The humble Rev. Larry Bagby was born Sept. 13, 1940, on a farm 10 miles south of Knob Noster. He was the son of Ernest and Marie Lear Bagby. He graduated from Knob Noster High School in 1959 and attended Bethel College in McKenzie, Tenn., where he received his B.A. Degree 1963. He then attended the Memphis Theological Seminary of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and graduated in 1966 having earned a B.D. degree.
The Rev. Bagby served his home church throughout his college and seminary years. During these same years he served the Shiloh Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Chilhowee, and Shiloh Cumberland Presbyterian Church Miami, Mo. He served eight years traveling back and forth to Shawnee Mound,from Memphis at least twice a month. Upon completion of seminary, he served from 1966-1968 at Central Cumberland Presbyterian Church Memphis, Tenn., as Pastor of Senior Adult Ministries with Dr. Jimmy Latimer.
From 1970 to 1978, the Rev. Bagby served as chaplain of the Rosewood Convalescent Center in Memphis owned by Wallace Johnson. Along with this ministry, in 1974 the Rev. Bagby became pastor of the Ebenezer Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Mason, Tennessee, where he served for nearly 18 years. It was during this time that Brother Larry had a radio ministry called, “Moment of Truth.” The Rev. Bagby was on the radio every Sunday for 15 minutes for approximately 18 months on KWAM (990) AM,” in Memphis.
In 1989, the Rev. Bagby joined the staff of the Highland Heights C.P. church in Memphis, where he organized a very large senior adult ministry called the XYZ “Xtra Years of Zest.” In 1995, he became senior pastor of this midtown Highland Heights Cumberland Presbyterian Church where he served until its closing at the end of 2006.
In addition to this busy schedule, this busy man served the Frayser Cumberland Presbyterian Church, which was in decline, and guided it to its closure in 2002. The Rev.
Bagby’s senior adult ministry included members from the East Side Cumberland Presbyterian Church,which closed in 2004.
The Rev. Bagby was not only a minister with a number of gifts and abilities, he was also an author publishing two books, the first one called The Key to the Balanced Life, charting his pilgrimage from birth till he was in his early 60s. The second publication was a book called The Perils of the Parson and the Grieving Church, which dealt with grief, humor and anxiety as well as insights gained from having been instrumental in closing three churches. After the closing of these churches, the Rev. Bagby became pastor of Senior Adult Ministries at Faith Cumberland Presbyterian church, Bartlett, Tenn., a suburb of Memphis. This man attributes the success and blessing of his ministry first of all to the Lord Jesus Christ, but also to the able-bodied assistance of Twila Slezak, who was his assistant and was with him until his journey’s end.
The Rev. Bagby, having no family except some cousins, considers Twila like a daughter. Mark, her husband, was a great support to this ministry. Their three children, Heather Coleman (Steven Coleman), Rachel Elkin and Joseph Slezak were as his adopted grandchildren; Haven Lea Elkin, Lexi Jo Marie Elkin, Landon Alexander Coleman and Heidi Jo Ann Coleman as his adopted great-grandchildren; plus a host of friends who are already in the company of the Kingdom.
Funeral arrangements will be in Memphis Friday, Aug. 18, with 9: 30 a.m. visitation and 10:30 a.m. funeral at Memphis Funeral Home Poplar, and
in Missouri on Saturday, Aug. 19, with 10 a.m. visitation and 11 a.m. f uneral at Pleasant Grove Cumberland Presbyterian Church and graveside services to follow in church cemetery.
The family request that memorials be given to the Pleasant Grove Church or Cemetery.
(Paid Obituary)
