Mrs. Rhoda Ann Locke Deal, age 86, of the Tumbling Creek Community, passed away on April, 3, 2018 at her home. She was born in Polk County, TN on September 11, 1931. Mrs. Deal was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, great great grandmother and an example Christian woman. She loved to spend time with her family, gardening and cooking for her family. Mrs. Deal was a long time member of the Mt. Zion (Tumbling Creek) Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Mary Waters Locke; children, Martha Ann Deal, Roger Lee Deal, Conrad Deal, Cecil Deal and William George Deal; brother, Richard Locke; sister, Ethel Howard; and daughters-in-law, Deborah Deal and Margaret Deal.

Survivors include her husband of 70 years, Rev. Lloyd Deal; children and their spouses, Mary Louise Talley and “Bug” Talley, Leroy Deal, Kathleen Payne and Rev. Jimmy Payne, Randy and Sharon Deal, Marilyn Payne and Rev. Gerald Payne, Carlton and Rita Deal, Richard and Stacey Deal and Alex and Angie Deal; sisters and brothers-in-law, Rachel and Raymond Allen, Essie Rymer and Margaret and Ronnie O’Neal; daughters-in-law, Dora Jean Cantrell and Glenda Deal; 18 grandchildren,25 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren.

Funeral Services will be conducted on Thursday, April 5, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. from the Mt. Zion (Tumbling Creek) Baptist Church with Rev. Melvin O’Neal, Rev. Clifton Patterson and Rev. Ed O’Neal officiating. Music will be provided by The Tumbling Creek Youth Choir. Interment will follow in the Church Cemetery with the following gentlemen serving as pallbearers: Jessie Deal, Cory Deal, Aaron Talley, Matthew Deal, Daniel Deal and Trevis Deal. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Wednesday evening after 5:00 p.m. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.akinsfuneralhome.com. Akins Funeral Home of Copperhill, TN is in charge of the arrangements.