The murder of Spring Hill Elementary School Principal Sharron Cantrell by her brother appears to have stemmed from an argument over property Cantrell’s son was trying to remove from the house in Columbia where the deadly shootout occurred, a family friend said Monday.

The murder of Spring Hill Elementary School Principal Sharron Cantrell by her brother appears to have stemmed from an argument over property Cantrell’s son was trying to remove from the house in Columbia where the deadly shootout occurred, a family friend said Monday.

A peaceful Monday morning walk down Columbia’s secluded Galloway Street revealed nothing to indicate the neighborhood could have been the scene of a Saturday afternoon shootout that claimed Cantrell and her brother, Tom Caulk.

But it was in front of the white house at 1123 Galloway Street that Cantrell, 67, was slain by Tom Caulk, 63, who in turn was shot to death by Cantrell’s husband, Terry Cantrell, in an exchange of gunfire. No charges have been filed against Terry Cantrell, 67, well-known owner of the Springwater Supper Club and Lounge near Centennial Park in Nashville.

The possible reasons about Caulk’s motives became a bit clearer Monday in discussions with neighbors and members of the Spring Hill Elementary Parent Teacher Association.

Shabahn Massey is a teacher at the Santa Fe Unit School in Maury County who grew up with Cantrell’s daughter, Steffenee. Massey is one of the volunteers who helped with the candlelight vigil which is set to happen at 7 p.m. Monday at Spring Hill Elementary.

“The house was owned by Sharron,” Massey said. “They were renting it to her son from a previous marriage, George.”

Massey said she knew Caulk, the uncle of George and Steffenee better than she knew Sharron Cantrell, and as a child often visited Caulk and his niece at the Mt. Pleasant Airport where Caulk was a co-owner.

“It has been years since I’ve seen Steffenee. She lives in California now. But I was sad to hear about her mom.”

A Spring Hill Elementary School parent whose husband witnessed the shootout, described what he told her.

“Sharron was helping her son, George [Copley], move out that day,” said the witness’ wife, who declined to identify herself.

“My husband was one who was helping the Cantrells to move their things out of the home that day. He was standing over behind Sharron’s van moving something into the truck one minute and then he heard the shots. He said he thought at first it was fireworks. He told me from what he could tell, the brother was trying to get some of his stuff back.”

It remained unclear Monday exactly when Caulk arrived at the house as the Cantrells were removing things, but neighbor Daniel Holt saw a moving truck there early Saturday morning.

“I had gotten up early Saturday to go help somebody move myself,” Holt said. “I drove past their house and I saw a big moving trailer there before I left.”

Columbia Police Department spokesman Capt. Jeremy Alsup and other investigators were off work Monday for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, and could not be reached for comment.

But Columbia Police Sgt. Vincent Morgan said there had been no new disclosures from lead investigator Lt. Joey Gideon.

“The department has not given us any more updates today, but Lt. Gideon will probably have an update on the situation Tuesday,” Morgan said. “It would be normal procedure for the bodies involved with a homicide to be taken to the State [medical] Examiners’ office in Nashville.”

Massey has arranged for a substitute teacher to take her classes at Santa Fe Tuesday so she could assist with grief and food distribution at Spring Hill Elementary.

“The general manager of the Spring Hill Sonic, Jonathan Davidson, has donated breakfast for the Spring Hill Elementary faculty and staff tomorrow. Lunch is being given by the Mt. Pleasant Elementary School.”

The ribbons that Massey and other friends and PTA members were preparing for Monday night’s vigil will be red and black, the designated colors for commemorating murder victims. The group has also been busy since Sunday making candles with guards to be lit during the vigil.

Former PTA president Ellen Mangold is still involved with the group and has a child in third grade at Spring Hill Elementary. She has been another organizer for the Cantrell vigil.

“Everybody loved her,” Mangold said.

“In her first year here as principal, my son was in kindergarten and is now in fifth grade. He still always went to go and hug her when we’re here. She was always a support to me in my work with the PTA and to all of the parents and a great mentor to us all. She will be very, very missed.”

Mrs. Cantrell was preceded in death by her parents, Tom (“Red”) Sr. and Beulah Goodin Caulk. Surviving are her husband, Terry Cantrell; two sons, Chris (Melisse) Copley and George Copley; two daughters, Steffenee Copley and Jordan Cantrell; and three grandchildren, Lily, Luke and Sam Copley.

Funeral services for Cantrell will be at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21 at the Spring Hill Memorial Funeral Home, at 5239 Main St. The Rev. David Sawyer will officiate. Visitation will be from 3-8 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home. A private burial will be held at Spring Hill Memorial Park. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers and honorary pallbearers will be staff and faculty of Spring Hill Elementary School.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the “Sharron Cantrell Memorial Fund for Spring Hill Elementary School.”

Staff writer Greg Jinkerson covers Spring Hill for Home Page Media Group. Contact him at greg@springhillhomepage.com or follow him on Twitter @springhillhmpg.