Walter Daniel Jessup

Walter, the youngest of eleven children, was born February 21, 1924, in Guilford County, North Carolina. After graduating from high school, he attended God’s Bible School (Cincinnati, OH) and later transferred to Asbury College (Wilmore, KY) receiving a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History in 1945. He continued his education at Appalachian State Teachers College (Boone, NC) before attending Asbury Theological Seminary (Wilmore, KY) receiving his Bachelor of Divinity in 1948. During his senior year at Asbury, he toured the eastern United States as the first tenor in the gospel quartet, “The Marbleheads.” It was during this tour that he was introduced to the game of golf. Although right-handed, he had to play with left-handed clubs. He played left-handed ever after, and golf became a lifelong avocation.

After graduation he was ordained in the Methodist Church and served in the Florida Conference for fifty years. He served churches in Micanopy, Bronson, Archer, Crescent City, Jacksonville, Naples, Stuart, Golden Gate, Miami, Lake Worth, Sarasota, and Marco Island. He founded the North Naples United Methodist Church and built churches in Naples, North Naples, Sarasota, and Marco Island.

In Florida, Walter became known as the “Golfing Minister.” While in Naples, he won the City and County Championships 11 years in a row. One of the highlights of his amateur golf career occurred in 1958 when after 54 holes, he led in the National Left-handers tournament in Fort Lauderdale. Unfortunately, the last day of the tournament fell on Sunday. Walter chose never to play golf on Sundays, so he withdrew from the competition. Instead, he preached at a church in Ft. Lauderdale, FL that Sunday. A reporter covering the tournament attended the service and wired a copy of the entire sermon, “Christianity and Golf,” to “Sports Illustrated.” A story about Walter and a summary of the sermon were printed in the magazine. “Playing the game of life can be compared with playing the game of golf… ... play the game with zest, joy, and gratitude, surrender your life to Christ, seek those basic principles of life which are taught in His word, worship regularly, and have a time of private devotions daily.”

Walter loved golf, but his deepest passion was sharing Christ with others. He never met a stranger. One friend shared Walter’s words: “When I go into restaurants or stores, I always know there is something more important there than what I want to buy.” This mindset allowed him to minister to everyone God put in his life. There were no “chance” encounters.

After retiring he spent over 20 years at Lake Junaluska Assembly, NC. He then moved to Tulsa, OK and deeply enjoyed the fellowship of the Mariners class at Asbury United Methodist Church. Later he moved to Albany, GA where the Monk Thompson Sunday school class at First United Methodist became his church family.

Walter was preceded in death by his father, Walter Dawson Jessup; his mother, Bessie Myrtle Dean; and his siblings; Bascom, Burton, Charles, Hugh, Robert, Steve, William, Edith J. Langley, Evelyn J. Brown, and Mabel J. Douglas.

Walter is survived by his wife of 52 years, Virginia M. Jessup (Mathews); his two daughters by his first wife Ruth Smith Jarvis, Dolores Jessup and Mary Frances “Francy” Geiger; step-daughter, Glennda D. (Michael) Cleland; step-son, Dr. David C.(Paula) Duncan; granddaughters, Trisha Pancio Mead, Ileah Pancio Bodily, Christy Geiger Cocup, Megan Smith, Lori Niles, and Amy Olson; grandsons, David Cleland, Matthew Cleland, Andrew Cleland, Zachary Cleland, Mark Duncan, and Matthew Duncan; 11 great granddaughters; 7 great grandsons; and many loving nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends.

A Memorial Service will be at a later date at Lake Junaluska, NC.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Lake Junaluska Assembly Golf Course, Walter Jessup Memorial Fund (756 Golf Course Road, Waynesville, NC 28786).

Online condolences may be made to the Jessup family at www.eastlawnkingsport.com. East Lawn Funeral Home and Memorial Park has the honor of serving the Jessup family.