William Millwood

The Reverend William J. Millwood, age 85, a resident of Cleveland, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday morning, May 21, 2008. He passed away at Skyridge Medical Center with his loving family along side him. He joined the Toonigh, GA Church of God in August, 1939. He attended Bible Training School (BTS), Sevierville, TN from 1940-1942. He was first licensed with the Church of God in 1941 at the age of 22. In May 1942 he hitched hiked from Georgia, to Washington State, 3,000 miles on $25, with fellow ministerial friend, George Broome, to minister the Gospel. He evangelized in Washington State and Oregon. On May 9, 1943 (Mother?s Day) he married Eunice Selman in Salem, Oregon. From 1943-1944 he was State Youth Director of Washington, Oregon and Idaho. During the years 1944-1946, he established and built the first Church of God in Ahtanum, Washington. He took a brief pastorate in Tipton, IN in 1946. In the fall of 1947, he went to pastor in Wapato, Washington. In 1948 he moved to Schneider?s Prairie, Washington where he established and built the city?s first Church of God. On August 8, 1948, he was ordained by the Church of God. In 1951 he returned to Ahtanum, Washington and built the first parsonage for the Church of God. In Washington State, he became one of the first State Councilors appointed to a State Overseer in the Church of God. In the fall of 1952 he accepted the pastorate in Pittsburg, Kansas where he pastored six years. In 1958, he accepted the pastorate of SW 31st. (name changed to Southern Hills) Church of God in Oklahoma City where he pastored for six years. In Oklahoma he served as a district overseer and state council member. During his tenure in Oklahoma, he organized three churches on his district. In 1964, he accepted the pastorate in West Baltimore, MD (named changed to Lansdowne Church of God). As district overseer, he organized the Westminster, MD Church of God. Additional pastorates included: 19th St. Church of God, Parkersburg, W.VA; Philadelphia Drive Church of God, Dayton, OH; Meadowood Church of God, Richmond, VA; Blackshear Church of God, Blackshear, GA. He is the founder of the military KIT Club (Keeping in Touch) which ministered to military members during the Vietnam War and is presently active where his son Jerry pastors, Hopewell Church of God, Cleveland, TN. Preceded in death by: Mother and father, Ida Mae and Robert J. Millwood, of Woodstock, GA, two sisters, Shirley Mills of Marietta, GA, Inez Bell and brother-in-law Roy Bell of Woodstock, GA. Survived by: His wife of 66 years, Eunice V. Millwood of Cleveland, TN, one sister, Brenda Booth and brother-in-law Tom Booth of Woodstock, GA, two daughters, Sharon P. Livingston of Ellicott City, MD, Donna E. Berger of Grasonville, MD, one son Jerry L. Millwood of Cleveland, TN; seven grandchildren (five grandsons: Jeremy Millwood and Jason Millwood of Cleveland, TN, Glenn Livingston of Ellicott City, MD, Jon and Michael Berger of Grasonville, MD; two granddaughters: Stephanie Alper of Ellicott City, MD and Sarah Ross of Grasonville, MD, ten great grandchildren: six great granddaughters: Morgan Millwood, Callie Millwood, Hannah Millwood, Sadie Millwood, Hannah Alper, Elizabeth Ross and four great grandsons: Andrew Millwood, Jackson Millwood, Bradley Livingston and Grant Livingston. A celebration of his life will be held at the Hopewell Church of God, 5765 Eureka Road, Cleveland, TN on Friday, May 23, 2008. Viewing will be at the church from 11:00 a.m. ? 12:45 p.m. with a memorial service at 1:00 p.m. Officiating ministers will include: General Overseer, G. Dennis McGuire (tribute), Reverend Hoyt Stone, Reverend Max Morris and Reverend Jerry L. Millwood. Entombment will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens, Cleveland, TN. Ralph Buckner Funeral Home will be in charge of the service.