Rev. Joseph Reeves Locke, Sr.

Rev. Joseph Reeves Locke, Sr., former resident of the Yum Yum Community in Fayette County and retired United Methodist Clergy of the Memphis Annual Conference, passed away peacefully on Tuesday evening, August 25, 2009 at the Summit Hospital in Hermitage, Tennessee. He was 94 years of age and died following an illness of several weeks.

Funeral Services for Rev. Locke were conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 29th at the Somerville First United Methodist Church. The officiating ministers were Rev. Walter German of Jackson, Former Pastor of the church and Rev. Larry Kendrick, present Pastor of the church, Rev. Michael Daniels, Dr. Joe Piercey and Rev. Michael Pilcher. Interment with Military Honors followed in the Garnett Cemetery located in the Yum Yum Community. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes-Main Chapel of Somerville.

Reeves was born the son of Josiah Dolbow Locke and Mamie Atkinson Moore Locke in Penns Grove, New Jersey, on July 3, 1915. He grew up in Salem County, New Jersey, and graduated from Salem High School. During World War II, he served in the European Theater as a Chaplain's Assistant in the Third Army.

Beginning his studies at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, he completed his undergraduate degree at Asbury College, Wilmore, Kentucky. After earning a Masters of Divinity degree from Asbury Theological Seminary, Rev. Locke began over fifty years of serving the Lord in first, the West Ohio Conference, and then the Memphis Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Rev. Locke was preceded in death by his wife of over fifty years, Mary Priscilla Walker Locke, of Yum Yum in Fayette County and nine brothers and sisters: Russell, Henry, Archer, Dorothy, Edwin, Hollis, Rachel, Ruth, and Phyllis.

Surviving Reeves are four children, Priscilla Walker Locke Daniels of Terra Alta, West Virginia; Josiah Parker Locke of Huntsville, Alabama; Joseph Reeves Locke, Jr. of Hermitage, TN and Mark Galloway Locke of Collierville. Brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws surviving Reeves are; Dr. Arthur Walker of Waverly, TN; Elizabeth Reid of Brownsville, TN; June Walker, Jr. of Somerville; Patsy King of Brownsville, TN, and Ed Heverin of Middletown, Delaware.

Also surviving him are six grandchildren and a multitude of nieces and nephews across the country.

Those honored to serve as casket bearers were Bob Ford, Bob Jones, Gooch King, John King, Bill Walker & Bob Walker.

Honorary casket bearers were members of the Somerville Post of Veterans of Foreign Wars and clergy members of the Memphis Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.

In memory of Rev. Locke, memorials are requested to the Somerville First United Methodist Church, 202 S. East St., Somerville, TN, 38068; Phone: (901) 465-2627 and Joyner's Campground Association, c/o Mrs. June Walker, Jr., 3690 Yum Yum Road, Somerville, TN, 38068; Phone: (901) 465-3392.