 | Shane Bradford
Funeral Director/Embalmer
A licensed funeral director and embalmer, Shane began his association with the firm in September 1990. He was born and raised in Marshall County, Tennessee and graduated from Marshall County High School in 1988 and from John A. Gupton Mortuary College in 1991. |  | Jeff Hargrove
Funeral Director/Pre-Need Counselor
Jeff, a licensed funeral director and embalmer, concentrates most of his time to pre-need funeral consulting. He has served over twenty-one years on the staff of Oakes & Nichols since his graduation from the Gupton-Jones School of Mortuary Science in Atlanta, Georgia. He has also had training on eye-enucleation at the East Tennessee Eye Bank and has attended disaster classes held by the state association. Jeff is a long time member of the Georgia Academy of Graduate Embalmers and attends yearly continuing education classes and seminars. A Maury County, native, he and his wife Lisa Rice Hargrove have one son, Zane. He is a member of First Presbyterian Church. Jeff's hobbies include salt and fresh water fly-fishing and golf. |  | Doug Brown
Funeral Director
Doug, a licensed funeral director, has been an employee of Oakes & Nichols since 1990. He is married to Janice Looper Brown, an R.N., and has two sons, Tony and Danny. A native Columbian, he is a 1961 graduate of Columbia Central High School. He attended Columbia Business College and Columbia State Community College and spent most of his adult life in retail and route sales with Sealtest, Frito-Lay and American General Life Insurance. He is an active member in the Berea Church of Christ where he leads singing. Doug and Janice spend their spare time camping. |  | Juanita B. Smith
Administrative Assistant
Juanita is a native of Maury County and a 1972 graduate of Columbia Central High School. She began her association with Oakes & Nichols in June 1977 and was employed full time until December 1981 at which time she moved to California for a short period. After a stint on the West Coast and two children later, she agreed to fill in for medical leave for six weeks in 1990; and is still here. She is married to William J. Smith, who works for Cytec Industries in Mt. Pleasant; and they have two children, Elizabeth and Michael. She is a member of Knob Creek Baptist Church.
| | | Jane Gray "Bunny" Sowell
Funeral Director/ Embalmer
Jane Gray “Bunny” Sowell was born May 24, 1947 at King’s Daughters Hospital in Columbia, the first child of Dorothy Gray and Frank Freeman Sowell, and has lived in the family residence on West Seventh Street for over fifty years. Her interest in funeral service began at an early age and has continued to the present as a member of the firm of Oakes & Nichols Funeral Directors. She attended McDowell Elementary School and Whitthorne Junior High School prior to graduating from Columbia Central High School in 1965. Immediately following graduation, she attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, later transferring to Gupton College in Nashville where she graduated with an Associate of Arts degree in Mortuary Science in 1967. During the interim she took courses at Columbia State Community College, Aquinas College and Vanderbilt University. Upon earning her degree she sat for the National Funeral Service Examining Board and the Tennessee Funeral Service Examining Board, earning certification and licensing as a funeral director and embalmer in 1968. Sponsored by the Columbia Lions Club, she attended the University of Virginia Medical School in Charlottesville where she studied corneal enucleation (removal of corneal tissue for transplant purposes). In 1974, she became the first woman and only Tennessean to be certified in this capacity. In the years since certification, she has attended courses for continuing education in this field as well as Disaster Preparadness Training and other funeral service related fields. She was licensed by the State of Tennessee as an Insurance Agent in 1991. She is a member of the National Funeral Directors Association, Tennessee Funeral Directors Association and the George Academy of Graduate Embalmers. While a member of the Board of Directors of the state association, she was one of four members selected to travel the state conducting seminars for funeral directors and embalmers on compliance with the policies and regulations of the Federal Trade Commission. She was appointed to the Tennessee State Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers, serving a three-year term and later elected to the National Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards. Her community and civic activities include membership in Maury Alliance, serving as a committee member of its fore-runner, the Maury County Chamber of Commerce; member and former President of the Maury County Historical Society; member and former President of the Maury County Chapter, APTA; James K. Polk Memorial Association; member and past Regent of Jane Knox Chapter, DAR; member of the Rose Hill Endowment Association for over twenty years and Maury Regional Hospital Auxiliary for several years. She grew up a member of First United Methodist Church, later transferring membership to Zion Presbyterian Church where she has been a member for thirty years, taught Adult Sunday School for several years, served on the Pulpit Committee and was active in the Women of the Church. |  | Tony Sowell
