Obituaries

Ruth Elizabeth Tate, 96, of Rutherford, Tennessee, died January 29, 2021. She was a member of Kenton Cumberland Presbyterian Church (West Tennessee Presbytery) and a subscriber to the Cumberland Presbyterian magazine. We were informed 5/4/2023.

Gene Helton, 89, of Waynesboro, Tennessee, died July 15, 2020. He was a member of the Waynesboro Cumberland Presbyterian Church (Columbia Presbytery) and a subscriber to the Cumberland Presbyterian magazine. We were informed 5/4/2023.

Jay Barker, 67, of Milan, Tennessee, died April 27, 2023. Jay was born October 13, 1955, into the Cumberland Presbyterian family of the Reverend Jack Harville Barker and Peggy Jean Phillips Barker in Savannah, Tennessee. Jay was a preacher’s kid, with all that entails, moving around from one of his father’s pastorates to another. Jack […]

Rickey Sheppard, 69, of Rockfield, Kentucky, died unexpectedly April 28, 2023. Rickey was a member of the Presbyterian Church (USA) with an avid interest in church history. He was a long-time subscriber to, and supporter of, the Cumberland Presbyterian magazine.

Irma Jean Forrest, 89, of Waverly, Tennessee, died April 29, 2023. She was a member of the Halls Creek Cumberland Presbyterian Church (Nashville Presbytery), where she played the piano for many years.

The Reverend Allie Davis Rudolph, 98, of Paducah, Kentucky, known widely as Happy and as A.D., died April 27, 2023. He was a member of Covenant Presbytery. Allie was born June 23, 1924 in Paducah, Kentucky, to farmer John Eddleman Rudolph, Sr., and Myrtie Kirk Bagwell Rudolph. In 1938, Allie was baptized by the Reverend […]

Melva Joyce Dite, 81, of Mountain Home, Arkansas, died April 26, 2023. She was a member of the Fellowship Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Mountain Home (Arkansas Presbytery) where she participated in Cumberland Presbyterian Women’s Ministry as well as the Third Age Group. She enjoyed singing in the church choir. For many years, she and husband […]

The Reverend Endia J. Scruggs, 79, pastor emerita of Madkins Chapel Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America, died April 28, 2023. Endia was born August 19, 1943, in Madison County, Alabama, and educated in the Madison Country School System. She received her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts Degrees in Religion from the Heritage Bible […]

Thomas M. Jackson, 95, of Memphis, Tennessee, best known as Tommy, died April 26, 2023. Tommy was a longtime member and elder of Faith Cumberland Presbyterian Church (Cornerstone Presbytery) in Bartlett, Tennessee, where he was quick to offer his woodworking and handyman skills to any project.   4/27/2023

Betty Jo Lansden, 91, of Madisonville, Kentucky, died April 20, 2023. Betty was a member of First Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Madisonville (Covenant Presbytery).