Tenn. Code § 8-3426
Should a member die at any time before retirement, the amount of his accumulated contributions, plus interest as provided in § 8-3425, shall be paid to such beneficiary, if any, as he shall have nominated by written designation, signed and acknowledged by such member before some person authorized to take acknowledgments, and filed with the board; otherwise to his executor or administrator. Any beneficiary so designated may be changed by written designation, signed, acknowledged and filed as aforesaid. In the event of marriage, divorce or remarriage of a member the designated beneficiary is automatically canceled. Thereafter, the member may rename a beneficiary. Provided, that if the amount payable shall be two hundred fifty dollars ($250) or less, it may within the discretion of the board be paid to the next of kin in the absence of a beneficiary, executor or administrator. In addition, should the board find, in the case of a commissioned member of the department of safety that the member's death was the natural and proximate result of an accident or was occasioned as the direct result of physical violence against his person occurring while the member was in the actual performance of his duty, a pension equal to one-half (1/2) of his average compensation shall be paid to his widow to continue during her widowhood; or, if there be no widow or if she dies or remarries, then to his unmarried child or children under age eighteen (18) until the youngest of such children attains said age; or, if there be no such widow or children upon his death, to his father or to his mother, payable until remarriage or death. In addition, should the board find in the case of a commissioned member of the department of safety that the member has become permanently and totally disabled from an injury which was the natural and proximate result of an accident or which was occasioned as the direct result of physical violence against his person occurring while the member was in the actual performance of his duties, regardless of the time of the injury, he shall receive, in addition to any other pensions or disability allowances he may receive, a pension of one-half (1/2) of his average compensation for so long as he is permanently and totally disabled. Provided, however, that the disability allowance established by this section shall be reduced in an amount equal to the amount, if any, by which the total of state payments to the disabled person exceeds eighty-five per cent (85%) of the compensation which he received for his services to the state at the time the disability occurred.
T.C.A. § 8-3426