The Akins Funeral Home of Copperhill announces funeral services for Rev. John Willis Newman, age 83, of Cleveland, TN who passed away Monday, September 21, 2009. Rev. Newman was born in Mascott, TN to the late Dewey and Minnie Fortner Newman. He retired from the Tennessee Copper Company after working twenty one years and was a Veteran of W.W.II having served in the U.S. Army. He had served as Minister to several churches in the Copper Basin area in the past forty six years. He was a member of the Ducktown Lodge # 241 F&AM. He was a member of the Zion Hill Baptist Church and was preceded in death by brother, Dewey Newman. He is survived by his loving wife of sixty three years, Mildred Fortner Newman of the home; one daughter and son-in-law, Carol and Doug Hughes of Ducktown, TN; brothers, Carl Newman, Jim Newman and Vineyard Newman, all of Dalton, GA, Herbert Newman of Cartersville, GA; sisters, Carzell Hughes, Hazel Weeks and Lela Palmer, all of Dalton, GA, Lilly Smith of Morristown, TN; two grandchildren, Darrin and wife Donna Hughes of Ducktown, TN, Dwayne and wife Teresa Hughes of Cleveland, TN; two great-grandchildren, Koby Hughes and Kendall Hughes; caregiver and special friend, Kimberley Melton of Cleveland, TN. Funeral services will be conducted Thursday, September 24th at 2:00 PM from the Akins of Copperhill Chapel with Rev. W.L.Shipman and Rev. Harold Willis officiating. Music will be by Edward Vest. Pallbearers include Paul Ray Powell, Harold Dale, Bill Maughan, Anthony Hughes, Gary Hughes and Lynn Hammontree. Honorary pallbearers include Reid Nicholson, Loy Williamson, Mike Whitlow, Gerald Hughes, Owen Hensley, W.D.Jenkins and August Lee. Interment will follow in the Zion Hill Cemetery with a white Dove release concluding the service. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Wednesday evening from 6:00 PM until 9:00 PM. Memorials in memory of Rev. Newman may be made to the Gideons International. Condolences to the family may be sent to www.akinsfuneralhome.com. Akins Funeral Home of Copperhill in charge of the arrangements. .