Ruth Tunnell

Ruth Sanford Tunnell, age 92, of Knoxville, Tenn., formerly of Southaven, Miss., died Jan. 9, 2012, at Shannondale Health Care in Knoxville, Tenn. after a long battle with Alzheimer's. Services will be 7 p.m. Friday, at Magnolia Chapel Funeral Home North with Rev. David Tunnell and Rev. Roy Sanford officiating and Magnolia Chapel Funeral Home North directing. Visitation will be Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Ruth was a devoted member of Desoto Woods Baptist Church in Southaven, Miss. She was preceded in death by husband, John Robert Tunnell; son, Gavin Udell Tunnell; parents, Wilburn and Stella Sanford; siblings, Annie Mae Montgomery, Ivy Lee Sanford, Floyd (Tip) Sanford, and Bessie Ballard; granddaughter, Kristie Cogdill Hembree; and infant grandson, Shannon Tunnell. Survivors include daughter and son-in- law, Gwendolyn and John Cogdill of Knoxville, Tenn., son and daughter-in-law, Gary and Nora Tunnell of Hernando, Miss.; son, Ricky Lee Tunnell of Hernando, Miss.; brother and sister-in-law, Troy and Betty Sanford of Atlanta, Ga.; nine grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren, brothers and sisters-in-law, Ralph and Gladys Tunnell, Edward and Dorothy Tunnell, and Earnest Tunnell; and a host of nieces and nephews all of Ala. Special thanks to Shannondale Health Care for four years of devoted care and Amedisys Hospice of Knoxville, Tenn. for her comfort in her final days.