DEATHS
Frank Green of Sparta, who served on the staffs of the Executive Board of the Tennessee Baptist Convention (now Tennessee Baptist Mission Board) and the former Southern Baptist Brotherhood Commission, died Nov. 12 at the age of 69. He served as manager for 14 years at Camp Carson (now Carson Springs Baptist Conference Center) in Newport. Green also was very involved in the work of Royal Ambassadors across the state. He is survived by his wife, May Dean Green, and three children.
Dewey Jones of Brownsville died Nov. 9 at the age of 90. He served as a deacon at Holly Grove Baptist Church, Bells, for more than 50 years and was very active in Haywood Baptist Association, headquartered in Brownsville. He taught a Sunday School lesson on a local radio station for 48 years. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Martha Jones, two children, six grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
Former Tennessee Baptist Convention president John F. “Jack” May died earlier this year. Most of his ministry was spent in Tennessee serving churches: First Baptist, Ripley, and five in Memphis: Speedway Terrace Baptist; Broadmoor Baptist; Whitten Memorial Baptist; Colonial Baptist; and Ridgeway Baptist, where he was named pastor emeritus. May received an honorary doctorate from Union University in 1986. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Erleen Broom May, two children, three grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
Grace Darden, a former employee of the Executive Board of the Tennessee Baptist Convention (now Tennessee Baptist Mission Board), died Nov. 27 at the age of 87. She served with the board from 1972-88 and again from 1992-97. She was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, T.H. Darden Jr. She is survived by three sons – Ted Darden III, Art Darden and Don Darden – six grandchildren and one great grandson. Daughter-in-law Shelia Darden currently serves on the TBMB staff.
Lana Rose
Longtime Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief volunteer James H. “Jim” Jones of Knoxville died Nov. 11 at the age of 94. A veteran of World War II, Jones was a member of Wallace Memorial Baptist Church in Knoxville. He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Reba June Jones, two children, three grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Lana S. Rose of Maineville, Ohio, who served on the staff of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board from 1997 until her retirement in 2018, died Dec. 3. She was 68. Prior to joining the TBMB staff, Rose served on the staff of the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio for 23 years. Rose served in several areas on the TBMB staff. When she retired she was the specialist on staff who worked with church secretaries and administrative assistants across the state. She also coordinated the meetings of the Tennessee Baptist Convention Secretaries Association (TBCSA). Rose organized the association’s first partnership missions trip to Alberta, Canada, in 2002.
CHURCHES
Fellowship Baptist Church, Allons, recently held revival services with guest evangelist Floyd “Lammie” Lammersfeld. There were five salvation decisions.
Feathers Chapel Baptist Church, Somerville, held a “Celebration Sunday” on Nov. 24 for its newly renovated worship center.
The Parkway Quilters of Parkway Baptist Church, Goodlettsville, recently made quilts for residents of Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes. They took the quilts to the Brentwood campus and toured the facilities.
LEADERS
Brandon Palmer
Brandon Palmer has been called as student pastor of Lascassas Baptist Church, Lascassas. He comes to the position after serving as a student ministry intern at Swift Creek Baptist Church in Midlothian, Va. He is a graduate of Liberty University, Lynchburg, Va., and a student at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, N.C.
Gene Skaggs, minister of worship at Westwood Baptist Church, Nashville, celebrated 15 years of ministry in November.
Zach Naylor has been called as pastor of Lynn Valley Baptist Church, Elizabethton.
New Prospect Baptist Church, Greenfield, recently called Zachary Shaikh as pastor.
Tom Crow
Dianne Klutts has retired as ministry assistant for Gibson Baptist Association. She was honored with a reception on Dec. 8 and presented a “money tree.” Klutts has served the association since 1996.
Puryear Baptist Church, Puryear, has called Dwayne Chadwick as pastor, effective Jan. 1.
Tom Crow, executive pastor of First Baptist Church, Nashville, for the past 13 years, has announced his retirement. His ministry has spanned more than 40 years in several states. During his tenure at First Baptist Church, Crow played a key role in establishing the church’s men’s ministry, creating a prayer partnership with the Metro Nashville Police Department, and honoring the church’s military veterans. He also has contributed to the church’s construction that is underway.
Three Rivers Fellowship, Waverly, recently ordained two new deacons: Mike Matlock and his wife Becky, left; pastor Wayne Purcell, center; and Chris Dellinger and his wife Rhonda.
