John Wilson Bedwell Jr., 78, of Elora, Tennessee, departed this life suddenly at his residence on Wednesday, July 26, 2023.

Mr. Bedwell was born in Fayetteville, Tennessee, to the late John Wilson Bedwell Sr., and Wilma Spurlock Bedwell. He was raised by his late grandparents, Maggie May and Judge Bedwell. Wilson was a 1962 graduate of Central High School in Fayetteville. After graduation, he enlisted for four years in the United States Navy and served on the aircraft carrier USS Shangri-La (CV/CVA/CVS-38) where he was the ship’s photographer. Later, he attended Motlow State Community College in Tullahoma, Tennessee. and received an associate degree in business administration. He was employed for approximately 10 years with Thurston Motor Lines in Fayetteville. Mr. Bedwell owned and operated Wilson Bedwell Photography as a freelance photographer for more than 50 years and was still doing photography until 2022.

He was a member of the Victory Celebration Revival Church in Shelbyville, Tennessee. He and his family currently attended the Covenant Christian Church in Belvidere. More than anything else, Mr. Bedwell was a Christian and is with his Lord and Savior.

He was a man who loved his country and was proud of his years of military service in the Navy. He was a dear friend to all his neighbors, military shipmates, and church families.

Mr. Bedwell wrote that he would like to be remembered as “a Christian who loved the Lord and so grateful to Jesus for his salvation. A father who loved his children and grandchildren second only to God! A Father that was PROUD of who they were and thankful for who they became and the way they lived their lives! They were and are a blessing from God and my greatest accomplishment. A Man who loved his Family and Friends. A Patriot, a veteran of the US Navy who loved his country and its Flag, American by birth and Southern by the Grace of God, and proud of his southern heritage. A Man who admired and respected those who wear the Badge, uphold the Law of the Land, and believes in Justice. A Man who believed in hard work and self-sufficiency! In his youth, a good athlete who wished he had done more with his God-given abilities.”

Mr. Bedwell will be remembered by his family as a loving, protective, devoted father and grandfather. His laugh, his personality, his wisdom and his love of the written word will forever be missed by all who knew him.

In addition to his parents and grandparents, Mr. Bedwell was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Brenda Walker Bedwell, and brother, Doyle Bedwell. He is survived by his daughters Christy “Cricket” (Tim) Vernon, Chanda (Tony) Stone, Candice “Candy” (Jerome) Haddon, all of Huntland. Grandchildren; Chase Vernon of Shelbyville, Tennessee, Blain (Megan) Maxwell of Flintville, Tennessee, Haley (Jordan) Gyurnek of Huntland, Tennessee, one great-grandson “on the way;” six step-grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and one bonus granddaughter in love, Kaydence Nelson; sisters, Diane Bedwell, Colleen Bedwell and Fredna Lynn Cook all of Shelbyville, Tennessee. Though he had many close friends, his family would like to acknowledge and pay tribute to his treasured life-long friends, Don Robinson, Randall Brazelton, Ted Tilson, Bobby Corbin, Tony Smith, Dan Mills, Harry Nuttall and Marvin Bailey, that he called “family.”

Services for Mr. Bedwell were conducted Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023, in the chapel of Grant Funeral Services with the Rev. Carl Hall officiating. Military honors were bestowed in the chapel at the beginning of the service.

Interment will be held at Franklin Memorial.