Preston Powell Perkins

Preston Powell Perkins 82, of Bartlett Tennessee was born on August 9th, 1934 to Cliffton Daniel and Elsie Louise Lewis Perkins and entered into the glorious presence of our Savior at home on Wednesday April 12, 2017. He was the youngest of their children. He was preceded in death by both of his parents, seven brothers, and one sister. Charles Perkins, Birtee Perkins, Ben Perkins, Boyd Perkins, Bobby Perkins, Clayton Perkins, and Ressie Hyland and also preceded in death by half brother Max Ellis Perkins, and is survived by one half brother, Daniel Perkins of Detroit Michigan. He was married to the late Lillie Mae Chapman-Perkins on November 20, 1957 and they celebrated 42 anniversaries ‘til death do us part’ when she passed in 1999 of cancer. Preston and Lillie Mae Perkins had four children. Elsie Faith and Preston Eula who both preceded him in death, and is survived by Barbara Ellen Perkins-Clements (Husband Mike Clements) of Lakeland Tennessee, and Grover Andrew Perkins (Wife Karen Perkins) of Van Buren, Arkansas. After Lillie Mae’s death he remarried and is now survived by his wife, who he loved dearly, Mary Louise Lancaster-Perkins. He had 10 grandchildren and four great grandchildren. He will be dearly missed by many nieces and nephews and other family. Preston’s life was about service to his country and community. He was a United States Air Force veteran who served as an Air Policeman in Okinawa Japan. He served as a Greenwood Mississippi police officer for several years before meeting Lillie Mae and moving to Memphis Tennessee. He served with distinction with the Memphis Fire Department for years, and was selected to welcome then President Lyndon Johnson when he landed on his visit to Memphis in 1964. In 1967 Preston switched careers and served as a postman until his retirement in 1992, making many friends along his route through the years. He was a charter member of Calvary Baptist Church in Batesville, Mississippi with his brother Boyd. He has been a member of Leawood Baptist Church in Memphis for at least 30 years. He was a member of the Moose Lodge. He gave generously to the University of Tennessee Center for Agricultural and Educational Research at Ames Plantation near Grand Junction Tennessee where he did most of his bird and deer hunting. He also enjoyed traveling, woodworking, gardening & fishing. When he was a younger man he really liked listening to live music and attended concerts regularly. He also enjoyed long rides on his motorcycle, playing pool, poker and shooting marbles with his buddies. The family will receive friends from 9:00 a.m. until service time at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, April 15, 2017 at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 3700 N. Germantown Rd., Bartlett, TN 38133. The family will also be receiving friends from 1:30 p.m. until service time at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, April 15, 2017 at Cold Springs United Methodist Church, 2814 Cold Springs Road, Batesville, MS 38606 with the interment to follow at the church cemetery.