Roy Lee Gentry

Reverend Roy Lee “Pete” Gentry, 88, a native son of Cleveland, passed away Monday, November 29, 2010 in a local healthcare facility. He was a member of North Cleveland Baptist Church. He was a retired minister of the Gospel of Christ and pastored many churches in the East Tennessee area. He attended the Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary and was a graduate of New Orleans Baptist Seminary. He was a former director of the Bradley County Baptist Association. He was a member of the United Tennessee League of Nashville pioneering anti-drug programs in public schools in 1970's through the 1980's. He was a veteran of the United States Army serving in Normandy Invasion Northern France and Rhineland during World War II where he received three bronze stars. Rev. Gentry was the son of the late James A. Gentry and Addie Raines Gentry and was also preceded in death by his wife, Vera Mae Lee Gentry. He is survived by his son, Anthony “Tony” L. Gentry and wife, Nancy Zima Gentry of Ringgold, GA; daughter, Melissa Phillips of Cleveland; granddaughter, Leigha Nicole Phillips of Cleveland; several nieces and nephews also survive. A graveside service will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, December 2, 2010 at Hilcrest Memorial Gardens with Pastor Jay McCluskey officiating. Military honors will be held with a white dove release ceremony concluding the service. The family will receive friends 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, December 1, 2010 at Ralph Buckner Funeral Home. We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Gentry family guestbook at www.ralphbuckner.com.