Juanita Walker Cantrell

Rock Island resident Juanita Walker Cantrell, age 96, was born September 1, 1928 at home in Rock Island, TN and died April 4, 2025 at NHC Healthcare of McMinnville following a brief illness.

Mrs. Cantrell was the last living telephone operator for General Telephone Company and worked at Lentz and Cooper and Martin in the butcher shop before opening Rock Island Nursery with her husband, Lewis Cantrell. She was the first ladies club president at Rock Island. Mrs. Cantrell was of the Baptist faith.

She was the daughter of the late Louis and Martha Jane Welch Walker. Mrs. Cantrell was married July 24, 1947 to Lewis Cantrell who preceded her in death on October 3, 2008. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by sisters, Annie Rose Dickerson and Inez Boren and brothers, L.D. (Ardis), Carl (Frankie Dunn), Leroy and Clifford Walker.

Survivors include son, Danny Lewis (Kathy) Cantrell of Rock Island; daughter, Jo Carolyn (Wayne) Ellis of Seymour; special daughter, Donna Sullivan of Rock Island; grandchildren, Melisa (Jon) Tyus, Angie McCormack, Natasha (Eric) Prater and Kyle (Elizabeth) Cantrell; great-grandchildren, Casey, Cameron and Shelby Sullivan, Niki, Mariah, Micah, Robert and Alana McCormack, Liam Prater, Ander, Rees and Harper Cantrell; great-great grandchildren, Jaxson Sullivan, Odessa and Eleanora Jenkins; sisters-in-law, Virgie Walker and Reba Walker both of McMinnville and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, April 7, 2025 in High’s Chapel with Melonie Walker Turner to officiate. Interment will follow at Mt. View Cemetery in McMinnville. Visitation will be Sunday from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Monday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service at High’s.

Online condolences may be made at www.highfuneralhome.com.

High Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.