Rev. Willis Pope

Rev. Willis Gene Pope, age 86, of Unionville, Tennessee, died Wednesday, July 20, 2016 at his home after an extended illness. Bro. Pope was born in Bedford County and was a son of the late Clarence Eugene and Ruby Gladys Russell Pope. He was a member of Longview Baptist Church. Rev. Pope was a retired Baptist minister serving as pastor of five different churches over his 45 years of service. Bro. Pope was also a farmer, worked for Uniroyal Corporation until closing and retired from Eaton Corporation of Shelbyville in 2002. Rev. Pope was preceded in death by a son Randy Pope; sister, Mary Pope and brothers, Charles Pope, Jack Pope and Prentice Pope.

Rev. Pope is survived by his wife of 64 years, Marjorie Brown Pope, Unionville, TN; daughters, Marilyn (Danny) Ryan, Nolensville, TN, Gay (Kenneth) Ensey, Rockvale, TN, Carol (Eddie) Price, Shelbyville, TN; sister, Betty Ann Pope, Unionville, TN; brothers, Haywood Pope, Shelbyville, TN, Alton Pope, Shelbyville, TN, Allen Pope, Shelbyville, TN, Thomas Pope, Unionville, TN; nine grandchildren, Keyanna (Troy) Atwood, Justin (Erica) Ensey, Sharon (Brian) Frazier, Rachel (Matt) Smith, Lindsey (Chad) Anderson, Jessica (Thomas) Evans, Abby (Trevor) Reed, Austin Pope, Preston Pope; nineteen great grandchildren.

Family members will receive friends on Thursday, July 21, 2016 from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Lawrence Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 am on Friday, July 22, 2016 from the chapel of Lawrence Funeral Home with Rev. Dan Reed and Rev. Jonathan Osterhaus officiating. Burial will follow in Cothran Cemetery in the Rover Community of Bedford County.

Grandsons and grandsons-in-law will serve as pallbearers.

A special thank you to his caregivers for the past several weeks: Compassus Hospice of Tullahoma and private sitters, Sybil McCroskey, Patsy Sams and Kayla Adcock.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Longview Baptist Church Building Fund, 101 Cooper Road, Unionville, TN 37180 or Gideons International. .