Funeral services for Mrs. Wilma Jean Waits, age 85, of Manchester, TN will be conducted Sunday, July 21, 2013 at 3:00 PM at Coffee County Funeral Chapel with Reverend Joe Johnston and Pastor Kenny McNatt officiating. Interment will follow at Fredonia Cemetery. Visitation will be held Saturday, July 20, 2013 from 5:00 PM until 9:00 PM at the funeral home. Mrs. Waits passed away Thursday, July 18, 2013 at Centennial Medical Center in Nashville after an extended illness.

She was born July 8, 1928 in the Fredonia Community of Coffee County. She was one of thirteen children born to the late Estil Lester Hershman and Margaret Jane Parker Hershman. She was raised in Coffee County and during her lifetime resided in Michigan, Indiana and Kentucky. While residing in Michigan, she would meet Freddie G. Waits while attending church. The two were married on October 9, 1967. Jean was a retired cosmetologist who enjoyed playing Phase 10 and Skippo at the Manchester Senior Citizens Center where she and her husband have been active for over 13 years. She loved her family and enjoyed babysitting. Jean adored her church family at Canvas Community Church and enjoyed ministering to others about the Lord. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by eleven brothers and sisters, Nora Belle DeBerry, Gladys Tarbutton, Ivea Irene Whitaker, Hazel Brawley, Charles Hershman, Joyce Zimmerman, Mattie Lucille Qualls, Ruby Lee Koslowski, Burford Hershman, Pauline Allenbaugh, and Betty Jo Hershman.

Survivors include her loving husband of 45 years, Freddie G. Waits of Manchester; five children, Pamela Johnston and husband, Joseph of Manchester; Sherry Burke and husband, Dennis of Sun City Center, FL; Denise Arnold of Hillsboro; Vance Creek of Hillsboro; Craig Nedoff of Manchester and Heather Swann and husband, Chris also of Manchester; thirteen grandchildren and twenty great-grandchildren; one brother, Autrey Ferrell and wife, Chris of Manchester and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and loving friends.

The family suggest memorial contributions be made in Memory Of Jean to Canvas Community Church, 1886 McArthur Street, Manchester, TN 37355.

On line condolences may be made at www.coffeecountyfuneralchapel.com

COFFEE COUNTY FUNERAL CHAPEL IS HONORED TO SERVE THE FAMILY OF MRS. WILMA JEAN WAITS.