J.W. Scott

J. W. Scott, long-time resident of Columbia, Tennessee, passed away on Thursday, March 31, 2016 at Maury Regional Medical Center. Services will be held on Monday, April 4, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at Williams Funeral Home in Columbia. David Buffaloe and Ezell Rose, his present and former pastor, will be officiating. The family will visit with friends at the funeral home on Sunday, April 3rd from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. and on Monday, April 4th from 1:00 p.m. until time of service.
J.W. was born at home in Hampshire, Tennessee on April 24, 1936 to Walter Scott and Mary Lou Truelove Scott and maintained a strong connection to his childhood home and the Hampshire community throughout his life.

His family moved to Columbia when J.W. was a senior in high school and he graduated in 1955 from Central High School. After graduation, he met Audrey Inman and they married on July 27, 1957. J.W. and Audrey enjoyed nearly 60 years of marriage and he cherished the countless blessings that came from their union.

J.W. began working for the Columbia Fire Department in 1964 and retired as Assistant Chief in 1996 after 32 years of service. During his career he worked many of the monumental fires that occurred in Columbia including the Maury County Jail Fire in 1977 and the Dupont plant fire in 1975. He served the department as Firefighter, Driver Engineer, Assistant Chief and Chief. J.W.'s career offered him the opportunity to work with a great group of men whom he respected and admired and their friendships endured long after his retirement.

Throughout his life J.W. enjoyed hunting, fishing, farming and just being outdoors. One of his greatest joys was helping his son in the hay field or working cattle. His free time was spent in his boat and enjoying the family retreat on the Tennessee River. Sharing his river getaway with his family and friends was one of his greatest pleasures and he always looked forward to the 4th of July gathering each year that brought so many together to enjoy it with him.
After his retirement, he especially enjoyed his passion for turning one man's junk into another man's treasure. He and Audrey spent many hours searching out treasures to stock his booth at the Tennessee River Flea Market in Perryville, Tennessee.

Survivors include his wife, Audrey Mae Inman Scott of Columbia; Daughter Sheila (Dan) Hunter of Columbia; Son Tony (Jane) Scott of Hampshire, Tennessee; Grandchilden Jarrett Walker Scott and Ellen Scott; Step-Grandchildren Larissa (Jonathan) Thomas, Matthew (Catherine) Hunter; Step-Great Grandchildren Hunter Thomas, Sarah Thomas and Danna Hunter; Sister Margaret Smithson of Centerville, Tennessee and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his brother Fred Scott and sisters Carrie Mayberry, Judy Regeon and Loretha Cheatham.

Pallbearers will be his nephews Don Smithson, Mike Smithson, Gene Scott, Walter Scott and Scott Cheatham and great-nephew Brad Cheatham. Honorary pallbearers are the current and
retired members of the Columbia Fire Department, employees of Maury County Solid Waste, special friends Billy and Carolyn Benefield and Perry and Kathleen Rogers, Lloyd Privitt, the members of the Men's Sunday School Class at Riverview Baptist Church and its past and present Deacons.

The family would like to offer a special thanks to the exceptional staff of Maury Regional Medical Center CCU and Cardiology departments, Dr. John Maloof, Dr. Anuradha Mann, and the staff of LifeCare Center in Columbia, for all their love and care during his illness.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Building Fund of Riverview Baptist Church in Columbia.

Williams Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements and online condolences may be made at www.willliamsfh.com .