William Arthur Pennington, Jr., 73, passed away November 29, 2010 at his home in Cleveland, MS. Memorial services will be Thursday, December 2, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Luke United Methodist Church. Visitation will be Thursday at 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. in St. Luke United Methodist Fellowship Hall.
Dr. Pennington was born March 11, 1937 in Aberdeen, MS to William Arthur Pennington, Sr. and Beulah Cox Pennington. Bill was an honor graduate of Amory High School and Millsaps College. He earned a Master's of Divinity in Philosophical Theology in 1962 from Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia. He returned to Emory University 1964-1965 for Advanced Study in the Graduate School in Philosophical Theology. He received his Ph. D. from the University of Mississippi in 1976. He was a member of numerous honorary organizations related to his professions as United Methodist Minister and educator. Prior to his tenure at Delta State University, he served as Minister of St. Andrew's Methodist Church in Oxford, Minister of Education, First Methodist Church, Clarksdale, and Minister of Lyon Methodist Church. He left full-time ministry and taught one year at Wood Jr. College in Mathiston. During his 41 years at Delta State University he served part-time as the Minister of Duck Hill, Shelby, Duncan, and Drew United Methodist Churches.
Bill submitted thirteen proposals that were funded by the Mississippi Committee for the Humanities during the 1970's and 1980's including, "Teaching Values in Public Schools," and "Teaching Values in Economics." Bill was committed to justice for all people and worked for justice, sometimes in very subtle ways, throughout his life.
Dr. Pennington is preceded in death by his mother and father, and his first wife Nell Tucker Pennington.
He is survived by his wife, Jackie S. Pennington; daughters, Lisa Pennington Burle, and Laura Pennington Bassie (Billy); son, Art Pennington (Gabby); six grandchildren, Robert and Alex Burle, Abby, Molly, and Libby Bassie, and A.J. Pennington; and sister, Joyce Pennington Howell.
Memorials may be sent to St. Luke United Methodist Church, 1227 Deering Street, Cleveland, MS 38732.
Online guestbook may be viewed and signed at www.rayfuneralhome.net.
First Visitation
12:30 pm - 2:00 pm Thursday, December 2, 2010
St. Luke United Methodist Church 1227 Deering Street Cleveland, Mississippi, United States
Service Information
2:00 pm Thursday, December 2, 2010
St. Luke United Methodist Church 1227 Deering Street Cleveland, Mississippi, United States