REV. WILLIAM (BILL) EARL TORKELL, SR.

REV. WILLIAM EARL (BILL) TORKELL, SR., a resident of the Williston Community, United Methodist Minister and Hospital Chaplin died at 7 P.M. Saturday, March 28, 2009 at his residence on McKinstry Road. He was 71 years of age and died unexpectedly.

Funeral services for Rev. Torkell were conducted at 2 P.M. Wednesday, April 1st at Peebles West Funeral Chapel at Oakland with Rev. Christopher P. Bounds, Chaplain of the Methodist Hospital Systems, officiating. Special remarks were given by numerous Methodist Ministers and Chaplains. The Macon United Methodist Church Choir provided Rev. Torkell's favorite music selections. Interment followed in the Fayette County Memorial Park Cemetery on Highway 64. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes-West Chapel of Oakland.

A native of Shelby County, Rev. Torkell was born September 23, 1937. He was preceded in death by his parents, Eino Torkell and Ione Wilkins Torkell. He was educated at the Hargrove Military Academy, Mississippi State University and was a graduate of Lambuth University in Jackson and the Memphis Theological Seminary.

He was married in 1957 to the former Marjorie Jennette, who survives. Mrs. Torkell was an employee of the Y.M.C.A. in Collierville before her recent illness.

Rev. Torkell had served as a United Methodist Minister for thirty years and he was serving as Pastor of the Macon United Methodist Church in Fayette County at the time of his death. He also served for a number of years as a Chaplain with the Methodist Hospital Systems that included hospitals in Memphis, Somerville and Brownsville. His local church pastorates in earlier years had included Moscow, Rossville Piperton and Stanton.

Rev. Torkell had been active in the community, religious and charitable activities of Fayette County for a number of years. He was an active participant in the local alcohol rehabilitation program and in area prison and jail ministries. For his accomplishments and years of volunteering in these areas, Rev. Torkell was voted Fayette County's Man of the Year. He had been associated with the Methodist Outreach Program and served as a marriage counselor for many in the Fayette County area.

Before entering the ministry and making the decision to continue his education and become a United Methodist Minister, he was an accomplished Electrician building many lasting friendships that continued throughout his life.

He will be remembered for his kind, quiet mannerisms and was a genuine friend to people from all walks of life. His dry wit, humor, sincerity and humility endeared him to many.

His greatest enjoyments were the love that he possessed for his family, his ministry and his community. He reached out to many through his tireless efforts in making Fayette County and the surrounding areas a Christian community and a better place to live.

In addition to his wife of fifty-one years, Rev. Torkell is survived by his daughter, Pamela Dawn Emerson (George) of Memphis; his son, William Earl Torkell, Jr. (Lisa) of Memphis and six grandchildren.

Those honored to serve as casket bearers included Mark Barnes, Drew Clothier, Danny Mangum, Brian Robinson, Grayson Torkell and Robert Torti.

Honorary casket bearers included Cory Johnson, Larry Kendrick, Dennis McDuffie, Steve Miller, Joe Ranager and John Wilcher.

The family requests that Memorials be directed to the Methodist Foundation For Chapel Construction at Methodist Fayette in Somerville, Fayette or Shelby County Chapters of the American Heart Association or the Macon United Methodist Church.

"...Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him."- I COR. 2:9