"Jeff" Church of Paris, TN. passed away on December 31, 2025, at Tri-Star Centennial Medical Center in Nashville, TN.

Jeff was born on July 8, 1952, in Gary, IN to Samuel Gabriel Church and Barbara Harriet Johnson Church. He graduated from Merrillville High School in 1970. He continued his education at Florida Institute of Technology and graduated in 1975 with a bachelor's degree in Oceanography.

He married Glenda Radford on September 6, 1975, and moved to California. After a short while of living near the beach, he and his wife moved to Camden, TN and began a life there and later welcomed their daughter, Marissa Dawn Church in 1980. He also began his life-long career at Inland Container Paper Mill in New Johnsonville, TN in 1980 (now Hood Container) where he was very hard-working as a lab chemist. He was very dedicated and loyal to his family and his wife of 50 years, as well, as his career of 45 years.

He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Samuel Gabriel Church and Barbara Harriet Johnson Church, and a nephew Matthew Sparks.

He is survived by his wife, Glenda Radford Church, his only child, Marissa Dawn Church Elliott, and his grandsons, Mason William Elliott and Adam Bennett Elliott and his only sibling, his sister, Beverly Ann Church Kristoff (Ron, of Georgetown, KY). He also leaves behind his brothers-in-laws and sister-in-laws, Debra Radford Smothers (Cecil, of Paris, TN), Sheila Radford Muraida (Mike of Crown Point, IN), Michael Radford (Kathy, of Camden) and nephews Ryan and Justin Kristoff, Erik Muraida, Lindsay Muraida Gibson, Timothy Radford, Holly Radford Koney and several great nieces and nephews.

He enjoyed watching sports, traveling, and collecting antiques, and sports memorabilia and autographs.

His Celebration of Life Memorial will be held at Oakdale Funeral Home, 401 Hwy 641, Camden, TN on Saturday, February 7, 2026. There will be a visitation from 2:00 – 4:00, and a ceremony beginning at 4:00 p.m.

Imes Funeral Home is entrusted with caring for his family.