Dr. Bill F. Sheeks

Dr. Bill F. Sheeks, age 80, resident of Cleveland, TN, passed away Wednesday, March 19, 2014, at a Chattanooga hospital. He was born on March 10, 1934 in Kannapolis, NC to H.G. and Sadie Sheeks. Dr. Sheeks received his undergraduate degrees from Lee College and Catawba College, and his Master of Arts and Doctor of Ministry degrees from California Graduate School of Theology. He pastored two churches in Charlotte and Burlington, NC. He was elected and/or appointed to serve in leadership and administrative positions for the Church of God in the following roles: Director of Youth and Christian Education for NC; Director of Evangelism and Home Missions for NC; State Overseer in Hawaii, Illinois, Alabama and Western North Carolina for a total of 14 years; eight years in the Church of God Evangelism and Home Missions Department as Assistant Director and Director; eight years as member of COG Executive Committee; and many boards and committees, including Executive Council and Benefits Board, where he was serving at the time of death. He was officially retired in 2004, but maintained a full speaking schedule in churches, and he especially enjoyed teaching a class of young potential church planters each spring semester at Lee University. He was preceded in death by his parents, H.G. and Sadie Sheeks and his brother, Larry Sheeks. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Eleanor Stout Sheeks; children, Cheryl Stansky of Athens, GA and Randy (Debbie) Sheeks of Cleveland, TN; grandchildren, Lauren (Chad) Coulter and Lenae Stansky of Louisville, KY, Michael Stansky of St. Simons Island, GA, Elizabeth Sheeks and Meredith Sheeks of Cleveland, TN; siblings, Betty Sheeks Varner and Tony Sheeks of Kannapolis, NC; in-laws, Calvin Stout of Lawrenceville, IL, Bernice S. Woodard of Cleveland, TN, Garnet S. Boldrey of Houston, TX, Naomi S. Urfer of Robinson, IL, Don R. Stout of Columbus, OH, Estella Stout of Primghar, IA; nieces and nephews, Pam Wagoner of Alma, GA, Rick Varner, Cindy Plott, Tonya Sheeks, and Todd Sheeks of Kannapolis, NC, and Jackie Faggart of Carolina Beach, NC. A Celebration of Life and Homegoing for Dr. Bill F. Sheeks will be held Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. at North Cleveland Church of God with Pastor Mitch Maloney, Dr. Mark Williams, Reverend Randy Sheeks, Reverend Robert Daugherty, Reverend Julian Robinson and Dr. Gene D. Rice participating. Entombment will be held privately at Sunset Memorial Gardens. The body will lie in state at the church from 12 noon until the time of service. The family will receive friends following the service in the Bryant Fellowship Hall of North Cleveland Church of God. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Bill Sheeks Scholarship Fund at the Lee University School of Religion. Checks can be mailed to Lee University, University Relations, P.O. Box 3450, Cleveland, TN 37320-3450. Contributions may also be made online at [email protected] or by calling Lee University at (423)614-8310. We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Sheeks family guestbook at www.grissomfh.net. Arrangements are being handled by Grissom Funeral Home, Mark S. Grissom, Funeral Director.