A beloved soul was called home, Elton Maxwell Ragsdale Jr, age 76, passed on December 17, 2019, in Columbia, TN.
“Junior” has we called was born January 21, 1943, in Maury County, TN to Elton Maxwell Ragsdale Sr. (Mack) and Uvella Sutton. He attended Haylong School. His fondest memories were fishing along the creek or on the banks of Arrow Lake.
Junior worked for Columbia Construction for many years. He was an accomplished carpenter, welder, and mechanic. He represented a worth ethic that is rare to find today. When he set his mind to complete a task, he accomplished it and did so with pride. He did many things in his life without acknowledgment of written words; he was the hands-on kind of guy. He believed his “word” was his bond, as did many others in his generation.
Proverbs 20:29 “Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand down before obscure men.”
Survivors include children: Alisa Ragsdale Adams, Elton Ragsdale III (Virginia), Jeffery (Martha) Ragsdale Sr., and Eddie Lee Hinson; siblings: Williams Ragsdale (Frances), Judy R Wyatt, Barbara Holder; grandchildren: Travis Adams (Holly), Jeremiah Ragsdale, Katherine Ragsdale, Krystin Ragsdale, Jeffery Keith Ragsdale Jr., Brian (Bekah) Ragsdale, and Aren Ragsdale. Numerous great-grandchildren also survive Junior along with many close friends in Maury and surrounding counties.
Junior is preceded in death by one son: Officer Alan Ragsdale of Hohenwald; his parents: Elton M. Ragsdale Sr. and Uvella Sutton; mother of his children: Gladys Wright Ragsdale Hinson; siblings: Margaret Norman, Ruby McGaw, Minnie Ragsdale, and Johnny Ragsdale.
Services will be held for Junior on Friday, December 20, 2019, beginning at 1:00 pm at Williams Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant. The family will receive friends on Thursday, December 19, from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm. Burial will follow at Arlington Cemetery. Randy Kersey is officiating.
Pallbearers that will serve in honor of Junior: Travis Adams, Jeremiah Ragsdale, Keith Ragsdale, Brian Ragsdale, Aren Ragsdale, Jeff Ragsdale, Eddie Lee Hinson, and Jimmy Graham. Honorary Pallbearers will be David Vaughn and Grayson Young. The family would like to say a special thanks for their care for Junior to Tim Brashears with Avalon Hospice, The Staff of the Garden at Life Care of Columbia.
Williams Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements you may share your thoughts or memories with the family at www.williamsfh.com.
