Tommy Gerald Purvis

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Mike Purvis, and his precious daughter Stacey Leah Purvis. He leaves behind Carla, his wife of 57 years, his daughters Dorian Clark (Kevin), Lydia Winters (Kurtis), his grandchildren Camryn Clark Ball(John Caleb), Elijah Winters, Julianna Winters, and Naomi Winters, his sister Judy Mengel, and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was a graduate of W.P. Daniel High School, Mississippi State University (B.S and Masters in Agriculture), Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div.), and Asbury Seminary (Doctorate of Missiology).

Tommy managed several farms in Mississippi and Alabama. He served as the 4-H Agent and later as the County Agent in Iuka, Mississippi/Tishomingo County.

Tommy surrendered to the ministry in 1985 and pastored several wonderful churches in Mississippi and Kentucky, including Highland Baptist (Tishomingo County, MS) from 1985-89, Little Mount Baptist Church (Spencer County, KY) from 1989-92, Calvary Baptist Church (Belmont, MS) from 1992-96, Ballardsville Baptist Church (Oldham County, KY) from 1996-2004, Director of Missions for the Severns Valley Baptist Association (Elizabethtown, KY) from 2004-2005, DeHaven Baptist Church (La Grange, KY) from 2006-2013.

He then served a variety of churches in KY as interim pastor for Warsaw United Methodist Church (Gallatin County, KY) from 2013-2015, Hickory Grove United Methodist Church (Trimble County, KY) from 2015-2018, Smithfield Baptist Church (Henry County, KY) from 2019-2020, Harrods Creek Baptist (Oldham County, KY) from 2021-2022, and full-time pastor at Union Grove Church (Trimble County, KY) from 2022-present.

He served as the Rotary Club President in Newton, Mississippi; Iuka, Mississippi; and La Grange, Kentucky.

He served on the Baptist Health Hospital Board in La Grange, was Oldham County Shriner Club President, member of the PeeWee Valley Masonic Lodge, Chaplain for Louisville Scottish Rites, and board member for Cedar Lake Lodge.

Tommy and Carla loved being a part of the Shriner Hillbillies where they were instrumental in helping raise funds for Shriner Children’s Hospitals. Two of their favorite fundraisers each year were the Hillbillies Day Festival and the Hillbilly Christmas in July.

The last 12 years Tommy loved sharing the gospel at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota and Daytona Beach Bike Week in Florida. He was also a supporter of FEAT of Louisville in helping raise autism awareness in honor of his only grandson, Elijah, and even wearing his Team Elijah shirts all over the world as he traveled for various ministries.

Tommy went on numerous international mission trips through the years to China, Honduras, Brazil, Russia, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania. He also did mission work on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona, the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana, and an endless variety of ministries in Kentucky such as Mud Creek, Wayside Christian Mission, Kentucky Mountain Mission, etc.

He was always ready to meet his morning coffee group, go to the farm and work in his garden or tend to his flowers in his yard, or hop on his Harley with anyone willing to ride.

He was a gifted piano player who could play just about any tune by ear and loved making music with various groups like the Short Creek Trio in Mississippi, The Little Mountaineers in Spencer County, KY, for all of his churches, most recent years with his twin granddaughters, and going to Rabbit Hash for their monthly music.

Brother Tommy never met a stranger and had the gift that he could always find a way to relate to everyone and brighten someone's day. He had a big personality with the love and joy of Jesus radiating from his daily life. He loved Jesus in a big way and wanted to make sure to share the love and joy of Jesus with others so they could know the Lord like he did and also have the eternal gift of salvation. Because of this Tommy is now more alive than ever living eternally in heaven with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! He spent his life serving Jesus and sharing so others would know and be able to join him one day too. Praising God for the hope we have in Him and that he is now with Jesus and got to hear those beautiful words, "Well done my good and faithful servant."

A Celebration of Life will be held at Ballardsville Baptist Church on Saturday, February 7th at 1:00. Please bring your favorite story/memory of Brother Tommy to share during the celebration.

The next Celebration will be in Iuka, MS at New Prospect Baptist Church on April 18th at 1:00.

Tommy chose cremation and will be buried next to his daughter Stacey at his hometown church, New Prospect Baptist Church in Mississippi, where he was ordained as a minister.

Please continue to keep his family in your prayers. Honor Brother Tommy and share the Gospel as he always did!

In lieu of flowers, please donate in memory of Tommy to either Shriner’s Children’s Hospital or Kosair for Kids.