Eldridge Freeland McMeen

Mr. Eldridge Freeland McMeen, 78, resident of Tom Fitzgerald Road, died Monday May 5, 2014 at Vanderbilt University Medical Center following an extended illness. Funeral services will be conducted Thursday at 3:00 p.m. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Rev. Joe Bowers and Thomas Culberson officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Wednesday from 4 - 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. The family suggests memorials to Godwin Chappell United Methodist Church, c/o Carl Sellers, 220 Creek Trail, Columbia, TN 38401. Condolences may be offered online at www.oakesandnichols.com.He was born March 29, 1936 on his grandfather's farm in Maury County which he later purchased. He was a 1955 graduate of Columbia Central High School and later graduated from Southern Graphics Institute in Nashville. On September 19, 1964 he married Betty Gilliam McMeen and had three children, Freeland, Kevin and Jennifer. Mr. McMeen retired from the Columbia Daily Herald as a linotype operator. He was an active member of Godwin Chappell United Methodist Church and enjoyed working in his garden and tending to his cows.In addition to his wife of nearly fifty years, Betty McMeen of Columbia, he is survived by his children, sons, Freeland McMeen of Santa Fe, Kevin (Nicole) McMeen of Columbia; daughter, Jennifer (Steve) Duval of Santa Fe; granddaughter, Elizabeth McMeen of Columbia; grandson, Kurtis Duval of Santa Fe; niece, Barbara McMeen of Fayetteville; and nephews, Charles W. McMeen, Jr., William McMeen and Jimmy McMeen all of Fayetteville;He was preceded in death by his parents, Charlie Fogey McMeen and Elsie Hays McMeen and his brother, Charles W. McMeen, Sr.Active pallbearers will be Wayne Fitzgerald, Carl Sellers, J.W. Slaughter, Edward Lewis Adams, Rayburn Grooms, Colton Duval, Billy Cheek and Ray Adams. Honorary pallbearers include members of Columbia Central High School 1955 graduating class.