Funeral Director
Tony Sowell is the son of Dorothy Gray Sowell and the late Frank F. Sowell and a third generation member of the Sowell family associated with the firm. He attended Columbia Military Academy for several years and is a 1968 graduate of Columbia Central High School. He later attended Columbia State Community College and the University of Tennessee at Martin. A Licensed Funeral Director since 1972, Tony worked around the funeral home since teenage years and currently serves President of Oakes & Nichols, Inc. and Tony Sowell Monuments. He has been active in committee work with the Tennessee Funeral Directors Association and Selected Independent Funeral Directors and served on the Convention Committee for the National Funeral Directors Association Convention in Nashville. He is a member of Graymere Church of Christ, Columbia Rotary Club and is a Paul Harris Fellow, Columbia Masonic Lodge, Columbia Elks Club, Maury County Chamber of Commerce and American Quarter Horse Association. His love for animals began as a young boy when he spent much of his time on his grandparent's Turkey Creek farm between Santa Fe and Water Valley. Tony pursued his interest in horses working with his children in Pony Club activities over the years. He has participated in numerous Team Roping Competitions in various states with his sons and other partners. Over the years, he has collected several wagons and other horse and mule drawn vehicles. Tony and his wife, Susie Delk Sowell, live on Turkey Creek Stock Farm and have three children, Matt, is associated with Oakes & Nichols; Andy, is a commercial pilot for Southwest Air Lines; and Meribeth, who teaches first grade at Baker Elementary School; and three grandchildren, Ann Gray Sowell, Caroline Sowell, and Will Sowell. |  | Susie Sowell
Funeral Director/Pre-Need
Susie Delk Sowell, daughter of Edith Whiteside Delk and the late Mayfield Delk, has been associated with Oakes & Nichols since her graduation from Columbia Central High School in 1969. In 1972 she married Tony Sowell and they have three children. Matt is employed at Oakes & Nichols, Andy is a professional pilot, and Meribeth teaches first grade at Baker Elementary School. She is the doting grandmother of Ann Gray Sowell, Caroline Sowell, and Will Sowell. She has been a licensed funeral director since January 1991. She is also a licensed life insurance agent and has served on advisory boards for two insurance companies. Susie enjoys traveling and doing things with her family. She especially enjoys anything and everything about DISNEY. |  | Matthew Freeman Sowell
Funeral Director
Matt is the oldest son of Tony and Susie Sowell. He was named for his grandfather Frank Freeman Sowell; who was associated with Oakes & Nichols for more than 50 years and was President Emeritus of Oakes & Nichols at the time of his death in 1997. Matt grew up in the funeral business and has been employed at Oakes & Nichols since he was old enough to hold a shovel. He is married to the lovely Laura Katherine Sowell and has a daughter, Ann Gray Sowell and a son, Will Sowell. Matt went to high school at Columbia Academy where he was voted friendliest, played football, sang in the chorus, and was awarded the Columbia Noon Rotary Club's "Service Above Self" award. Matt has participated in equestrian events since the age of 10. His favorite is the Rodeo event of Team Roping. He later went to Freed-Hardeman University where he received his Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in management. After graduating from Freed-Hardeman University he immediatly began working at Oakes & Nichols as a director's assistant. In June 2001 Matt recieved his Funeral Director's license from the State of Tennessee Board of Funeral Director's and Embalmers. Matt is very active in the Columbia Noon Rotary Club where he has been a member since 1998 and became a Paul Harris Fellow in 2002. He is also an ambassador for Maury Alliance and a 2003 graduate of Leadership Maury. He currently serves on the Board of Director's for the Leadership Maury Alumni Association. Matt and his family worship at the Greenfield Bend Church of Christ. |  | Dorothy Gray Sowell
Vice President Emeritus
Dorothy Gray Sowell is a native of the Santa Fe Community in Maury County, Tennessee, and the daughter of Sam E. and Gertrude Gray Gray. She married the late Frank F. Sowell in Columbia, Tennessee, on May 11, 1943. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1993.
