William Gross Justice

William (Bill) G. Justice, DMin, DPhil, DLitt, authored 32 books and over 200 articles in his field. He was a student of history throughout his adult years and taught the Bible for fifty-four years, having begun while Piloting B-29 bombers during the Korean War. Dr. Justice served thirty-one years as a professional, bedside hospital chaplain. During his twenty-eight years at Baptist Hospital in Knoxville, he earned licenses as a Professional Counselor and as a Marriage and Family Therapist and taught off-campus courses to candidates for bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees for twelve different colleges, seminaries, and graduate schools. He was among the founders of Oxford Graduate School, Dayton, Tennessee, where he continued to serve as a member of the Board of Regents for seventeen years and as a member of the faculty for more than thirty years. He also served that institution as Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Oxford Society of Scholars for sixteen years, and later retired with the title of Distinguished Professor of Religion and Society. Bill taught Sunday school classes at Meridian Baptist Church in South Knoxville for roughly forty years. He is preceded in death by his wife, Ann Fowler Justice; father, William Justice, Sr.; mother, Mary Furchak Justice; and brother, Richard Michael Justice. He is survived by his wife, Delores (Dee) Watters Justice; daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and Rob Payne; son William David and friend, Tara Wear; stepson, Gregory Watters; stepdaughter and husband, DeAnna Watters and Jim Hennessy; step-granddaughter, Whitney Watters. Family will receive friends on Sunday, August 30, 2015 at Berry Funeral Home, Chapman Highway, from 1:00-3:00pm with a funeral service to follow at 3:00pm, Chaplin Phil Groos officiating. There will be a procession to Meridian Baptist Church Cemetery following the service. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Bill’s honor to Tennova Healthcare Auxiliary Hospice Fund, 7447 Andersonville Pike, Knoxville, Tennessee 37938. Condolences may be offered at www.berryfuneralhome.com.