Pastor James "Buster" Groves

Pastor James "Buster" Groves, age 79, passed away on Monday, April 8, 2024, at his home in Milan.

He was born on August 8, 1944, to the late Thomas Woodrow Groves and Mary Winters Groves Myracle.

He proudly served in the Tennessee Army National Guard. In Buster's earlier years, he was an avid hunter and fisherman. He served as the Pastor at the Tabernacle of the Living God for forty-three faithful years. During his time there, as long as he was able, he did all of the maintenance work at the church simply because he was a "handy man" and because he wanted to.

In addition to his parents, Buster was preceded in death by three brothers, George Groves, Bobby Groves and Gary Groves.

He is survived by his wife of fifty-eight years, Betty Groves of Milan; son, Jeff Groves of Milan; brother, Murray Groves of Bradford; sister, Gay Groves of McKenzie; two grandchildren, Jake Groves of Milan and Hannah Williamson of Milan; and two great grandchildren, Arianah Williamson and Rylee Huffman.

Other survivors include two nieces that Buster saw as his own, Tracy Wilson of Trezevant and Rhonda Lovell of Elmwood; a loving church congregation; and many friends.

A funeral service will be held at 3:00 P.M. on Sunday, April 14, 2024, at the Tabernacle of the Living God in Milan with Pastor Jeff Smith, Pastor Chris Dickinson and Pastor Calvin Smith officiating. Burial will follow in Gibson County Memory Gardens.

The family will receive friends from 12:00 P.M. until the service hour.

Serving as pallbearers: Braydin Jones, Dennis Swafford, Dennis Banks, Mike Travelstead, Harold Whitman, Tim Lowe and Joseph Owens.