Bert Denton McLellan, Jr., Presbyterian pastor, skilled teacher, wise counselor, well-read scholar, gifted preacher, died December 10, 2018. He was 83 years old. Denton was born October 27, 1935 to Bert Denton McLellan and Berma Effie Burdeshaw McLellan in Macel, Mississippi. His early years were spent in North Mississippi, and following graduation from Batesville High School, he entered Southwestern At Memphis, now Rhodes College, graduating with a BA degree in History in 1958. Denton then entered Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, VA,. receiving his M.Div. and Th.M. degrees from that institution. He was ordained in September of 1962, and later earned his D.Min. from Princeton Theological Seminary.
Denton held pastorates in Montevallo, AL., Trinity Presbyterian Church in Laurel, MS., Idlewild Presbyterian Church in Memphis, TN., and for twenty-eight years, as the Senior Minister at Germantown Presbyterian Church in Germantown, TN. After retirement, he returned to Idlewild as an Associate Pastor and served several churches in Arkansas as Interim Minister.
Theologically thoughtful and articulate, Denton saw faith in dialogue with every dimension of life, and used his gift with language to speak of what he saw at the intersection of faith and service, or faith and politics, or faith and beauty, or faith and culture. An eternally patient pastor and stimulating teacher, he was a role model for countless ministers who followed in his footsteps.
Denton is survived by his wife, Mary Allie, cousins Connie Hebb (Joe) of Upatoi, GA;.Carol Lott (Bill) of Enid, MS. and 6 step-children: Sarah Patterson French (Reid) of Atlanta, GA.; Katherine Patterson Geiselmann (Andrew) of Memphis, TN., Mary Patterson Tully (Jason) of Atlanta, GA.; Allie Baldwin Scott (Elliott) of Houston, TX., Amy Baldwin Crockett (Stephen) of Denver, CO., and Robert Lewis Baldwin (Kittie) of Memphis, TN.; and 18 step-grandchildren.
A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, December 15th at 1:00 PM at Germantown Presbyterian Church. A reception will follow the service.
Memorials may be made to Germantown Presbyterian Church, Idlewild Presbyterian Church, or the Trezevant Foundation, Trezevant Episcopal Home.
