William C. McAfee, Jr.

1927 - 2016

William C. McAfee, Jr., 88, of Franklin, passed away on May 19, 2016. He was born on July 10, 1927 in the Mimosa Community of Lincoln County, to the late William C. McAfee Sr., and Thelma Wells McAfee. Mr. McAfee attended public schools and the University of Tennessee. In 1947, he was hired by the Franklin County Board of Education as an assistant Vocational Agriculture teacher in the Veterans Farm Training Program where he taught returning World War II veterans. He was drafted into the Army in 1952 and served his country in Tokyo, Japan, during the Korean Conflict and was honorably discharged with the rank of sergeant at the end of 1953. He spent his adult life as the owner of two businesses in Tullahoma. In 1954, he became an independent property and casualty insurance agent and opened his own agency. In late 1954, he added a real estate component to his business. He sold the insurance agency in 1974 and opened Mac's Farm and Garden, a retail farm and garden center. In 1966, he was elected Magistrate on the Coffee County Quarterly Court, later a County Commissioner, where he served for 20 years. During his tenure, he served as the Chairman of the Finance Committee, Chairman of the committee that established the County Ambulance Service and was Chairman Pro Tempore of the Commission. He served as a City of Tullahoma Judicial Commissioner and as a Public Service Officer with the Tullahoma Police Department until he retired in 1994 and moved to Franklin to be closer to his new granddaughter. Mr. McAfee was also an Angus cattle farmer and he showed and sold cattle throughout Tennessee and surrounding states. He was an avid master gardener and loved to share his knowledge of gardening with friends and customers. He was an active member of the United Methodist Church and worshiped at Wesley Heights United Methodist Church and First United Methodist Church in Tullahoma and at Trinity United Methodist Church in Franklin. In addition to his parents, Mr. McAfee was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Ruth Bedford McAfee; a brother, Kenneth Wayne McAfee; and a sister, Dorothy McAfee Frame. He is survived by his son, Pat (Brenda) McAfee; his granddaughter, Wesley Jillian McAfee, all of Franklin; and a sister, Wilma Bonner of Winchester. He is also survived by nieces, nephews and his long-term caregiver, Hanna Temesgen Belachew. Active pallbearers will be family and friends. Honorary pallbearers are members of the Crusaders Sunday School Class of First United Methodist Church of Tullahoma and the past and present members of the Coffee County Commission. Funeral Services were held Sunday, May 22 at 2 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church in Franklin, Tenn., with Rev. Dennis Meaker officiating. A Graveside Service and interment with military honors was held at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens in Tullahoma, Tennessee, with Rev. Billy Ray Panter officiating. Donations in Mr. McAfee's honor may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church or the Meals on Wheels Program, P. O. Box 982, Franklin, TN 37065. Williamson Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Services in charge of arrangements.