J. L. Nipper, husband of Walking Horse artist Billie Nipper, passed away at Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, Tenn., December 18, 2001. Nipper, a well known and much loved member of the Walking Horse community, had been hospitalized for hip surgery prior to his death.

The funeral will be held Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at the Ralph Buckner Funeral Home in Cleveland, Tenn. Visitation will be Friday evening from 5:00 until 8:00. The funeral home is located in Cleveland off exit #25 of Interstate 24. From the exit, go to 20th Street and turn right.