Funeral Mass for Mr. Joe C. Abernathy, age 81, of Fayetteville will be conducted at 11AM Saturday at St. Anthony Catholic Church with Father Jose officiating.  Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery.  Mr. Abernathy passed away Wednesday March 3rd in Lincoln Medical Center.

He was a native of Giles County, TN and the son of the late Clarence (Pat) and Elsie Childers Abernathy Jr, was a veteran of the United States Air Force, and a member of the St. Anthony Catholic Church.  Mr. Abernathy was a Tennessee State Trooper from 1950-1964 and  was retired Superintendent of public works from the city of Fayetteville. He served on the Fayetteville School Board and the Fayetteville Board of Mayor and Alderman.

Survivors include his wife of  56 years Betty Finley Abernathy of Fayetteville, daughter Elsie Ann Abernathy West and husband Larry of Fayetteville, granddaughter Courtney West Schmidt of Goodlettsville, TN, great-grandson Daniel Evan Schmidt and great-granddaughter Aubrey Faith Schmidt, brother Clarence Wayne Abernathy and wife Susie of Brentwood, nephews Bobby Phillips and Patrick Phillips both of Pulaski, nieces Holly Giddings of Louisville and Pamela Beth Abernathy of Birmingham.

Mr. Abernathy was preceded in death by son Robert Finley Abernathy and sister Mary Beth Phillips.

Visitation with the family will be Friday evening from 5-8PM with Rosary at 6:30pm at Higgins Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to St. Anthony’s Church Building Fund or the Fayetteville Lincoln County Humane Society.