William C. Jeter

William Claud Jeter, who would have celebrated his 88th birthday March 10, died peacefully Monday, March 1, 2010.

He was born in 1922 in Collinwood, Tenn., the son of the late Neal Claud and Viola Morrison Jeter.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Dr. James N. Jeter; a sister, Frances McDonnell; and a son, Michael Jeter.

He graduated from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and then served as a Navy lieutenant in World War II.

After the war, he attended and graduated from the UT Dental School at Memphis. While there, he met his wife of 60 years, Virginia Raines. They married Dec. 20, 1949, and returned to Lawrenceburg, his hometown since the age of 3.

Dr. Jeter practiced general dentistry for almost 40 years.

He is survived by his wife and children, Kim Jeter (Sara), of Miami, Fla., Gina Barham (Joe), of Goodlettsville, Tenn., Amanda Parsons (Jim), of Killen, Ala., Emily Jeter, of Alexandria, Va., Lori Wicker (Ken), of New Market, Tenn.; grandchildren, Jonathan Jeter, of Manhattan, N.Y.; Aubrey and Rylee Parsons, of Killen, Ala.; Sam, Anna, Ben, Nathan and Eli Wicker, of New Market, Tenn.; nieces, nephews and friends.

Dr. Jeter was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church in Lawrenceburg and New Market Baptist Church in New Market, Tenn., where the Jeters moved in 2007 to be near Lori and her family.

Visitation was Thursday at Neal Funeral Home, Lawrenceburg. Services will be at the funeral home at 11 a.m. Friday, March 5, with Brother Steve Clark officiating. Burial will follow in Lawrence County Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the building fund of either church.