Raleigh Needham

Funeral services for Mr. John Raleigh Needham Sr., 99, of Cookeville and formerly of Livingston, will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday September 2 at the Cookeville Chapel of Hooper Huddleston and Horner Funeral Home with the Rev. Linda Reichenbecher, Melinda Bilbrey and Joel Upton officiating. Interment with military honors will follow at the Good Hope Cemetery in Livingston. The family will receive friends Tuesday from 5 – 8 p.m. and again Wednesday from 11 a.m. until service time at the funeral home. Mr. Needham died Saturday evening August 29, 2015 at Cedar Hills Senior Living in Cookeville. He was born February 10, 1916 in the Oakley Community of Overton County, TN to the late William Albert and Bertha Ova Peterman Needham. He moved to Livingston as a young boy and graduated from Livingston Academy. He was an US Army veteran of World War II having served in the Philippine Islands. Upon his return to Livingston, he operated merchant businesses and served two terms as the city's Mayor. In his later years, he operated a custom picture frame and hobby shop on Spring Street until his retirement. Mr. Needham was an active member of the Livingston First United Methodist Church. He was a charter member of the Overton County Lions Club where he was Melvin Jones Fellowship recipient and awarded a lifetime club membership. He served as Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 133 and later as the Packmaster for the Cub Scouts. He received "The Long Rifle Award," one of Scouting's highest honors. In his younger years, he enjoyed hunting and fishing. Later in life, he enjoyed woodcrafts, gardening, and being with his family. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Willie Ruth Needham West. He is survived by his wife of 78 years, Nola Mae Jernigan Needham (whom he married June 6, 1937); two sons and daughter-in-law, John Raleigh Needham, Jr. of Harriman, TN, William L. (Bill) and Carolyn Needham of Livingston, TN; two granddaughters, Julie Ruesewald and husband Don, Lynn Drew and husband Jason; two great-grandchildren, Ryan and Abby Ruesewald; and a step great-grandson, Josh Ruesewald; and niece, Melinda Bilbrey and her husband Howard and their daughter, Sarah. Pallbearers will be Ryan Ruesewald, Josh Ruesewald, Howard Bilbrey, Andy Atkins, Charles Atkins, and Henry Jernigan. Honorary pallbearers will be Jonathan Hatch, Kent Woody, Glenn Drew, and Floyd Jernigan, Jr. The family wishes to express their appreciation to Upper Cumberland Hospice and Cedar Hills Senior Living for the care rendered to Mr. Needham and his family.