Mr. Jeff L. Porter, age 95, long time resident of Carter’s Creek Station Road, passed away on Thursday, December 29, 2016, at NHC Hillview.
Jeff was born August 14, 1921, in Maury County, the son of the late Jeff Lee Porter, Sr., and Annie Mary Hill Porter Hines. On October 20, 1946, he married Marguerite Hooten Porter and they enjoyed 70 years together. He was affectionately known as the “Mayor of Carter’s Creek.” Jeff was retired as an electrician with Union Carbide Corporation. After his retirement, he worked for his son, Dr. Fred Porter, for many years. He could fix anything and was a kind and loving husband, father, and friend who let his actions speak for him. He was a quiet, kind man, of whom no one ever spoke badly. He was a member of the West 7th Street Church of Christ and the Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19.
Jeff had served under Patton’s Third Army and others along the way. His World War II awards were the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the European Theater Ribbon with two Bronze Stars, the Victory Medal, the American Theater Ribbon, the Good Conduct Medal, and the Purple Heart for wounds received 18 January 1945 in France. Jeff was discharged 8 January 1946 as a staff Sergeant at Camp Atterbury, Indiana.
Funeral services for Mr. Porter will be conducted Saturday at 10:00 A.M. in the chapel of Williams Funeral Home in Columbia with John Thomas and Jon David Schwartz officiating. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens with military honors provided by the Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19. The family will visit with friends on Friday from 3:00 – 7:00 P.M. and on Saturday from 9:00 A.M. until service time at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be Jeff Rector, Tim Baxter, John Allen Thomas, Daniel Thomas, Jason Hooten, Don Grogan, Joe Roberson and Mark Rector. Honorary pallbearers will be elders of the West 7th Street Church of Christ, friends and neighbors of the Carter’s Creek and Neapolis communities and members of the Porter King Sunday School Class of West 7th Street Church of Christ.
Survivors include his wife, Marguerite of Columbia; one son, Dr. Fred L. (Kathie) Porter of Columbia and one daughter, Diane Porter of Columbia; granddaughters, Natalie Porter (John) Thomas, Amy Porter (Jon David) Schwartz and Nicole Stevenson; great-grandchildren, John Allen Thomas, Daniel Thomas, Nathan Thomas, Matthew Thomas, Abigail Schwartz, Lane Schwartz and Kinzler Gillmore. In addition to his parents, Mr. Porter was preceded in death by one sister, Margaret Rector.
Williams Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences may be sent to www.williamsfh.com.
