Johnny Tummins

JOHNNY "BIG JOHN" GREEN TUMMINS, 67, a resident of Cleveland, went home to be with Jesus on Saturday, October 11, 2008. He was a veteran of the U. S. Navy and was employed with Simpson Construction doing bridge construction. He was a member of New Salem Baptist Church where he faithfully taught Sunday School for many years. His greatest loves were his family and friends. He was very athletic and played with several softball teams and basketball teams in the Navy and later in Cleveland. He also holds the world record for bench press in his age group for 2006 ? 2007. He was preceded in death by his parents, James Tummins and Agnes Shamblin Cannon, and by an infant daughter, Lucille Kathleen Tummins. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Barbara Tummins of Cleveland; three daughters and their spouses: Vickie Jenkins of Cleveland, Donna Louise and Craig Sampson of Cleveland, and Vanya and Ronnie Taylor of Greenville, MS; seven grandchildren: Andy Jenkins, Tyler Jenkins, Daniel Sampson, Christopher Sampson, all of Cleveland, Tiffany Cox of Chattanooga, Katie Scarlett Taylor and Zach "Moose" Taylor of Greenville, MS; one great granddaughter, Kaelyn Sampson; one brother, Jimmy Cannon of Plano, TX; and several nieces and nephews and many friends. Funeral services will be conducted at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 14, 2008, at New Salem Baptist Church with Reverend A. C. Cooper and Reverend Chuck Defriese officiating. Interment with military honors will follow in Lee Cemetery with Jimmy Patterson, Cullas Orr, Stewart Brown, Barry Goins, Gary Crisp and Kevin Keffer serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Mike Hill, Darrell Anderson, Frank Miller and Tom Bandy. His family will receive friends from 5 ? 8 p.m. Monday, October 13, 2008, at Ralph Buckner Funeral Home. We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Tummins family guestbook at www.ralphbuckner.com.