She is the mother of four children: Jane Gray “Bunny” Sowell; Tony (Edith Sue Delk) Sowell; Mrs. Louis Harvey (Beth) Fischer; Miss Sammye A. Sowell, all of Columbia and enjoys her grandchildren, Matthew Freeman (Laura McKay) Sowell; Andrew Delk (Shellie Singleton) Sowell; Meribeth Gray Sowell; William Chaffin Fischer, John Louis Fischer, and Samuel Alexander Sowell; great-granddaughters,Ann Gray Sowell and Caroline Sowell; and great-grandson, Will Sowell.
During World War II, Dorothy worked at Helm’s Jewelry and Southern Bell Telephone Company. While working at the telephone office on South Garden Street next to Oakes & Nichols, she met her future husband. After Frank’s induction into the Army Air Corps, she joined Frank at various Air Bases in Florida, New Jersey, South Dakota, and Goldsboro, North Carolina, where he was shipped overseas. She returned to Columbia and continued to work for the duration of the war and was active in the USO.
She is a member of First United Methodist Church and has been an avid gardener and rosarian for many years. She and Frank traveled extensively overseas and for a number of years enjoyed domestic travel in their motor home. Since his death she has continued to travel in the United States and abroad.
She is a former member of Board of Directors and Vice President Emeritus of Oakes & Nichols, Inc., (1969 – 1988). She was a member of the Board of Trustees, Maury Regional Hospital from 1985 to 2004; served as a member, Building and Grounds Committee, Human Resources Committee, Joint Conference Committee; former chairman Joint Conference Committee; former member Advisory Board. Since her retirement as Trustee, she continues to serve the Board in several capacities.
She was a Charter Member of the Maury County Hospital Auxiliary, having served 50 years in 2004. She held the offices of President, Vice President, Secretary, Chairman of Scholarship, Coffee Shop and various other committees and other volunteer assignments for over 40 years.
She was State President, Tennessee Hospital Association Council on Auxiliaries (1984 – 1986); member of Council (1978 – 1986). Dot served as Co-chairman (with Frank) of Maury County Homecoming ’86 (1983 – 1986). Major projects: Maury County Community Band established: HITHER & YON published; co-chaired fundraising for Aquatic Center at Columbia State Community College (over $300,000.00 raised locally).
She was Co-chairman, Maury County “TENNESSEE 200” Committee; Member Maury County Chamber of Commerce—former member, Board of Directors; served as Secretary, Treasurer; chaired committee which established Maury County Clean Community System; also served on Tourism Committee; graduate of Leadership Maury (Class of 1990 – 1991); Maury County Election Official for 30 years; President of Rose Hill Endowment Association (1965 - ***); Member of the James K. Polk Memorial Association Board of Directors, chaired several committees; elected President 1997.
She is a member of Maury County Chapter, APTA; Maury County Historical Society; Columbia Chapter, American Field Service; Jane Knox Chapter, DAR; Captain James Madison Sparkman Chapter, UDC; Maury County Rose Society; Cosmopolitan Literary Club; serves as a volunteer and avid supporter of the Maury County Archives.
Honors: Maury County Bar Association; Liberty Bell Award – 1987 (jointly with Frank); Columbia Civitan Club Maury County Outstanding Citizen – 1988; Maury County March of Dimes Citizen of the Year – 1992 (jointly with Frank); Lucille Queener Courtney Community Service Award – 1996
|  | Glenn Truelove
Funeral Director
A Maury County native, Glenn begin his association with Oakes & Nichols in 1996. Glenn graduated from Columbia Central High School and the University of North Alabama where he majored in Communications and minored in journalism. While at UNA Glenn served as president of the Eta Rho Chapter of the Sigma Chi Fraternity, member of Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities, member of Student Government Association and Ambassador for the university. He is currently a board member for Leadership Maury and is co-chair of the program committee. Glenn is the son of the late Jim and Marguerite Cotton Truelove. |  | Oakes & Nichols Staff, 2004
|
|
