Irene B. Abernathy

Irene B. Abernathy, 85, of Tiptonville, died Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2003 at Network Health Care in Lewisburg.

She was a homemaker, a seamstress, refinisher and upholster of furniture and a member of Tiptonville First Baptist Church.

Services will be at noon today in the Tiptonville chapel of Dyersburg Funeral Home with the Rev. Andy Martin officiating. Burial will be in Lake Memorial Gardens.

The widow of Gene Fletcher Abernathy Sr., survivors include a daughter, Joyce Welch Jarvis and husband, Kenneth, of Las Vegas, Nev.; a son, Gene Fletcher Abernathy Jr. and wife, Margaret, of Slidell, La.; a brother, Jay Leonberger and wife, Bennie, of Boonville, Mo.; three grandchildren, John Welch, and wife, Pamela of Columbia, Alicia Spencer and husband, Greg, of Slidell, La. and Gene Fletcher Abernathy III and wife, Neva, of Houston, Texas; and three great-grandchildren, Tylar Spencer and Baillie Spencer, both of Slidell, La. and Chelby Abernathy of Houston, Texas.

Pallbearers will be Mack Forrester, Danny Armstrong, James Strayhorn and Albert Wheeler.

The family request that any memorials be directed to Alzheimer's Association, 3960 Knight Arnold Road, Suite 215A, Memphis, TN 38118.