Elaina Jamison McMinnis, 34, Probation/Parole Officer 3 with the State of Tennessee Department of Correction, died Friday, July 19, 2024, at Southern Tennessee Regional Health Systems in Lawrenceburg from the results of an automobile accident.
Funeral services were conducted Wednesday, July 24, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at West 7th Street Church of Christ. Burial followed at Polk Memorial Gardens. Family visited with friends Tuesday, July 23, 2024, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home and Wednesday from noon until time of the services at West 7th Street Church of Christ.
Memorials may be made to the Maury County Animal Shelter, 1233 Mapleash Avenue, Columbia, TN 38401. Online condolences may be extended at www.oakesandnichols.com.
Elaina was born on August 21, 1989, in Columbia, Tenn. to William Dale McMinnis and Jennifer Hanvy Carter. She graduated from Marshall County High School in 2007 and furthered her education in Criminal Justice with an associate degree, bachelor’s degree and her master’s degree from Phoenix University. Before working with the State of Tennessee, she worked for the Maury County Board of Education as an educational assistant at Mt. Pleasant Middle School. She also had a great love of animals and at one time volunteered with the Nashville Humane Society. After Elaina’s untimely death, she gave the gift of organ and tissue donation to continuing helping others.
Survivors include her son, Malachi Gabriel McMinnis of Lawrenceburg; foster daughter, Emmerson Sinclair of Lawrenceburg; mother and step father, Jennifer and Chris Carter of Lewisburg; father, Dale McMinnis of Mt. Pleasant; paternal grandmother, Eleanor “Nanny” Payne McMinnis of Mt. Pleasant; maternal grandparents, James George (Jan) Hanvy of Spring Hill; sister, Savannah Bourland; brothers, Ramsey Bourland, Noah McMinnis; step sisters, Kaitlyn and Hannah Carter; step brother, Noah Carter; aunt, Michelle McMinnis; cousin, John McMinnis; and her beloved dogs, Mater and Finn.
She was preceded in death by her maternal grandmother, Shirley Elaine Fox; her beloved Papa, James F. McMinnis; and uncle, Greg McMinnis.
Pallbearers were Ramsey Bourland, Justin Warren, Zach Bradshaw, Matt Thomas, Rob Call, Nash Pogue and Crystal Gray. Honorary pallbearers were Tennessee Department of Correction, Maury County Sherriff Department, Columbia Police Department, Spring Hill Police Department, Columbia Fire Department, and Spring Hill Fire Department.
