Perry Boyd Cotham, gospel preacher, departed this life Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013, in Grand Prairie at the age of 101. Service: 2 p.m. Saturday at Cross Point Church of Christ. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Bean-Massey-Burge on Beltline Road in Grand Prairie. Memorials: Brown Trail School of Preaching, Memphis School of Preaching or Doctors Without Borders. He was born the eldest son of Ben B. and Nannie Boyd Cotham of Murray, Ky., on Jan. 5, 1912. He was baptized at an early age and began preaching in 1929. He completed a two-year degree at Freed-Hardeman College in 1931. Following this and preaching in and around Murray, he graduated with a B.A. from Murray State University in 1934. In the summer of 1934, he moved to Shawnee to do full-time work there with a growing church. While there he married Teresa Naomi Overby, daughter of a gospel preacher named Coleman Overby in Muskogee, Okla. He ministered to congregations in Oklahoma -- Oklahoma City, Wewoka and Duncan; in Texas -- Grand Prairie, Paris and Big Spring; and to a congregation in Nashville, Tenn. In 1972, he resigned from local ministry to do worldwide evangelistic work, supported by Skillman Church of Christ in Dallas. Perry had always wanted to be a gospel preacher, which he did the greater part of his life -- over 80 years. Having delivered a few sermons as guest speaker after turning 100 years of age, he clearly would be among the oldest preachers, if not the oldest, in the history of the Church of Christ. He preached in all 50 states, 75 nations and multiple continents, including over 75 nations. He also bought and distributed many thousand of Bibles for various parts of the world. He wrote and distributed millions of his gospel tracts. Perry made 12 trips to India, with many hundreds being baptized, and 15 or more trips to Singapore and Thailand. He was preceded in death by his wife and his two brothers, Preston and Harry. Survivors: Sons, Perry Coleman Cotham and wife, Glenda, of Brentwood, Tenn., and Harry Cotham of Houston; daughter, Nan Macleod and husband, Edward, of Arlington; five grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and a great host of dear friends in all parts of the world.
Perry Boyd Cotham, gospel preacher, departed this life Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013, in Grand Prairie at the age of 101. Service: 2 p.m. Saturday at Cross Point Church of Christ. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Bean-Massey-Burge on Beltline Road in Grand Prairie. Memorials: Brown Trail School of Preaching, Memphis School of Preaching or Doctors Without Borders. He was born the eldest son of Ben B. and Nannie Boyd Cotham of Murray, Ky., on Jan. 5, 1912. He was baptized at an early age and began preaching in 1929. He completed a two-year degree at Freed-Hardeman College in 1931. Following this and preaching in and around Murray, he graduated with a B.A. from Murray State University in 1934. In the summer of 1934, he moved to Shawnee to do full-time work there with a growing church. While there he married Teresa Naomi Overby, daughter of a gospel preacher named Coleman Overby in Muskogee, Okla. He ministered to congregations in Oklahoma -- Oklahoma City, Wewoka and Duncan; in Texas -- Grand Prairie, Paris and Big Spring; and to a congregation in Nashville, Tenn. In 1972, he resigned from local ministry to do worldwide evangelistic work, supported by Skillman Church of Christ in Dallas. Perry had always wanted to be a gospel preacher, which he did the greater part of his life -- over 80 years. Having delivered a few sermons as guest speaker after turning 100 years of age, he clearly would be among the oldest preachers, if not the oldest, in the history of the Church of Christ. He preached in all 50 states, 75 nations and multiple continents, including over 75 nations. He also bought and distributed many thousand of Bibles for various parts of the world. He wrote and distributed millions of his gospel tracts. Perry made 12 trips to India, with many hundreds being baptized, and 15 or more trips to Singapore and Thailand. He was preceded in death by his wife and his two brothers, Preston and Harry. Survivors: Sons, Perry Coleman Cotham and wife, Glenda, of Brentwood, Tenn., and Harry Cotham of Houston; daughter, Nan Macleod and husband, Edward, of Arlington; five grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and a great host of dear friends in all parts of the world.
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