GERALDINE HICKERSON: Geraldine Hickerson, age 77 of Manchester, Tennessee, passed away on Saturday, October 10, 2009 at the Medical Center of Manchester. She had worked at Lock's 5 & 10 Store in Manchester in her earlier years and later retired from Tennessee Apparel, Inc. in Tullahoma where she worked as an Apparel Quality Inspector. Geraldine always enjoyed helping other people and volunteered to help at weddings, wedding receptions and bridal teas. She also volunteered with election campaigns and was always willing to do what ever was needed to assist people. She was always there to help when you needed her most. Geraldine helped with the Central Funeral Home Open House in 2002 and later volunteered her time to help at Central. She was born on May 7, 1932 in Coffee County to her parents, the late Charlie Lillard and Bertha Ross Miller Hickerson. She was also preceded in death by her brother, the late Jerry E. Hickerson who passed away in 2005. Geraldine enjoyed needle work and hummingbirds, but especially loved her parakeets. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Joyce Tenpenny Hickerson of Manchester; nephew, David E. ( Laura ) Hickerson of Manchester; many cousins, friends and loved ones. The Family received friends at the Visitation on Monday, October 12, 2009 from 11:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M. A Graveside Service followed at 2:00 P.M. at the Rose Hill Memorial Gardens with Brother Horace Lee Jacobs officiating. Central Funeral Home in Charge of Arrangements.KATE BRATCHER: Kate Bratcher, age 49, passed away on Oct. 5, at her home in Tullahoma, ending a 17-year battle with cancer.She was a beloved wife, mother, daughter, teacher, grandmother friend and Christian. Kate was born in Houma, La., on Oct. 4, 1960; as a child she moved to Tennessee and attended elementary school in Murfreesboro.In 1969, her family moved to Tullahoma where Kate was a student at Bel-Aire Elementary School, which would later go on to be her place on employment.A basketball player at Tullahoma High School, Kate graduated in 1978 and went on to attend Motlow State College on a basketball scholarship, where she graduated with an associate degree in education in 1980. After her time at Motlow was up, Kate married Jim Bratcher at First Baptist Church in Tullahoma.Together, she and Jim attended the University of Tennessee at Martin, then MTSU, where Kate earned a teacher’s certificate.Kate and Jim then relocated to Chattanooga, and Kate began teaching at Soddy Daisy.Their first child, Jimmy, was born in 1983.Shortly after the birth of their second child, Diana, in 1985, Jim and Kate moved to Tullahoma where they have lived and worked since. In Tullahoma, Kate began teaching at West Middle through the JTPA program, before transferring to East Middle, then later on, Bel-Aire, where she settled into the job for which she was born.Kate received the honor of Teacher of the Year in 1997 and, in 2005, was voted by the city of Tullahoma as the Best Elementary Teacher in the Tullahoma’s Finest survey.In addition to teaching, Kate enjoyed coaching softball and basketball, was an avid runner, as she followed her children through their life stages. Kate is survived by her husband of 29 years, Jim; two children Jimmy (Deanna) Bratcher of Tullahoma and Diana (Todd) Murray of Manchester; two grandchildren, Mason and Katelyn Bratcher of Tullahoma; her parents Betty and Joe Johnson of Chattanooga; three brothers Ben Johnson of Chattanooga, Jeff (Debbie) Johnson of Southern Pines, NC, and Jody (Cindy) Johnson of Bowling Green, KY; five nephews Lee and Lane Johnson of Bowling Green, KY, Joseph Johnson of Southern Pines, NC;Wesley (Jill) Pless and Corey Pless of Murfreesboro, and one niece Lauren Johnson of Wilmington, NC. Although she was taken from us at such a young age, Kate undoubtedly left a permanent mark on the lives of all who knew her.She was a true inspiration to all whose lives she touched.After a long fight with cancer-one in which she never gave up, nor did she let it claim her spirit-Kate left this Earth much to the sorrow of her loving family and friends. Visitation will be Wednesday evening, from 3:30pm to 8:00pm at Kilgore Funeral Home on Wednesday Oct. 7, 2009.Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, October 8th at 1:00pm at First Baptist Church in Tullahoma.Memorial; donations can be made to the Susan G. Komen Breast Foundation via the website. Kilgore Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.MICHAEL L. DILLAHAY: Michael L. Dillahay, age 60 of Tullahoma, passed this life on Saturday October 4th 2009, at the age of 60 years and 20 days.Mr. Dillahay was a native of Celina, Tennessee.He is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and a recipient of three Purple Hearts.Services will be announced at a later date. Kilgore Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.DLARA JO FINCHUM BRAY: Funeral services for Mrs. Clara Jo Finchum Bray, age 70, of Tullahoma, TN will be conducted Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 12:00 noon at the Manchester Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. David Kidder officiating.Burial will follow in the Bethany Cemetery.Visitation with the Bray family will be from 5:00 p.m until 8:00 p.m. on Friday, October 9, 2009 at the funeral home.Mrs. Bray passed away Wednesday morning at her residence in Tullahoma. Mrs. Bray was born on December 25, 1938 in Coffee County, TN, the daughter of the late Oscar L. Finchum, Sr. and Clara Belle Stone.She was self employed and of the Pentecostal faith.In addition to her parents, Mrs. Bray was also preceded in death by her daughter, Tina Thomason, four brothers, Oscar L. Finchum, Jr., Alvis Jerry Finchum, James David Finchum and Ellis Davis Finchum and two sisters, Mary Edith Finchum and Alma Lou Nobles.She is survived by two daughters, Bobbie Jo (Johnny) Lowery of Manchester and Pamela (Michael) Blumenthal of Cowan; one sister, Doris Hale of Manchester; seven grandchildren, Michael Pennington, Helena ‘Sissy’ Sisk, Eli Kidder, Lacy Lowery, Patrick Thomason, Darrell Howard, and Devon Mulpas; and eight great grandchildren, Baylen Sisk, Brylee Sisk, Emma Kidder, Dakota Howard, Corbin Thomason, Courtney Thomason, Dillon Pennington, and Makayla Pennington. Online condolences may be made at www.manchesterfuneralhome.com Arrangements by Manchester Funeral Home.