Obituaries
Rev. Bernard “BJ” Coryer, M.A. in Pastoral Counseling ’12, aged 78, formerly of Davenport, Fla., passed away at the East Georgia Regional Medical Center in Statesboro on July 17, 2023. He moved to Statesboro in Oct. 2021.
BJ was born on Dec. 11, 1944, in Plattsburgh, N.Y., to the late Bernie and Catherine (Terrell) Coryer. He studied Finance at the University of Tampa, and received his Masters of Arts in Pastoral Counseling from Asbury Theological Seminary.
He served in the U.S. Army for 17 years, during which he served in Vietnam and was awarded the Bronze Star. He was a member of the American Legion
BJ was an ordained minister and a board-certified pastoral counselor by the American Association of Christian Counselors.
He was predeceased by his son, Matthew.
BJ is survived by: wife Connie (Puffenbarger ) Coryer; sister, Mildred Coryer-Dhu (Robert) of Great Mills, Md.; daughter, Amy Tanner (Dennis) of Murphy, NC.; one grandson, one granddaughter, and two great-grandchildren.
Kenneth E. Gooden, B.Div. ’65, aged 83, of Plymouth, MN, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, November 25, 2022. He was preceded in death by his first wife Verna L. Gooden, his parents Clyde and Dorothy Gooden, and five of his six siblings. He is survived by his daughter Beth English, son Keith (Susan) Gooden, grandson Jacob (Madeleine Kellogg) Gooden, granddaughter Madison Gooden, and brother Clyde (Marita) Gooden. He is also survived by his loving wife of nearly six years Jeanne M. Gooden, Jeanne’s son Jeffrey (Sue) Kaeder, daughter Connie (Scott) Silva, and an additional nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Ken will be remembered for his many years of service to the Wesleyan Church and other Christian Ministries, his deep love of music, and as a chaplain in his senior years.
John met the love of his life, Kay Cooper while in medical school and they married in June 1966. He completed his internship and residency at Fitzsimmons Army Hospital at which time their children were born. They then moved to San Antonio where he completed his fellowship at Brooke Army Hospital before moving to Fort Brag Army Hospital where he served as Chief of the Department of Medicine earning the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Upon completion of his military service, the family moved back to Baton Rouge. He began his practice at The Internal Medicine Clinic before opening Gastroenterology Associates with Drs. Kerry Howell and Barry Scott. He was instrumental in opening the first endoscopy center in Baton Rouge. He was a member of the American and East Baton Rouge Parish Medical Societies and served on the boards of Bayou Federal Credit Union and Baton Rouge General Hospital. He also volunteered at the school based clinic at Westdale Middle School.
Upon his retirement from practice, he served as a Medical Director at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana. He loved the practice of medicine and caring for patients. Love of family and the Lord were integral in his life. He enjoyed vacationing with his family, beaches, skiing, family dinners and especially time in the mountains with his grandchildren. Throughout his life, he was active in his faith at Trinity Episcopal, First United Methodist, and First Evangelical Presbyterian. He served his congregations as usher, Senior Warden, Administrative Board, participating in bible study, Covenant group, and mentoring ministries. He loved participating in medical mission trips to Mexico and loved his medical mission trip with his wife to an orphanage in Vietnam.
John was preceded in death by his parents Catherine and John Hoppe. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Kay, his children Scott Hoppe (Michelle) and Laura Smyer (Joel), his grandchildren Kayleigh Hoppe, Michael Hoppe, Will Musgrove, Chloe Musgrove, Christopher Musgrove and Benton Musgrove, his sister Sue Lapinski, as well as his nieces and nephews Dawn Jones, Paige Hulsey, Katheryn Band, and John Yerger. We would like to thank the staff at Landmark Skilled Nursing and the ICU nurses at Baton Rouge General for their compassionate care. We are so thankful for our wonderful sitters Wanza Bell, Cynthia Veal, and especially Andrea Parker
Carl Bruno Pfeiffer, Jr., aged 73, died on Saturday, February 20, 1993 at Syl-View Health Care Center after a three month battle with cancer.
