Dent was a forcible partner at Hansell, Post, Brandon & Dorsey before establishing a private practice. In 2020, he became an Emeritus member of the Georgia Bar after an impressive 60 years.

Dent can unquestionably be described as a lover of people. He never failed to deliver a bright smile and bad joke at every greeting. As a man whose mind rarely rested, Dent strove to understand and enjoy all aspects of life. He applied for and bought Master’s tickets as a college student, ran in Peachtree Road races, read voraciously, won annual tennis tournaments at the Piedmont Driving Club, founded social clubs, ushered for St. Anne’s, debated politics, traveled and danced with every girl in the room. Although he could not be in the stadium, Dent got the greatest gift of seeing his Georgia Bulldogs football team defeat Alabama and become the 2021 National Champions.

We cannot reflect on Dent’s legacy without mentioning his lifelong affection of all things Western, especially movies.

Likely due to his Texas roots, Dent watched the gunslinger turned heroic sheriff and had memorized many tales of love, loss and redemption. At the conclusion this dashing leading man, with a quick wit, got the girl – but this is not the end.

The children, grandchildren and friends he adored will continue his story.

Dent is survived by his remarkable wife of 60 years, Jennie Lee Lehmann Acree; his sister-in-law, Elizabeth Lehmann Jones of Baltimore, MD; his children, William Allen Acree II, Elizabeth Selden Acree, both of Atlanta, GA and Eugenia Arinton Acree Hachenberg, husband Blair Allen Hachenberg and his grandchildren, Brooke, Barrett and Julia Hachenberg of Marietta, GA.

Services will be held on Tuesday, April 5th, 2022 at 4:00 PM at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church at 3098 St Anne’s Lane NW, Atlanta. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Anne’s Church Parish or Education fund. www.saintannes.com

Published by Atlanta Journal-Constitution on April 4, 2022.

Billy Hopper passed away on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. He was a proud native of Waynesboro, Burke County, Georgia. He was born on Oct. 14, 1936 and was the only child of C.W. Hopper, Sr. and Mamie Harrell Hopper.

Mr. Hopper graduated from Waynesboro High School in 1954 and Davidson College in 1958. He married the true love of his life, Marianne Bevan, on June 17, 1958. Following the fulfillment of his military reserve obligations at the Pentagon, Billy returned to Burke County where he served as Waynesboro City Manager for eight years followed by 28 years as the Burke County Administrator. His vocational pursuits were always guided by his love of Burke County and its people.

Billy Hopper will be remembered for many reasons. He was a humble, loyal, temperate, and consistent man. He believed in being humble in success and gracious in failings. He lived virtually his entire life in one community with one spouse because he had extraordinary loyalty and love towards both. He was slow to anger, but had a competitive drive. His consistency was predictable. On Sunday mornings for 80 plus years, he was going to be at church.

He had a passion for the woods, fields, and waterways of his native area. If you have not shot doves with him, it was because you never invited him. He had very few vices, but he was an excellent wing shot and was proficient at concealing the number of birds in his game bag. His health prevented him from hunting in his later years so the statute of limitations has passed.

Billy had a fondness for athletics and participated as a player and a coach. He was a proud Waynesboro Purple Hurricane. He understood the lessons to be learned by youth from athletic participation and he coached two generations of little league baseball players. He was an excellent tennis player and enjoyed tennis until his final retirement following a muscle tear after being coaxed out of retirement by his daughter. He would warm up with a Pall Mall cigarette in his mouth while saying that it kept the gnats away. He quit this other vice (Pall Malls) when his first grandchild was born.

He was an avid follower of the Atlanta Braves, the Georgia Bulldogs, and Davidson Wildcat basketball. If the Braves played late on the West Coast, his phone answer would be “Don’t tell me about last night’s Braves’ game” instead of “Hello.” With the Braves winning its first World Series in 26 years and Georgia football winning its first National Championship in 41 years, he went out on top.

Billy was a man of great faith. He attended First Presbyterian Church of Waynesboro for his whole life. He served the church in every conceivable capacity and served as ruling elder for more than half his life. Until recently, you knew where to find him on Sunday morning. While his death is difficult, his family knows where he now resides eternally. He is now reunited with deceased family and friends. One day, his loved ones will see him again. Thanks be to God!

