Former Sevier County Sheriff Carman Townsend, who served as Sheriff from 1972 to 1990 passed away at Baptist Hospital in Knoxville on Wednesday, August 25, at the age of 77.
Born in Sevier County on October 6, 1926 Townsend served faithfully as sheriff of Sevier County for 18 years.
County Mayor Larry Waters stated, “I served with Townsend for 12 years. He worked hard and served the people of Sevier County well. He will certainly be missed.”
Sheriff Bruce Montgomery reflected on memories of his friend, “A large number of offices got their start under him. He was a personal friend of my family and I and he was a very caring person. He took good care of people in Sevier County.”
Montgomery told the Herald that Townsend was a hard worker for the community. “He was a workaholic. He appeared to work 24/7. I doubt he ever took any kind of lengthy vacation.”
Townsend was preceded in death by parents Joe and Dona Townsend; companion Betty Townsend; grandson, Travis Houser, and brothers Clyde and Conley Townsend.Survivors include daughter Denise Townsend, daughter-in-law Marlene and Stephen Houser, grandchildren Stephen Houser II, Tasha Franklin and her father, Steve Franklin, sister Bertha Qualls and brother Kenneth Townsend. Funeral services were held Sunday in the West Chapel of Atchley Funeral Home with Rev. Donnie Jester and Rev. Curtis Manning officiating. Interment followed in Caton’s Chapel Cemetery with Rev. Ken Dyer officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Harvest Food Pantry, 2505 Washington Pike, Knoxville, TN, 37917 or Gatlinburg Community Church of God Food Pantry, 3420 Byrd’s Creek Road, Sevierville, TN, 37876.

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