MCKENZIE, Tenn. – The Bethel University Athletic Department and the University is mourning the loss of a beloved member of an Athletics Hall of Fame member with the passing of Bobby “Shorty” Akers of Cottage Grove.
Akers, age 84 of Cottage Grove, TN, passed away on Monday, February 3, 2025, at Western Baptist Hospital in Paducah, KY, after a short bout with pneumonia.
Shorty was inducted into the Bethel University Hall of Fame in 2013.
Bethel Athletic Director, Dave McCulley said, “Shorty and Linda are some of the finest people I have ever met. Their devotion to our athletic department, especially our coaches and student-athletes, has always been so appreciated. They have been beloved by all of us.” McCulley added, “Our hearts go out to Linda, Craig, and the entire family. May God grant them his Grace and Peace. Shorty will be missed by all who ever knew and loved him.”
Shorty was born April 14, 1940, in Cottage Grove, TN and was the son of the late Lillie Etta Davis Akers and the late Ray Akers. In addition to his parents, Shorty was preceded in death by a brother, Tommy Akers.
Shorty is survived by his wife of 65 years, Linda Lewellyng Akers; one son, Craig Neil Akers of Cottage Grove; and two brothers, Bennie (Betty) Akers of Paris, and J. W. “Jub” (Carolyn) Akers of Cottage Grove.
After playing basketball at Bethel College for two years, he joined the Navy during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He served as a flight director on the USS Wasp.
Shorty was a member of the Dresden United Methodist Church. He loved fishing and he loved cooking them and had a cabin on Kentucky Lake for many years. He also loved watching Bethel University basketball games. Linda says she would be rich if she had all the money he spent giving Werther’s candy away.
Shorty began his career in the aluminum industry at a summer job with Reynolds in Chicago, then he worked for Conalco in New Johnsonville and Noranda in New Madrid, MO.
Ridgeway Funeral Home, 201 Dunlap Street, Paris, TN, will be handling the arrangements. Visitation will be at Ridgeway Funeral Home from 4 – 7 pm on Thursday, February 6, 2025, and Friday from 10 – 11 am. The funeral service will be at 11:00 am on Friday, February 7, 2025, at Ridgeway Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Olive Branch Cemetery.
The Pallbearers will be Rick Everett, Scott Killebrew, Mike Cagle, John Akers, Caleb Akers, and Jeff Britt. Honorary pallbearers will be Jerry Wagner and the Bethel University Men’s basketball players. The service will be conducted by Rev. Dennis Vance and Marlin Wagler.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Bobby Joe “Shorty” Akers, please visit our flower store.