Submitted by: Dan Rich

Joe E. Fennessee

July 5, 1929 - Jan. 6, 2001

South Bend Tribune 1/9/2001

Mr. Joe E. Fennessee, 71, departed this life on Saturday, Jan. 6, in his home. He was born on July 5, 1929, to Mr. Ocie and Mrs. Katie Shivers Fennessee in Trenton, Tenn. Joe was preceded in death by his father, Ocie Sr.; two brothers, Ocie Jr. and Charles; and by a sister, Cora. Joe was baptized at Mt. Orange Baptist Church in Trenton at an early age. He attended school in Gibson County and graduated from Rosenwald High School in Trenton. After high school he was inducted into the United States Army in January 1951, and received an honorable discharge in 1953. Mr. Fennessee made his home in South Bend, Ind. He retired after 30 years of employment as an electrician, and was a member of IBEW 153. In 1959 he met Marie Schultz. She became his friend, companion, and later, his wife. Joe loved being with his family and old friends. He also enjoyed fishing and working out in the local gym. He is survived by his loving wife, Marie Schultz Fennessee; one daughter and son-in-law, Debra and Howard McCullough; two grandsons, Howard Jr. of Lansing, Mich., and Sheldon of Kalamazoo, Mich.; mother, Katie Fennessee; one brother-in-law and one sister-in-law, Bill Schultz and wife of Florida; an uncle, Lamar Shivers of Trenton; three nephews, Rudy and Terry Fennessee of South Bend, and Timothy Fennessee of Texas; six nieces, Jennette (George) Tarter of Kalamazoo and Tina Fennessee of Jackson, Tenn., Charlene Smith of Indianapolis, Ind., Denise Parks of Grand Rapids, Mich., Samantha of Kalamazoo and Kelly Smith of Denver, Colo.; 27 grand-nephews and nieces; 25 great- great nephews and nieces; many cousins and friends; and two special friends, James Walker of South Bend and Willie L. Burnett of Clarksdale, Tenn.