Asberry Chaffin

Born in Manchester, Tennessee on November 26, 1919

Departed on March 18, 2015 and resided in Nashville, Tennessee

CHAFFIN, Asberry Warden "John" - passed away peacefully Wednesday, March 18th , 2015. His final days were spent surrounded by family and friends that he had touched in some small way. John was born in Manchester, TN November 26, 1919. He moved to Nashville with his parents Perry Morgan Chaffin and Ruby Mae Warden Chaffin in 1921. They moved into Jesse James' parents home. He attended Vanderbilt University and Austin Peay State College (where he met and married Edna Lou (Puny) Neblett Chaffin).He joined the Army Air Corps as a navigation cadet in WWII. He flew 44 missions with the China, Burma, India group as well as delivering planes and supplies to London, Saudia Arabia and the Philippines. After WWII he started Chaffin Construction in Nashville. On March 29, 1967 he opened The Barn Dinner Theatre in Nashville with his wife. This was the first professional theatre to open in Nashville. They also opened a production company, Professional Artists Productions Incorporated which sent shows all over the southeastern United States. Their son, John Perry Chaffin took over the theatre in 1976, which was renamed Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre. John and Puny had three children, John Perry Chaffin (Janie), Sherrill Einwag (Don) and Russell Scott Chaffin. John was always a football fanatic. He was all city and all state while he was at Litton High School. He played for two years at Vanderbilt (their last two winning seasons) and also an Air Force team. Later he was approached by the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles, but he decided to remain in Nashville. John is survived by his brothers, Goodloe and Robert, sisters, Mary Elizabeth Ramsey and Joan Daughtery as well as grandchildren and great-grandchildren. John shall be remembered for his boisterous laugh, sense of humor, dedication to his family and friends and his Savior. Pallbearers will be Carson Chaffin, John Perry Chaffin, Jr., Tom Driber, Robin Daughtery, Adam Burnett and Don Willis. Honorary pallbearers are Wendell Melvin, B.V. Lawson and Dr. John Dixon.
A life celebration service will be at 2 p.m. on Monday, March 23, 2015 at Harpeth Hills Funeral Home with Marc Jones officiating. Interment to follow at Harpeth Hills Memory Gardens. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. on Sunday, and 11a.m.-2p.m. on Monday at HARPETH HILLS FUNERAL HOME, 9090 Hwy. 100, Nashville, (615) 646-9292. www.afamilylegacy.com