Pastor Jack Allen Stone

Born in 1936 in Charleston, West Virginia, Jack entered the world in his family home as the second son born to George Carl Stone and Mary Elizabeth Peters Stone. He was raised in the close-knit community of Lick Branch, just outside of Charleston, where he learned the values of hard work, faith, resilience, and family that would guide him throughout his life.

Brother Jack’s calling to ministry began early in life. At just fifteen years old, he preached his first sermon at The Salvation Army in Charleston, West Virginia. From that young age forward, he dedicated his life to sharing the Gospel and serving others through faith.

In 1956, Jack proudly joined the United States Marine Corps, beginning a chapter of service that remained one of the greatest sources of pride in his life. In 1958, he landed in Beirut during the Lebanon Crisis, serving in the protection of the Beirut Airport. Brother Jack loved telling the story of how he “almost started World War III,” sharing it with the humor and storytelling spirit that those who knew him will never forget. Next to God and the Marine Corps, Brother Jack loved his family above all else, and he carried the values of honor, discipline, and brotherhood with him throughout his entire life. “Once a Marine, always a Marine” was not just a saying to Brother Jack, it was a way of life.

In 1965, Jack moved to Nashville to attend Free Will Baptist Bible College. When he first arrived, he stayed at the YMCA while deciding whether Nashville would become his permanent home. It was a place and organization that he continued to support throughout his life, just as it supported him during those early days of building a new future in Tennessee.

Brother Jack devoted his life to serving God, loving his family, and caring for others. He pastored ten churches throughout his ministry and touched countless lives through his preaching, kindness, and steady faith. Over the years, he led many souls to Christ and became a trusted pastor, mentor, and friend to generations of people. He also faithfully served for many years as Program Director for the Nashville Baptist Ministers Conference, where he earned the respect and admiration of ministers and congregations across the community.

Brother Jack ate, slept, and breathed the Word of God. His faith was not simply something he preached on Sundays, it was woven into every part of his life. He loved his family with all his heart, but his love extended far beyond his own home. He loved his friends, neighbors, church families, and everyone he encountered along the way. No one ever forgot Jack Stone. He had a warm smile, a listening ear, and a gift for making people feel valued and cared for. People may not always remember every word he said, but they always remembered how he made them feel.

Jack is survived by his beloved wife, Tish Stone; his daughters, Darla Anderson and her husband Johnny, Karla Arney and her husband Eddie, and Mary Archey and her husband Johnny; and many beloved “bonus” children: Shelia Rigsby; Maurece Ladd and his wife Kim; Wendell and Elizabeth Ladd; Elliot and Dawn Ladd; Leisa and her husband Johnny Johnson; and Dawn Crossman. He also leaves behind numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren who will continue carrying forward his stories, values, humor, and faith.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Jean Robinson Stone, with whom he shared more than 50 years of marriage, devotion, and partnership. Together they built a life centered on faith, family, and unwavering love, and her memory remained close to his heart throughout the rest of his life. He was also preceded in death by his parents, George Carl and Mary Elizabeth Peters Stone; his grandsons, Brandon and Bradley Arney; his brothers David, George, Kenneth “Buddy,” Robert Carl “Tad,” and John; and his sisters Dorothea “Dorothy” and Abby.

Visitation will be held at Western Hills Church of Christ, 7565 Charlotte Pike, Nashville, TN 37209, US, on May 20, 2026, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm, followed by the Funeral Service at the same location from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm. A Committal Service will take place at Harpeth Hills Memory Gardens Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 9090 TN-100, Nashville, TN 37221, US, on May 20, 2026, from 2:30 pm to 3:00 pm.

Those who knew Brother Jack will remember his deep faith, unwavering patriotism, love for family, gift for storytelling, and lifelong devotion to the Marines. From the hills of West Virginia to the community he built in Tennessee, Jack lived a life rooted in service, loyalty, compassion, and love.