James Riley Deen

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James Riley Deen, 70, a resident of Columbia, died Sunday, March 1, 2026 at Alive Hospice in Nashville following a sudden illness.

Funeral services will be Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at 12:00 Noon at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Donnie Davis officiating and military honors provided by Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19. Burial will follow in Wilson Cemetery in Hickman County. The family will visit with friends Wednesday from 10:00 AM until 12:00 Noon at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Online condolences may be extended at www.oakesandnichols.com.

Riley was born on November 21, 1955 in Columbia, TN to the late Martin Deen and the late Billie Jean Cayce Deen. He served in the United States Navy and was a member of the Church of Christ. Riley worked various jobs over the years including milking cows, construction and recently retired from Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home as assistant maintenance and cemetery employee. He loved NASCAR and The Andy Griffith Show, riding around seeing friends and going to his favorite two places daily, Piggly Wiggly and Bucky’s.

Survivors include his son, Jeff Dale; sisters, Terri (Jeff) Peden of Columbia; Linda Russell of Columbia; Debbie (Jackie) Hagan of Bowing Green, KY and Jill (Doug) Reece of Columbia; uncle, Granville Deen of Clarksville; several nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews, and cousins.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his step-mother Mary Fitzgerald Jackson Deen, and two brothers, Andy Jackson and Mark Jackson.

Pallbearers will be Jeff Peden, Dustin Peden, Doug Reece, Greg Deen, Pat Deen, and Michael Russell. Honorary pallbearers will be Kenny Hanvy, J.R. Potts, Ken Webb, employees of Potts Sawmill and the staff of Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.