William Joseph "BJ" Newman

William Joseph “BJ” Newman, age 79, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, passed away at his home in his favorite chair on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. Born July 3, 1947, in New Market, Tennessee, BJ carried with him a steady pride in his roots and a deep love for the mountains of East Tennessee, where he was, by his own description, a “Mountain Man.” The son of the late Taylor Roscoe Newman and Bertha May Elmore Newman, he lived a life marked by devotion, faithfulness, and an honest, hard-working spirit that earned the respect and affection of all who knew him.

BJ was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather whose loyalty and selfless care were felt most strongly at home. He is survived by his loving wife of over 59 years, Gail Gleason Newman; daughter, Crystal Edwards and her husband Brian; granddaughters, Mackenzie Borton and her husband Matt and Madison Mullicane and her husband Tristen; great grandchildren, Wells Mullicane and Wren Mullicane; and his sister, Alberta Hubbard. To his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, he was simply “Granddaddy,” a cherished presence whose generosity of time and heart made ordinary moments feel safe and steady.

A man who found peace under open skies, BJ loved being outdoors—fishing in the lake, boating, and hunting. As a retired truck driver and Harley Davidson motorcycle owner, he was well traveled, meeting the road with resilience and quiet determination. He also enjoyed settling in to watch A&E, especially *Deadliest Catch* and *Moonshiners*, and he never turned down good food—particularly anything that could be grilled, along with fried fish and fries, and his wife’s Lemon Icebox Pie. A loyal fan of the University of Tennessee Volunteers football team, he carried that same steadfast loyalty into every part of his life, standing by the people he loved with unwavering constancy.

A service to celebrate Mr. Newman will be at Three O’clock the afternoon of Monday, August 17, 2026, at Roselawn Funeral Home with visitation beginning at One O’clock till the service begins. Please visit Mr. Newman’s page of our website, www.roselawnfh.com to leave thoughts and memories that will be printed in their Life Remembered Book.