Cecil Shuford Paxton, 88, of Franklin, passed away December 26, 2010.

Born in Jackson County, he was the son of the late Bill and Myrtle Crisp Paxton. In addition he was preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn Welch Paxton who died in 2005; a son, Harold S. "Butch" Paxton who died in 2004; and one grandson, Cameron who died in 2000 and three sisters, Edna P. Moore, Irene Parker and Rachel Arwood. Shuford was a US Air Force veteran serving during WWII. His plane escorted the Enola Gay Bomber which dropped bombs on Hiroshima. He was a member of Ridgecrest Baptist Church. He retired from Nabisco after 43 years.

He is survived by two sisters, Louise Ashe and husband Don and Betty Reed and husband Dale both of Sylva; one grandson, Shane Paxton of Sevierville, TN; daughter-in-law, Judy Paxton of Franklin; sister-in-law, Christene Crisp and husband Wayne of Newborn, GA and sister-in-law Ann Long of Virginia and niece Terry Long and many other nieces and nephews.

Funeral Service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, December 30, in the Chapel of Macon Funeral Home. Rev. Tommy Fouts and Rev. Guy Duvall will officiate. Burial will be in the Ridgecrest Baptist Church Cemetery with military rites conducted by the VFW Post 7339 and the American Legion Post 108.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, December 29, at Macon Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Doug Crisp, Ray Crisp, Jimmy Ashe, Bill Moore, Billy Crisp and Josh Sullens.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Ridgecrest Baptist Church Building Fund.

Macon Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Online condolences can be made at maconfuneralhome.com