Billy is survived by his wife of 63 years, Marianne Bevan Hopper. He is also survived by three children and their spouses: Claude William “Bill” Hopper, III (Donna); Nell Hopper Dixon (Herbie); and John Frederick “Rick” Hopper (Lisa). In addition to his children, he is survived by nine grandchildren: Bevan Hopper, McGee Hopper Berding (Sam), Whitney Dixon Zeagler (Worth), Will Dixon (Brooke), Abby Scott, Braxton Hopper, Carson Hopper, Avery Chance, and Emme Chance. He is further survived by his brother-in-law, Frank Bevan (Ann), and numerous cousins.

The family will receive friends and family at the fellowship hall of First Presbyterian Church of Waynesboro at 1 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 28. A celebration of life will follow at 3 p.m. at Burke Memorial Gardens. The Reverends Tre Smith and Jim Knight will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The First Presbyterian Church of Waynesboro, 810 Myrick Street, Waynesboro, GA 30830 or a charity of your choice.

Burke Memorial Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Shelbourne Wayne Wallace was surrounded by his family when he went to be with his Lord on Wednesday night, February 9, 2022.

Shelbourne was born March 4, 1936 to Blanche and Russell Wallace in Kingsport, TN. Shelbourne attended Dobyns-Bennett High School where he was Senior Class President. There he excelled in the classroom and on the sports field.

Concerned about his size, his mother told Shelbourne she would purchase any instrument he liked in lieu of playing sports; especially football. Despite his mother’s reservations, Shelbourne’s tenacious 135 pounds earned him the nickname of ‘mighty mite’ and he became a leader on the Dobyns-Bennett Indian football team where he started as running back and set team records. His speed and athleticism led to success in Track & Field as well as on the baseball diamond where Shelbourne helped the Indians’ capture the 1952 Tennessee State Baseball Championship batting as a switch hitter.

When he wasn’t in school Shelbourne found himself working on local farms or stocking the shelves at Dobyns-Taylor hardware. It was one summer behind the counter of Dobyns-Taylor that Nancy Smith met Shelbourne Wallace.

Shelbourne’s performance in baseball earned him a scholarship to attend Davidson College in Davidson, NC. It wasn’t long until Shelbourne was captaining the ‘Davidson 9’ from Center Field. His lifetime batting average was well over .300 while his ability to steal a base frustrated many an opposing pitcher. While majoring in Business and Economics at Davidson, Shelbourne was a brother of the Kappa Alpha Social Fraternity, a member of the National Society of Scabbard and Blade, ROTC Lt. Colonel, a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Society and served as secretary of the Business-Economics Association.

The Pittsburgh Pirates showed interest in Shelbourne’s bat upon his graduation from Davidson, but Shelbourne was more interested in his wife Nancy. Soon after their marriage his commitment to the U.S. Military took Shelbourne and Nancy to El Paso, TX. Thereafter, Shelbourne returned to the area, serving in the National Guard and working in Western North Carolina for Home Financial.

Shelbourne went on to work for Nancy’s father and cattleman Mr. Bert Smith in Hawkins County. While working in Mr. Smith’s cattle business, Shelbourne’s ability for mental arithmetic earned him a reputation as business minded. Shelbourne soon found himself assisting Mr. Smith in assessing calf and cattle purchases on the spot giving Mr. Smith and Shelbourne a much-needed edge to make quick decisions when others needed careful deliberation before completing a transaction.

In 1961, with the support of his father Russell Wallace and uncle Ike Crabtree, Shelbourne became the youngest Oldsmobile dealer in the United States when he and his father Russell founded Wallace Oldsmobile in Bristol, VA. Shelbourne and his father Russell soon outgrew the rented space at 941 West State Street in Bristol, VA. Wallace Oldsmobile purchased a tract on Volunteer Parkway to construct a brand-new Oldsmobile dealership. Always resourceful, Shelbourne oversaw many aspects of the early dealership’s construction. One Thanksgiving Day, in an effort to get the building under roof before winter, Nancy prepared dinner for the construction crew while they and Shelbourne worked alongside on the building. That location now serves as the location of Wallace Subaru, VW, Kia of Bristol.

Over the years that followed, Shelbourne and his colleagues at Wallace Oldsmobile earned many awards for customer service that caught the attention of other up and coming auto manufacturers. The hard work of Shelbourne and his colleagues earned Wallace Automotive a reputation in the industry that allowed him to expand the Wallace dealerships to neighboring Kingsport and Johnson City where they now employ over 200 of our area friends and neighbors.

Shelbourne enjoyed all aspects of the car business, especially thanking customers for their business and support. He took great pride in keeping his customers and colleagues happy. Shelbourne understood that he would only be successful if his colleagues achieved success. He made it a point to establish a personal relationship with those that he worked with every day. An advocate of the virtues of patience and hard work, one of Shelbourne’s favorite sayings was, “Hard work makes the cream rise to the top”.

