LEADERS
Preston Garner, worship pastor at Everettt Hills Baptist Church, Maryville, resigned recently to join the staff of First Baptist Church, Concord, effective Jan. 9.
Southside Baptist Church, Winchester, recently ordained David Jolley as a deacon.
Williams Chapel Baptist Church, Springfield, called Chris Mays as pastor on Jan. 8. He began serving Jan. 23. He also serves as men’s director for Harvest Baptist Association.
DEATHS
Leslie Lelander “Buddy” Bruce, 85, died Nov. 4 in Nashville. He was ordained into the ministry at Lebanon Baptist Church, Jefferson City, while he was a student at Carson-Newman University. He spent 45 years as a pastor of five churches in North Carolina and in East and Middle Tennessee. He was pastor of First Baptist Church, White House, when he retired. He formerly served on the Executive Board of the Tennessee Baptist Convention (now Tennessee Baptist Mission Board) and the Committee on Arrangements. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis, two daughters, six grandchildren and one great grandson.
Robert Michael “Bobby” Nick, 66, pastor of worship and senior adults at Dotson Memorial Baptist Church, Maryville, died Dec. 26 at the age of 66. He is survived by his wife, Mary Nick, three sons and five grandchildren.
Laura Renee Curtis, wife of Jason Curtis, pastor of Liberty Baptist Church, Winchester, died Nov. 14 at the age of 39. She loved church and her children and cherished the time she and her husband spent as foster parents for the last 20 years.
Duncan Alexander Carver, Jr., retired pastor of Fort Hill Baptist Church, Knoxville, and several other churches in Tennessee. He is survived by his wife Betty Faye Outlaw Carver, two children and six grandchildren.
Gladstone “Terry” Clapp, retired pastor of Holiday Heights Baptist Church, Hendersonville, and a minister for 55 years, died Dec. 29. He was 90. He is survived by his son, Roger Clapp, Sr., five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
Taylor D. Hooker Jr., retired pastor of several northwest Georgia churches and churches in Tennessee, including Caryville First Baptist Church and Norris First Baptist Church, died Dec. 5. He was 87. He also served the North American Mission Board as director of church and community ministries in Clinton Baptist Association. He is survived by his wife, Pat, two daughters, four grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Joe Sorah, right, Harvest Field 5 team leader for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, presented an award to pastor John Lowe Sr., of Tuckaleechee Chapel Baptist Church, Maryville, for second in the state in average attendance giving through the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions last year.
