JW Akers

JW Akers

JW (Jub) Akers, 81, passed away at his residence on August 7th in Cottage Grove. He was born to the late Thomas Ray and Lillie Etta Davis Akers at Noble Hospital in Paris on August 25, 1944.

He graduated from Cottage Grove High School in 1963. He was chosen Mr. Cottage Grove and Most Athletic. He was chosen to the Lake Conference basketball team in 1962 and excelled in all sports.

He began his career in New Johnsonville, TN at Consolidated Aluminum. He later transferred to E.I. DuPont, where he retired in 2002 after 30 years.

JW was saved at Olive Branch Methodist Church. He joined Cottage Grove Baptist in 1964, where he served as a deacon for over 20 years. He was Sunday School superintendent and always on the maintenance committee until his health declined. He, along with others, was instrumental in designing and building the Cottage Grove Baptist Fellowship Hall, which he wanted the community to use. He was a faithful servant to his Lord and Savior and served with a humble spirit and kind heart. He believed if anything was worth doing, it should be done well.

On October 9, 1964, he married the love of his life, Carolyn Hunt Akers. They were married over 61 years. They had two boys, John Wayne and the late Jeffery Thomas. He coached both boys’ baseball teams and enjoyed watching them play all sports.

He loved farming. He managed the Hunt Farm for over 35 years. He enjoyed fishing, quail hunting, and always had a bird dog until his health declined.

He believed in the Helping Hand auction where he was a volunteer. He had a heart for helping others through several mission trips to Mexico and in the U.S. He was an electrician by trade and spent many hours using his talent. He considered himself a rough carpenter by observing his dad, who was a carpenter.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife Carolyn, his son John Wayne (Julie) Akers of Cottage Grove, TN; grandchildren Caleb (Summer) Akers and Lillie (Matthew) Counce; great grandchildren, Nolan and Ben Counce and Jeff Wade Akers; brother Bennie (Betty) Akers; sisters-in-law, Marilyn Oliver and Linda Akers; brother-in-law, Tommy Frank (Carol) Hunt; numerous nieces and nephews; and great nieces and nephews. Besides his parents and son, JW was preceded by two brothers, Tommy and Bobby Joe Akers; his in-laws, George Thomas and Mary Ruth Hunt; brother-in-law, Glenn Oliver, and sister-in-law JoAnn Akers.

McEvoy Funeral Home is handling arrangements with visitation on Monday, August 10, 2026 from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm, with funeral service to follow in the chapel at 2:00 pm and burial at Walker Cemetery. Caleb Akers, Lillie Counce, Micheal Barnhart, and Mike Waddey will officiate.

Serving as pallbearers will be Caleb Akers, Matthew Counce, Richie Chilcutt, Rodney Chilcutt, Andy Patterson, Edwin Ables, Cris Bush, and Tommy Hunt.

Honorary pallbearers will be Danny Mitchell, Kermit Cole, Mitch Snyder, Mike Utley, Fred Patterson, Mark Chandler, Jerry Wagner, Sam Mann, Billy J. Hollowell, and Scott Berryman.

Memorials may be made to:

Helping Hand, PO Box 22, Paris, TN 38242