Paul Donald Tackett, age 86, died Thursday, November 28, 2024, at Vantage Pointe Assisted Living Facility. Paul grew up the son of a cotton sharecropper in the Moore's Chapel community and graduated from Milan High School. Early in life, his hobbies became fishing and hunting. He shared his love of these sports for years, serving as a guide for both sports and a commercial fisherman for a number of years.
His professional career was truly one of service to the public and his country. He served for 3 years in the United States Air Force as a special aide to a colonel. Upon his return from the Air Force, he served as the Chief Deputy Sheriff and a firefighter for Henry County, TN.
His career with the Tennessee Highway Patrol began in 1969 when he was hired as a trooper and served as the bomb demolition specialist for the THP Tactical Squad, receiving his training at Red Stone Arsenal. Paul was also a graduate of the FBI National Academy. He rose through the ranks of the THP to become a Seargeant, Lieutenant, Captain and Major. He also served as an instructor at the TN Law Enforcement Academy. His final assignment with the THP was Chief of Security at the TN Legislative Plaza after which he retired with 34 years of service. Paul was preceded in death by his parents, Clifford and Bertha Hall Tackett. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Peggy Reed Tackett; a sister, Joy Blazer of Paris, TN; and numerous nieces and nephews of the Tackett and Reed families.
Funeral service will be Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at 2pm in the Chapel of Cheatham County Funeral Home. Burial will follow in EverRest of Cheatham in Pleasant View, Tennessee. Visitation will be Monday, December 2, 2024, from 3pm to 7pm in the State Room of Cheatham County Funeral Home and Tuesday, December 3, 2024, from 11am until the service hour of 2pm. Serving as pallbearers will be Larry Reed, Jr., Carlos Reed, Rob Hamilton, Darrin Denney, Derek Denney, Allen Hamilton, Brian Dickerson, and Tristen Denney. Honorary pallbearers are Frank Miles, Tim Forsythe, and Wayne Justice. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bethlehem Free Will Baptist Church.
Cheatham County Funeral Home LLC 615-792-2552 online condolences may be made at cheathamcountyfh.com