John Cress

John Herbert Cress, 81, of Morristown, went home to be with Jesus,        Wednesday, April 3, 2019 at Morristown Hamblen Healthcare System.   He was a former native of Johnson County, TN.; spent 26 years in Richmond, Va.; He was born on December 7, 1937 to the late L.N. "Bud" Cress and Thelma Church Cress.    He was a retired cabinet maker and architectural wood work.  He was a member of Central Baptist Church in Morristown; he was ordained as a deacon at Falling Creek Baptist Church in Richmond, Va.; a member of Morristown Lodge 231 F& AM.  He was a past master of Chesterfield Lodge 161 in Richmond, VA. He was a member of the Hamblen Chapter 31 Order of the Eastern Star.  Past patron of Chesterfield Chapter 139 in Richmond, VA.  He was also a 32nd degree Mason. John was a veteran of the US Army with the 1st Armored Division.   He is preceded in death by his parents L.N. and Thelma Church Cress; wife Jewel P. Cress; three brothers, Clarence, Robert and Sgt. Major Jack C. Cress all of Mountain City, TN; and a sister-in-law Lois Horne Cress also of Mountain City, TN.

He is survived by a step-daughter Janice Rach of Short Pump, VA; a sister Margaret Cress, Mountain City, TN; brothers, Joe Cress, Sam (Anne) Cress, of Mountain City, TN, James (Dorothy) Cress of Chesterfield, VA; sister-in-law, Charlotte Cress;  one nephew Steven Cress of Charlotte, NC; nieces, Katherine Lowman, Midlothian, VA, Pamella Johnson, Elizabethton, TN, Perriann Stanley, Mountain City, TN and Karen Sullivan of Mechanicsville, VA.

A celebration of his going Home will be Sunday, April 7, 2019 at 2:30pm at Central Baptist Church with Reverends Bobby Helton and William Bradley officiating.   The body will lie in state 1 hour prior to the service.  Music will be provided by the church trio.  Interment in the Central Baptist Church Cemetery with Lodge 231 conducting Masonic Rites following the funeral service.  

Allen Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.