John Avery Breland

October 29, 1936 - September 4, 2020

John Avery Breland of Hendon, TN, passed away Sept. 4, 2020, at his home. He was born Oct. 29, 1936, near Hattiesburg, MS, and came to Tennessee in the care of the Church of God Orphanage in Sevierville, TN in 1949. He served in the US Army, was a Bledsoe County Commissioner, and retired from DuPont after 32 years. He loved NASCAR (his favorite drivers were Jeff Gordon & Jimmy Johnson), playing poker with friends, and arguing - especially with the television. After learning carpentry from his father, he passed that knowledge on to his own children. Before his health declined, he enjoyed traveling the neighborhood on his four-wheeler with his beloved dog, Red, and making very strong wine. He is preceded in death by his wife of 55 years and 9 months, Henrietta Walker Breland; his parents, Howard Edgar & Pearl Theadosia Stephens Breland; brothers Haskel, Lavelle, Stephen and Richard Carroll “RC” Breland; and sisters Regina Morrow, Mary Lou Headley, Mava Sue Aplin and Pearl Marie Garraway. He is survived by his four children: John Henry (Ellen) Breland of Hendon, Thomas Howard Breland of Lewis Chapel, TN, Connie (Don) Shull of Hendon, and James Haskel “Jimbo” (Stacy) Breland of Dunlap, TN; eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; sister Linda Ward of Hattiesburg, MS; and many nieces and nephews. Arrangements: Visitation Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020, 3-6 p.m. Central time at Ewton Funeral Home, Dunlap, TN. Masks and social distancing are required at the funeral home. Burial and graveside service Monday, Sept. 7 at 10 a.m. Central at Brayton Cemetery. Arrangements by Ewton Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Dunlap TN