Life of Rev. R.C. George, Jr.
Rev. R.C. George, Jr., passed away December 12, 2008 at Methodist University Hospital. He was born in Carrolton, MS on September 10, 1934, the first of four children born to the late Rev. Richmond C. Sr. and Mrs. Irene George.
During his 43 year tenure as a pastor in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, he was one of the founding Directors of the CME Church, First Episcopal District housing for the Elderly, Exum Towers, Memphis, TN and Smith Keys Garden, Texarkana and Eldorado, AR. He was considered a preacher’s architect and was instrumental in the rebuilding, upgrading, and construction of many churches in Tennessee under the leadership of Bishop B. Julian Smith, Bishop J. Madison Exum and Sr. Bishop William H. Graves. Some of the Tennessee churches he served as pastor were Mt. Tipton, Grady Chapel, Bartlett Chapel, New Hope, Pillow Street, Watkins Chapel, Smothers Chapel, Winrow Chapel (now Winrow CME), St. Paul, and Zion Hill. In Mississippi, he served as pastor of Bates Chapel, Bethlehem and Cooper Chapel. Other cities and churches where he served as pastor were Parrish Temple in St. Louis, MO; St. James in Flint, MI; and St. Vestal (now Hashaway Community) in Long Beach, CA.
In 1972, Rev. George began his tenure as the presiding elder of the Memphis District, West Tennessee Conference, where he held this position for a decade.
Rev. George leaves four daughters, Mary Jean George, Irene Woods (Glen), and Yvette George of Memphis, and Adrianne Guice (Robert) of Houston; two brothers, Rev. William E. George and Tanner George and one sister, Robbie George-Greer, all of Memphis. His immediate family also includes seven grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; one aunt, Inez Cooper,, a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
The visitation for Rev. R.C. George, Jr. will be Friday, December 19th at M.J. Edwards Funeral Home, 1165 Airways Blvd., 6-8 PM. The home-going services will be Saturday, December 20th, 2008, Greenwood CME Church, 3311 Kimball Avenue, Memphis, TN, Rev. Dr. Travis Robinson, pastor. Visitation, 10-10:50 AM, funeral at 11 AM. Interment, Memorial Park Cemetery, 5668 Popular Ave., Memphis, TN.
In lieu of flowers, the George Family is requesting that you please send memorials to the Collegiate Scholarship Fund, Winrow St. Paul CME Church, 5865 Knight Arnold Road, Memphis, TN 38115. Arrangements: M.J. Edwards Funeral Home: 901-327-6390.