A well-known local businessman, Mr. Childress was the son of the late James Wesley & Beedie Putman Childress. He was a member of the Church of God, and former owner of the Belfast Rock Company.
On May 28, 1938, he married the former Edith Dunn. To that union they had seven children: George E Childress Lewisburg, James Marion Childress Lewisburg, John Wesley Childress Lewisburg, Deborah Sue Maynard Biloxi, MS, Paul Marshall Childress deceased, David Arthur Childress deceased, and Emma Jean Childress deceased. He has three siblings surviving: Leonard and Jimmy Lee Childress of Fayetteville, TN; and Elizabeth Barnes Price of Kirkland, TN, and sixteen grandchildren.
The oldest grandchildren will serve as pallbearers for Mr. Childress: Andrea, Chad, Stewart, Joel, Claire, and Denise Childress, Stephanie and Wesley Maynard.