John Humphrey

REV. JOHN DAVID HUMPHREY

Tupelo - Rev. John David Humphrey, 89, died Sunday, February 18, 2007, at The Sanctuary Hospice House. He became a United Methodist Minister in 1950, retiring in 1983 from the position of Associate General Secretary of the Board of High Education and Ministry, The United Methodist Church, Nashville, Tenn. He was a member of the Misissippi Conference. A graduate of Mississippi State University, he served 5 1/2 years in the U.S. Army during World War II in the Pacific Theater of Operations. He then taught school at Artesia, worked for the Mississippi Employment Service and served as Secretary of the Mississippi Public Service Commission, Jackson, before entering Candler School of Theology, Emory University, graduating with the Master of Divinity Degree. In 1959, Millsaps College awarded him the Doctor of Divinity Degree.

Dr. Humphrey served as Pastor at Mathiston and Professor of Bible at Wood College, Director of Adult Education and Executive Director of the Interboard Council of the North Mississippi Methodist Conference. In 1965, he moved to Nashville, Tenn. to serve as Executive Secretary of Missionary Education for the Methodist Church. He was elected as a delegate to the General Conferences of 1960, 1968, 1972, 1976, and 1980. He was also a member of the 1964 General Conference, serving as Secretary of the Judicial Council, the Court of the Denomination. In 1968, he transferred to the Board of Education, serving three years as personnel and financial officer, then moving to the Board of Higher Education and Ministry in 1971, where he served as Associate General Secretary until retirement, June 30, 1983.

Upon moving to Tupelo in 1983, he served as a Supply Pastor, Executive Director for the North Mississippi Conference Board of Pensions, Development Associate, and Interim Executive Director for the United Methodist Children's Home. He entered into full retirement upon moving to the Traceway Retirement Community in 1994.

Dr. Humphrey also had a distinguished military career. After receiving a commission as as Second Lt. at Mississippi State, he served as an Infantry Officer during World War II, rising to the rank of Major. After the war he served in the Mississippi Army National Guard and the U.S. Army Reserve until retirement in 1978 as Chaplain, Colonel, US Army Forces Command. He was awarded the Bronze Star, the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, the Combat Infantry Badge, and several combat service medals and other medals for distinguished service. He was a member of where he served as a .

Memorial Services will be held 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 20, 2007, at First United Methodist Church. Private burial will be in Tupelo Memorial Park. W. E. Pegues Funeral Directors is in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include His wife, Patricia Hawkins Humphrey; a brother, R. Duke Humphrey; three children, son John D. Humprhey, Jr. and his children, David Humphrey, Christi Harlan, Stacy McFerrin and Sonya Richardson; daughter Sara Biddle and her husband, Clyde, and their children, Amy Shelly, Kelly Williams, and Elizabeth Biddle; and daughter, Sue Geier and her husband, Keith, and their children, Laura Taylor, Brent Taylor, Geoff Geier and Kendra Geier; and numberous great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Senior Services, First United Methodist Church, 412 West Main, Tupelo, MS 38804; or The Sanctuary Hospice House, PO Box 2177, Tupelo, MS 38802.