Bro. Bill Luther

William Glynn Luther, age 81, of Jackson, Tennessee, passed away the afternoon of January 29, 2026. He was preceded in death by his parents, Garvin and Myrtice Luther, and his beloved wife, Ann Luther.

He is survived by his two sons, David Luther of Greenville, South Carolina, and Cary Luther of Jackson, Tennessee; his grandchildren Brittany Wright, Savannah Nevels, Alexandria Luther, Colton Luther, William Luther, Caroline Luther, and Jax Luther; and his great-grandchildren Braelyn Wright, Easton Wright, Max Wright, Beckham Nevels, and Baker Nevels. He is also survived by close relatives Tillman Weir, Teresa Brinkley, Roger Weir, Paige Engler, and Hannah James, along with their children.

Bill, as he was affectionately known, was born in Jackson, Tennessee, on January 4, 1945, to Garvin and Myrtice Luther. He attended J.B. Young Elementary School and graduated from South Side High School in 1963. He furthered his education at Union University and, after graduating in 1967 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Science, taught at South Side High School before entering full-time ministry.

As a child and young adult, Bill attended Bemis Pentecostal Church in Jackson, Tennessee, where he served under giants of the faith, W.M. Greer and George Glass. He accepted his call to ministry at just 18 years of age. During this time, he met Ann, and they were married on April 8, 1966, while Bill was still teaching in Trenton and at South Side High School. Together, they accepted a joint call to ministry on January 26, 1969, when Bill was just 24 years old.

After serving at Bemis Pentecostal Church, he was licensed in the United Pentecostal Church International. There, he assumed his first pastorate at First United Pentecostal Church in Hohenwald, Tennessee. It was there that they started their family, and David and Cary joined them on their journey. After that, Bill went on to pastor Bethel United Pentecostal Church in Memphis, Tennessee, and would eventually return as Senior Pastor to Bemis Pentecostal Church in 1984. In 1996, Bill and Ann joined Love and Truth Church in Adamsville, Tennessee, as associate pastors. They later pastored Love and Truth Church in Henderson, Tennessee, before returning to serve on the ministry team at Love and Truth Church in Jackson.

Bill and Ann Luther dedicated their entire lives to ministry, leading countless people to Christ and discipling others who would go on to reach even more—creating a reverberating impact throughout the Kingdom of God. There is no way to measure how many lives were changed through their obedience, as the effect is still being felt across the nation and around the world.

Bill also traveled on mission trips to India and Madagascar. He served for around 20 years as the United Pentecostal Church’s Tennessee District Sunday School Director, served on several national Sunday School boards, spoke at numerous church camps, conferences, and churches across the nation with his beloved Ann, and led the Tennessee District United Pentecostal Church Junior Camp for 20 years, touching multiple generations of lives. In later years, he and Ann founded BlueStrong, a program that supported and honored local law enforcement officers right here in Jackson, Tennessee.

When age eventually slowed his full-time church ministry, Bill became an employee of George A. Smith and Sons Funeral Home, where he continued to bring comfort to grieving families—often serving as “their pastor” when they arrived without one.

Bill Luther lived a full and extraordinary life. He took his ministry far beyond the walls of a church—into hospitals, homes, other countries, and wherever else he was needed. From praying with someone before major surgery, to playing with children after church, to standing beside families in their darkest moments, he loved being people’s pastor. To this day, people he pastored in the 1970s and 1980s still refer to him as “their pastor.”

Though many knew him as Brother Luther, in reality, he was so much more. He was most well known for being a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, and cousin. A few even came to know him as “Wild Bill”; however, that circle is very small. Whenever possible, he could be found on the ball field or in the front row at school events, supporting his grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. He poured into his family with the same fervor and devotion that he gave to ministry. As you say goodbye to Brother Luther, we are saying goodbye to Dad, to Popaw, or to Uncle Bill.

There will never be another man like him. His compassion and anointing walked hand in hand. He was a giant among men, and there is no doubt that when he stepped through those pearly gates into Heaven, he was greeted by the Savior he had served for so long and the only woman he ever loved. He was finally able to hear the words he lived 81 years for:

“Well done, my good and faithful servant. Go rest.”

The family has heard countless stories since his passing, and one truth remains constant: Bro. Luther and Ann were deeply loved, highly respected, and will be greatly missed. As they are now at rest together, we are left with their memories, their love, and—quite literally for many—our salvation, because two people answered God’s call and touched thousands of lives around the world. They leave behind a legacy that will never be forgotten. They leave behind an example of a truly godly marriage and ministry. And they leave behind a calling—to love one another, to serve one another, and most of all, to serve God faithfully.

The family would like to thank everyone for the prayers, kindness, and support during this time. Please remember the legacy Bill and Ann built, and accept the call to live a life worth remembering.

They surely did.