West Junction (Shelby County, TN)

Notable Births & Deaths for West Junction ...

Below is our list of notable people who were born, died or were buried in the area surrounding West Junction. Please note that while we are collecting data on an ongoing basis, it's a big task and it's unlikely that our list will ever be more than a sample.

Emery 'Ace' Adams (1932:1947)
- He was born in Collierville (TN) on October 10, 1911 (a Tuesday) and died on January 22, 1955 (a Saturday).
- Collierville is located 24 miles [38.6 km] to the east of West Junction. Both communities are located in Shelby County.
- At the time of his death, he was 43.
- We don't have any burial details.
- Additional References
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Emery 'Ace' Adams<1>
J. Blackfoot (Musician, singer)
- Born: John Colbert, Jr.
- He was born in Greenville (MS) on November 20, 1946 (a Wednesday) and died in Germantown (TN) on November 30, 2011 (a Wednesday).
- Greenville is located in Washington County, Mississippi.
- Germantown is located 16 miles [25.7 km] to the east of West Junction. Both communities are located in Shelby County.
- At the time of his death, he was 65.
- He is buried at Memorial Park Cemetery, located 12 miles [19.3 km] to the east northeast of West Junction. The cemetery is located in Shelby County, Tennessee.
- Additional References
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for J. Blackfoot<1>
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Memorial Park Cemetery
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Memorial Park Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From West Junction to Memorial Park Cemetery
Bobby 'Blue' Bland (Singer, songwriter)
- He was born in Rosemark (TN) on January 27, 1930 (a Monday) and died in Memphis (TN) on June 23, 2013 (a Sunday).
- Rosemark is located 27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast of West Junction. Both communities are located in Shelby County.
- Memphis is located 6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast of West Junction. Both communities are located in Shelby County.
- At the time of his death, he was 83.
- He is buried at Memorial Park Cemetery, located 12 miles [19.3 km] to the east northeast of West Junction. The cemetery is located in Shelby County, Tennessee.
- Additional References
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Bobby 'Blue' Bland<1>
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Memorial Park Cemetery
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Memorial Park Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From West Junction to Memorial Park Cemetery
Dorris Bowdon (Actress)
- Full name: Dorris Estelle Bowdon
- She was born in Coldwater (MS) on December 27, 1914 (a Sunday) and died in Los Angeles (CA) on August 9, 2005 (a Tuesday).
- Coldwater is located in Tate County and is 26 miles [41.8 km] to the south of West Junction (which is located in Shelby County).
- Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles County, California.
- At the time of her death, she was 90.
- She is buried at Westwood Memorial Park, which is located in Los Angeles County, California.
- Additional References
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Dorris Bowdon<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Westwood Memorial Park (CA) (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From West Junction to Westwood Memorial Park
Stanley David Griggs (Astronaut)
- He was born in Portland (OR) on September 7, 1939 (a Thursday) and died in Earle (AR) on June 17, 1989 (a Saturday).
- Portland is located in Multnomah County, Oregon.
- Earle is located in Crittenden County and is 25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest of West Junction (which is located in Shelby County).
- At the time of his death, he was 49.
- He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, which is located in Arlington County, Virginia.
- Additional References
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Stanley David Griggs<1>
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Arlington National Cemetery
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Arlington National Cemetery (VA) (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From West Junction to Arlington National Cemetery
Dave 'Hawg' Hanner (Professional football)
- He was born in Parkin (AR) on May 22, 1930 (a Thursday) and died in Tarpon Springs (FL) on September 11, 2008 (a Thursday).
- Parkin is located in Cross County and is 29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest of West Junction (which is located in Shelby County).
- Tarpon Springs is located in Pinellas County, Florida.
- At the time of his death, he was 78.
- Additional References
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Dave 'Hawg' Hanner<1>
Walter 'Shakey' Horton (Musician)
- He was born in Horn Lake (MS) on April 6, 1921 (a Wednesday) and died in Chicago (IL) on December 8, 1981 (a Tuesday).
- Horn Lake is located in DeSoto County and is 8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast of West Junction (which is located in Shelby County).
- Chicago is located in Cook County, Illinois.
- At the time of his death, he was 60.
- He is buried at Restvale Cemetery, which is located in Cook County, Illinois.
- Additional References
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Walter 'Shakey' Horton<1>
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Restvale Cemetery
