Tennis Austin Jeffreys, 76, of Florence, died Friday, Jan. 17, 2003, at ECM Hospital.He was born in Colbert County and lived in Lauderdale County most of his life. He was a retired ironworker with Reynolds Metal Co., a member of Ironworkers Local Union No. 477, a U.S. Army veteran serving in the Philippines, where he was awarded the Purple Heart. He was a member of the Victory in Jesus Baptist Church and a member of the Florence Masonic Lodge.Visitation will be Sunday, Jan. 19, 2003, from 6-9 p.m. at Greenview Funeral Home.The funeral service will be Monday, Jan. 20, 2003, at 1 p.m. from Greenview Memorial Chapel, with burial to follow in Tri-Cities Memorial Gardens. Officiating at the service will be Brother Jackie Pounders.Mr. Jeffreys is survived by his wife of 56 years, Dorothy Marie Hodges Jeffreys of Florence; three sons, Robert Earl Jeffreys and wife, Brenda, Larry Wayne Jeffreys and wife, Becky, Terry Keith Jeffreys and wife, Rhonda; daughter, Linda Susan Sterry and husband, Frankie; seven brothers, James Earl Jeffreys, Leonard Irvin Jeffreys, Clyde Bernard Jeffreys, Lloyd Carlton Jeffreys, Franklin Monroe Jeffreys, Jerald Eugene Jeffreys and David Dean Jeffreys; two sisters, Lennice Jeffreys Wiley, Edith Jeffreys Jezek; six grandchildren, Amy Kaye Sterry Knipper, Kelly Leritte Jeffreys McDonald, Amanda Marie Jeffreys Lee, Patrick Dewayne Sterry, Landon Chase Jeffreys and Justin Keith Jeffreys; three great-grandchildren, Reed and Grant McDonald and Coleton Knipper.Mr. Jeffreys was preceded in death by his father, Austin Jeffreys; mother, Lilly Jeffreys; brother, Carl Patrick Jeffreys; and a daughter, Brenda Gail Jeffreys.Pallbearers will be Patrick Sterry, Chase Jeffreys, Will McDonald, Brian Knipper, Gene Oakley, Frank Sterry and Justin Jeffreys.Honorary pallbearers will be Billy Blasigame, Jimmy Gifford, Harry Neloms, Ronnie Valentine, Jimmy Cox, Randy Paulk, Brother Leland Horton and Jerry Price.Mr. Jeffreys was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and brother.The family wishes to thank Drs. Webb, Rainer, Morris and Glenda West and CCU staff at ECM.Greenview Funeral Home of Florence is directing.

Published in Florence Times Daily on January 19, 2003