While his passion was the automobile industry, he did find himself in the cattle business for many years while he owned a farm in the Bristol area. Shelbourne’s life was enriched by his family and a multitude of tremendous friends. He would often say that he has some of the best friends a person could ask for. His travels and friendships took him around the world where he met some interesting people including President Reagan and played some of the world’s best golf courses including St. Andrews, Pine Valley, and Augusta National home of the Masters Tournament.

As a local business leader, Shelbourne understood the importance of giving back to our community and served in many civic capacities. Shelbourne served as President of the Bristol, TN School Board and was an active member of State Street United Methodist Church.

If Shelbourne wasn’t spending time at one of his dealerships talking to a valued colleague or customer, you would likely find him with his beloved wife Nancy; his daughters Kim Wallace Baker, Rebecca Wallace Avirett, Sharon Wallace Rinearson; one of his 7 grandchildren; or 4 great-grandchildren.

Shelbourne was preceded in death by his parents Blanche and Russell Wallace.

Shelbourne is survived by his wife of 63 years Nancy Wallace; his brother Gary Wallace and his wife Shannon; his sister Janice Clevenger; daughters Kim Wallace Baker, Rebecca (Becky) Wallace Avirett, Sharon Wallace Rinearson; sons-in-law Tim Baker, Vann Avirett, James Annear; special sister-in-law Ava Bazarnik, Ava’s husband Walt Bazarnik, and their children Brent Bazarnik and Blake Bazarnik; grandchildren Mary Avirett, Claire Avirett, Robert Rinearson, William Rinearson, TC Baker, John Baker, Laura Baker; special grand-daughters-in-law Shara Baker and Ronda Baker; great-grandchildren Catheryn Baker, Shelbourne Baker, Elizabeth Baker and River Baker.

A celebration of life will be held in the sanctuary at State Street United Methodist Church at 650 Valley Drive in Bristol, VA at 3:00 P.M., Sunday, February 13, 2022 with Rev. Laura Rasor officiating. The co-workers of Wallace Automotive and Wallace Leasing, past and present, are honorary pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to State Street United Methodist Church or Crossroads Medical Mission, 650 Valley Dr., Bristol, VA 24201; Healing Hands Health Center, 245 Midway Medical Park, Bristol, TN 37620 or the St. Jude Tri-Cities Affiliate, 400 N State of Franklin Rd., Johnson City, TN 37604

Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at Akardfuneralhome.com.

Akard Funeral Home, 1912 West State Street, Bristol, TN 423-989-4800 is honored to be serving family of Mr. Wallace.

Bob was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert B. Taylor, Sr. (Bob and Mary). His family moved to Greensboro when he was two years old and except for time in school and the military, he lived in Greensboro for the remainder of his life.

Bob was a graduate of Davidson College and enjoyed a split career in banking and private business. He felt his work to be interesting and challenging and was still working routinely in his home office before his death.

He loved and was an active worshiper of First Presbyterian Church. He also shared a special love for the Village Chapel of Bald Head Island where he served on the board of governors for a number of years.

Bob enjoyed golf all his life though he couldn’t play in his later years. He loved all things coastal, and he spent many hours playing his piano.

Bob was predeceased by his parents, his son, Robert B. Taylor III (Bobby) and his sister Frances Taylor Boone. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Rebecca Walters Taylor (Becky); Charlotte residents, son, Joseph W. Taylor (Joe), daughter-in-law Rosalind, grandson Thomas Pappas, son, David D. Taylor, daughter-in-law Elizabeth, grandchildren, Broughton and William Taylor; and New York resident Tom Winslow.

Bob was thankful for the example of his parents and that God was always a part of their home. He deeply loved his family, his friends, and being a proud grandfather. His life was enriched by Becky’s love and his faith in God’s love. The family is blessed to have had Chantal Koffi, his caregiver, for the past year.

A celebration of life will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, January 21, 2022, in the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church, Greensboro, NC. The service may be viewed live online at fpcgreensboro.org. Out of an abundance of caution, there will not be a reception following the service.

Anyone wishing to send a memorial, please consider First Presbyterian Church, 617 North Elm Street, Greensboro, NC 27401, The Village Chapel of Bald Head Island, 105 Lighthouse Wynd, Bald Head Island, NC 28461 or charity of choice.

Hanes Lineberry North Elm Chapel is assisting the Taylor family with arrangements. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.haneslineberryfhnorthelm.com.