Obituary of Billy Howard Carr

Billy Carr passed away on March 19, 2013 at age 83. The family will be receiving friends at Sellars Funeral Home in Lebanon (at Stone Mansion, 416 Rome Pike) on Friday from 1-8 p.m. The Funeral Service, conducted by Reverend David Hesson and assisted by Joe Adams and Sam Hatcher, is 3 p.m. Saturday, March 23, 2013 at the First United Methodist Church (415 W. Main St., Lebanon TN) with visitation on Saturday from 2 p.m. until the service. Interment in Cedar Grove Cemetery. Friends will serve as Pallbearers. Honorary Pallbearers: Employees at the Lebanon Democrat, Dr. Thomas Gallaher, Jim York, and Billy's nieces and nephews. Memorial Donations: charity or organization of your choice. Mr. Carr was born on May 27, 1929 in Lebanon TN to the late Brice Martin Carr Sr. and Effie A. Kirby Carr. He attended Highland Heights School and Lebanon High School and joined the Tennessee State Guard on September 27, 1945 at the age of 16 and was discharged February 14, 1947 as one of the youngest Sergeants. Mr. Carr was sworn in to active duty in the United States Army on December 4, 1950 in Nashville. He was transferred to Fort McCoy, MS and joined the 235th Field Artillery Observation Unit associated with the Pennsylvania National Guard, then from 1952 to 1956 was in the Army Reserves until Honorably Discharged in 1956. In 1987 when the Tennessee State Legislature re-opened the Guard in Lebanon, Mr. Carr was promoted to Sergeant in 1998 and then transferred to the Advisory Board in 1999 and became Command Sergeant Major at the age of 70. Mr. Carr was very active in his community. He coached the Kiwanis Club Little League Baseball for 27 years and worked with the First United Methodist Church alongside the Dr. Reverend Mary Chaffin. Mr. Carr was active in the American Legion Post 15, the Woodmen of the World, the ANA, and the U.S. State Guard Association. Survivors include brothers: Harry E. Carr, Sr. and Forrest Crockett (Edith) Carr; sister: Betty J. (Clay) Martin; devoted niece: Melanie (Roger) Knight and her children; 8 nieces; 3 nephews; 19 great-nieces and nephews; and 24 great-great-nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by parents Brice M. Carr Sr. and Effie A. Kirby Carr, brother Brice M. Carr, Jr., sister Charlene Swann, and paternal grandparents Forrest Lee Carr, Elizabeth L. Pemberton Carr, and maternal grandparents Parazettie Worley Kirby and John Crockett Kirby.