According to the Knoxville Police, the fatal accident took place on Sunday morning around 3 a.m. The trio was traveling on the Weisgarber exit ramp along Interstate 40 when their Dodge pickup truck veered off the road and collided with a guardrail. After exiting their vehicle, a Chevy pickup struck both their Dodge and them, leading to the heartbreaking loss of all three individuals at the scene. The driver of the Chevy sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to the hospital for treatment.
For Jessiah Plemons and Lily Rose, their love story was just beginning, and they were living their best lives. Lily, described as having a bubbly and carefree personality, brought joy to everyone she encountered. Her cousin, August McClelland, fondly remembers her as someone who loved having fun, often creating TikTok videos with friends and family.Lily was just the life of our family. She would just brighten up the room. Her laughter would fill the room,” shared Selena McClelland, Lily’s aunt.
Jessiah was passionate about music, and his love for it was evident in his actions. He introduced Lily to her first concert and gifted her with her very first guitar. While he learned to play the drums, Lily learned to strum the guitar, creating a harmonious bond between them.Despite battling addiction, Jessiah had turned his life around and was dedicated to helping others overcome similar challenges. He often sponsored individuals struggling with addiction, shared his experiences at local jails, and made a difference in countless lives. His mother, Michelle Plemon, remembered him as a caring soul who always made sure everyone else was okay.
Additionally, Jessiah extended his love and support to his older sister’s two young children, providing them with a loving home to prevent them from entering the Department of Children’s Services’ care.
Lily Rose was a devoted mother to her own children, a son and a daughter, and cherished every moment of motherhood. Together, Jessiah and Lily were planning to blend their families into one of six.They eloped in secret, and their families had no idea about the wedding. Jessiah had asked his sister Milea Effler to watch the children on Friday, but the reason remained a mystery. Tragically, Effler discovered their secret wedding through social media and, shortly thereafter, received the devastating news of the accident.
This accident has left a community grappling with profound loss, grieving the lives of these young individuals who were filled with hope and dreams for the future.They eloped in secret, and their families had no idea about the wedding. Jessiah had asked his sister Milea Effler to watch the children on Friday, but the reason remained a mystery. Tragically, Effler discovered their secret wedding through social media and, shortly thereafter, received the devastating news of the accident.
This accident has left a community grappling with profound loss, grieving the lives of these young individuals who were filled with hope and dreams for the future.
100 Year olds give secret to long marriage
Joe and Ann met in 1964Joe was a young soldier on leave, and Ann was a nurse at the local hospital, working tirelessly to tend to the men who came home battered and bruised. One afternoon, they happened to sit next to each other on a rickety bench in a small park by the hospital. Joe, looking down at his boots, noticed a young woman with kind eyes and a quiet smile reading a book beside him. They struck up a conversation about the book, and Joe felt like he’d been swept away to another world, far from the war and all its chaos.
The very next day, Joe had to leave for deployment again, but before he did, they arranged to meet on that same bench, no matter where life took them. Miraculously, they both survived the war, and when Joe returned, he found Ann waiting for him on that bench, a familiar sparkle in her eyes. They shared a lifetime together, raising a family, building a home, and creating a love that would endure the tests of time.
When they retired at age 55, they made it their tradition to return to that very park every single day, to sit together on their bench. Rain or shine, they’d be there, side by side, sharing stories, laughing, or just holding hands in comfortable silence. As the years went on, people in the town started calling it “Joe and Ann’s Bench.” Young couples would stop and smile at the sight of them, seeing the kind of love they hoped to grow into one day.
Their lives were filled with seasons of change—new grandkids, old friends passing, aches and pains that came with age—but that bench stayed the same. To them, it was more than a spot in the park; it was a witness to their love story, to all the memories they’d shared there.
Now, at 100 years old, they still meet at that bench every day. Joe helps Ann with her coat, and Ann straightens Joe’s hat before they sit. They often laugh about how old they’ve gotten, and every once in a while, Ann will lean her head on Joe’s shoulder like she did in the early days. Sometimes they’re silent for long stretches, but in that silence, they feel the weight of the love they’ve built together, rich with a thousand unspoken words.
When people ask them the secret to staying in love for so long, Joe always winks and says, “Just find someone you want to sit with, forever.” Ann always smiles at him when he says this, knowing he still means it with his whole heart.
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