TENNESCENE: APR. 13

Jerry Winfield

LEADERS

After 49 years in ministry, Jerry Winfield has retired as pastor of Oak Valley Baptist Church in Franklin. Previously he was pastor of Forest Hills Baptist Church in Nashville and First Baptist Church in Bolivar as well as churches in Mississippi, Texas and Arkansas. He also served as vice president of development and communications for the Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes. Denominational service included two terms as trustee of Union University and two terms on the TBMB board of directors. Winfield is available for supply preaching and interim pastorates. He can be reached at drjwinfield@comcast.net.

CHURCHES

Wolf Creek Baptist Church, Spring City, will have revival services April 24-27 with evangelist Phil Glisson of Memphis.

Bill Morris

DEATHS

Billy James Morris, 89 of Clarksville, died March 21. Morris devoted his life to the service of God through Christian music ministry at various Baptist churches. Morris served at First Baptist Church, Clarksville for more than 22 years, Tokyo Baptist Church, Tokyo, Japan, and retired from Excell Baptist Church, Clarksville, after 20 years of service. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Margie Morris, the mother of his children. He is survived by his wife, Carol Morris, four children, two children by marriage, 17 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.

First Baptist Church, Blountville, recently recognized Adam Sells, left, for 10 years of ministry at First Baptist as minister of students. This spring, he will graduate from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary with a master of arts degree. During COVID-19, he added a Monday Night College ministry which has drawn a good group of students to the study and fellowship time. Pastor Clay Austin, center, led the recognition as others from the church observe.
Nashville Baptist Association recently celebrated 120 years serving Middle Tennessee. As part of that celebration, a committee compiled a book of the recent history of the association. The book, A Forest of Oaks By the River and Beyond, serves as a follow-up to 1971’s Acorns to Oaks, to tell the story of Southern Baptists in the Nashville area from 1970 to 2020. Topics include challenges the NBA faced in that time and how it progressed, the growth of both ethnic and African-American churches, the NBA’s WMU, and how the association and its individual churches have grown. Members of the history committee that put the book together were Charles Parker, Sam Creed, Cynthia Scott and Ray Clubb. NBA staff members Alyssa Riekeman, Dwayne Lewis and Rusty Sumrall also contributed chapters. On March 15, NBA Executive Director Rusty Sumrall, left, presented A Forest of Oaks By the River and Beyond to the Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives, represented by director Taffey Hall and former director Bill Sumners.
Webb Baptist Church, Newport, recently honored Victor Shults for serving the church for 38 years as janitor and head of maintenance. He and his wife, Judy, are pictured with pastor Daniel Bell.