Rev. Billy Craighead

“I have prepared a place for you, my good and faithful servant.” Rev. Billy Craighead, retired United Methodist minister, was called to serve among God’s heavenly hosts on December 18, 2012. Proceeded in death by parents, Roy and Evie Winfree Craighead of Brush Creek, TN. Rev. Craighead is survived by his wife of sixty-four years, Temple Marie Gwaltney; son and Mayor of the City of Lebanon, Philip Craighead (Darlene); daughter -Phyllis Craighead; grandchildren- Zachary Craighead (Melissa) and Carissa Stone Wheeler (James); and great grandchildren Madison and Miles Craighead and Xavier Wheeler; foreign exchange student children- Dr. Ad Jooren of the Netherlands and Chiyo Shibata Tokiwa of Japan.Craighead was born on February 4, 1930 in New Middleton where he attended elementary school and the Methodist Church. He graduated from Gordonsville High School in 1947. There he met and married (August 14, 1948) his lifelong love, Marie.Rev. Craighead served as a minister in the Tennessee Conference of the United Methodist Church for forty-three years. Prior to his ordination, he attended Tennessee Technological University and Scaritt College for Christian Workers. He then completed his education at Vanderbilt Divinity School. The next four decades he served as pastor at Alex Green and Denton’s Chapel, Chapel Hill, Donelson Heights, Pulaski First Church, Lebanon First, Madison Street, McKendree downtown, and Forrest Hills. He was called to serve as District Superintendent of the Columbia- Mt. Pleasant District, Pulaski District, and Nashville District. He retired from the ministry in 1994.Rev Craighead served on several boards. He was one of the founders and the first board chairman of the Cumberland Mental Health Center. He was one of the founders of the Community Care Center in Nashville. He was former Trustee of Martin Methodist College in Pulaski, McKendree Village of Hermitage, and Hinton Rural Life Center of Haysville, NC.He was active in community and civic work. He was a long time member of the Lion’s Club, Pulaski Masonic Lodge as a thirty-two degree mason, a thirty-three degree member of Scottish Rite, and Commodore Club.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Martin Methodist College, Pulaski, TN c/o Billy and Marie Craighead Scholarship Fund, 433 West Madison Street, Pulaski, TN 38478. OR Lebanon First United Methodist Church 415 West Main Street, Lebanon, TN 37087. Thanks to all our friends, Suncrest Home Health Staff, and the staff at The Pavilion for all their love and support.Honorary pall bearers include ministers of the Tennessee Annual Conference and their spouses and Gordonsville High School Class of 1947. Pall Bearers: Donald Baird, Buford Winfrey, Raymond Tomlinson, Gary Patton, Zachary Craighead, James Wheeler, Robert Lee Smith, and Ross Averitt.Ministers of Lebanon First United Methodist Church, Dr. Mike Ripski and David Hesson and Bishop William Morris will conduct the service on December 20, 2012 at the Lebanon First United Methodist Church at 1pm. Visitations will be at Bass Funeral Home in Gordonsville on Dec 19 from 5pm to 8pm and on Dec 20 at Lebanon First United Methodist Church from 10am to 1pm. Burial will be at the Union Hill Cumberland Presbyterian Cemetery in Sykes, TN.Bass Funeral Home, Gordonsville Chapel, Directors

Rev. Billy Craighead

February 4, 1930 - December 18, 2012