Perry Cotham

Perry Boyd Cotham, 101, gospel preacher, departed this life on February 26, 2013, in Grand Prairie, TX. He was born the eldest son of Ben B. and Nannie Boyd Cotham of Murray, KY, on January 5, 1912, was baptized at an early age, began preaching in 1929. He completed a 2-year degree at Freed-Hardeman College in 1931. After preaching in and around Murray, he graduated with a B.A. from Murray State University in 1934. In the summer of 1934, he moved to Shawnee to do full time work there with a growing church. There he married Teresa Naomi Overby, daughter of a gospel preacher named Coleman Overby in Muskogee, OK. He ministered to congregations in Oklahoma, Texas and Tennessee. In 1972, he resigned from local ministry for world-wide evangelistic work with Skillman Church of Christ in Dallas. Perry has always wanted to be a gospel preacher and did so for over 80 years, even delivered sermons after turning 100 years of age. Clearly would be among the oldest preachers, if not the oldest, in the history of the Church of Christ. He preached in all the fifty states, 75 nations and multiple continents. He has also bought and distributed thousands of Bibles to many parts of the world, written and distributed millions of his gospel tracts. Perry made twelve trips to India, baptizings hundreds, and fifteen or more trips to Singapore and Thailand. He was preceded in death by his wife and his two brothers, Preston and Harry. He is survived by two sons, Perry Coleman Cotham (Glenda), of Brentwood, TN and Harry Cotham of Houston, one daughter, Nan Macleod (Edward) of Arlington; five grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and a great host of dear friends in all parts of the world.