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Restvale Cemetery (IL) (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From West Junction to Restvale Cemetery
James Earl Jones (Actor)
- He was born in Arkabutla (MS) on January 17, 1931 (a Saturday) and died in Pawling (NY) on September 9, 2024 (a Monday).
- Arkabutla is located in Tate County and is 25 miles [40.2 km] to the south of West Junction (which is located in Shelby County).
- Pawling is located in Dutchess County, New York.
- At the time of his death, he was 93.
- The body was cremated.
- Additional References
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for James Earl Jones<1>
Charlie Lea (Major League Baseball)
- Born: Charles William Lee
- He was born in Orleans (France) on December 25, 1956 (a Tuesday) and died in Collierville (TN) on November 11, 2011 (a Friday).
- Collierville is located 24 miles [38.6 km] to the east of West Junction. Both communities are located in Shelby County.
- At the time of his death, he was 54.
- Additional References
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Charlie Lea<1>
Rufus 'Rafiq' Mayes (Professional football)
- He was born in Clarkedale (AR) on December 5, 1947 (a Friday) and died in Bellevue (WA) on January 9, 1990 (a Tuesday).
- Clarkedale is located in Crittenden County and is 18 miles [29 km] to the northwest of West Junction (which is located in Shelby County).
- Bellevue is located in King County, Washington.
- At the time of his death, he was 42.
- He is buried at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, which is located in King County, Washington.
- Additional References
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Rufus 'Rafiq' Mayes<1>
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Mt. Pleasant Cemetery (WA) (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From West Junction to Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
Sarah 'Big Time Sarah' Streeter (Singer)
- She was born in Coldwater (MS) on January 31, 1953 (a Saturday) and died in Chicago (IL) on June 13, 2015 (a Saturday).
- Coldwater is located in Tate County and is 26 miles [41.8 km] to the south of West Junction (which is located in Shelby County).
- Chicago is located in Cook County, Illinois.
- At the time of her death, she was 62.
- She is buried at Burr Oak Cemetery, which is located in Cook County, Illinois.
- Additional References
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Sarah 'Big Time Sarah' Streeter<1>
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Burr Oak Cemetery
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Burr Oak Cemetery (IL) (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From West Junction to Burr Oak Cemetery
John 'Big John' Tate (Professional boxer)
- He was born in Marion (AR) on January 29, 1955 (a Saturday) and died in Knoxville (TN) on April 9, 1998 (a Thursday).
- Marion is located in Crittenden County and is 11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest of West Junction (which is located in Shelby County).
- Knoxville is located in Knox County, Tennessee.
- At the time of his death, he was 43.
- He is buried at Edmondson Cemetery, located 11 miles [17.7 km] to the west of West Junction. The cemetery is located in Crittenden County, Arkansas.
- Additional References
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for John 'Big John' Tate<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Edmondson Cemetery (AR) (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From West Junction to Edmondson Cemetery
Johnnie Taylor (Singer, songwriter)
- Full name: Johnnie Harrison Taylor
- He was born in Crawfordsville (AR) on May 5, 1934 (a Saturday) and died in Duncanville (TX) on May 31, 2000 (a Wednesday).
- Crawfordsville is located in Crittenden County and is 16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest of West Junction (which is located in Shelby County).
- Duncanville is located in Dallas County, Texas.
- At the time of his death, he was 66.
- He is buried at Forest Hill & Calvary Cemetery, which is located in Jackson County, Missouri.
- Additional References
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Johnnie Taylor<1>
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Forest Hill & Calvary Cemetery
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Forest Hill & Calvary Cemetery (MO) (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From West Junction to Forest Hill & Calvary Cemetery
Rufus Thomas, Jr. (Musician)
- He was born in Cayce (MS) on March 26, 1917 (a Monday) and died in Memphis (TN) on December 15, 2001 (a Saturday).
- Cayce is located in Marshall County and is 28 miles [45.1 km] to the east of West Junction (which is located in Shelby County).
- Memphis is located 6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast of West Junction. Both communities are located in Shelby County.
- At the time of his death, he was 84.
- He is buried at New Park Cemetery, located nearby and to the south southeast of West Junction.
- Additional References
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Rufus Thomas, Jr.<1>
- The Find-A-Grave entry for New Park Cemetery
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to New Park Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From West Junction to New Park Cemetery

Footnotes ...

<1>	The Find-a-Grave website is an excellent research tool with information about a cemetery's location and interments. They also offer a forum for their members which can provide additional help. More information about Find-a-Grave can be found on their website: findagrave.com.