He was born in Screven County on September 27, 1919. He was a 1937 graduate of Sylvania High School and attended Emory at Oxford until entering the United States Army where he served in a Quarter Master’s Company in the European Theater. After returning home from World War II, he worked with his father in the C.B. Pfeiffer Lumber Company, and later with his brother Milas in the Pfeiffer Brothers Lumber Company.
Mr. Pfeiffer was a member of Buck Creek United Methodist Church where he a member of the choir, chairman of Evangelism, a member of the Administration Board and the Council on Ministries. He was a charter member of the United Methodist Men’s Club, president of the Northern Cluster of Methodist Men, trustee of the Statesboro District of the United Methodist Church, trustee of Epworth By The Sea, active in the laywork of the South Georgia Conference, and was active in the Lay Witness Mission. He was a member of Gideon International and the Buck Creek Farm Bureau.
Mr. Pfeiffer was interested in education and helped support many institutions, including Emory University, Emory at Oxford, Andrew College, and Asbury Seminary, where he recently established a scholarship. His faith was demonstrated in his daily life and he sought opportunities to help others.
Mr. Pfeiffer is survived by his wife of 44 years, Beatrice West Pfeiffer, of Sylvania: two sisters, Anne P. Hamilton, of Dalton, and Grace P. Boddiford of Sylvania: one sister-in-law, Dorothy S. Pfeiffer of Sylvania and several nieces and nephews.
He was born April 18,1953 in Jackson, MS to Bill and Mary Lynn Still.
Billy was a husband, father, grandfather, pastor, storyteller, adventurer, mountain climber, ultramarathoner, rebel, sports fan, author, leader, troublemaker, dog lover, teacher, firefighter, outdoorsman, cyclist, raconteur, goofball, mentor, friend, missionary, intellectual, and theologian. He was a man of many parts.
It does not matter if you knew him or not, he already loved you. If you were lucky enough to know him, you got the privilege of loving him back. You saw the example he set in the world, you got his advice and wisdom, and you knew that there was someone in your life who would drop everything to help you through your struggles and onto a pathway to peace. He was Christlike in a way that few men ever really are.
He graduated from Wingfield High School, Millsaps College, Asbury Theological Seminary and the Solstice MFA in Creative Writing Program.
He is survived by: his wife Ann; his mother Mary Lynn; his children, Chris, Joe, and Sara; their spouses, Melissa, Melissa, and Dan; his 5 grandchildren, Charlie, Wesley, JT, Victoria, and William; his sister Jennifer and her family; the congregations he served First Methodist Church of Corinth, MS, North Star UMC Nikiski, AK , Anchor Park UMC Anchorage, AK, St. Paul’s UMC Tucson, AZ.; Finally, he is survived by the countless friends that he loved, helped, and inspired all around the world.
John was born January 11, 1940, in Richmond, Virginia, son of the late Reverend Lambert G. Tinnell and the late Gertrude Amos Tinnell. John attended Duke University on a football scholarship and played on the 1961 Cotton Bowl championship team. John was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a degree in engineering. John then proceeded to Harvard Business School on a full academic scholarship where he earned a Masters of Business Administration. Mr. Tinnell spent the majority of his career in senior management positions across the pulp and paper industry with firms including Mead, Hammermill, Kimberly Clark, and Sonoco Products.
John was an active member of St. Andrews Church for over 20 years. The St. Andrews Church family was a central part of his daily life, and he received great joy from his involvement in his church “Life Group” and “The Empty Nesters”. John was active in his weekly men’s prayer group who frequently held their Tuesday morning meetings on his back porch overlooking the marsh – his favorite place. John was also a lifelong donor and supporter of Asbury Theological Seminary, his father’s alma mater.
John enjoyed the outdoors and a variety of sports including golf, tennis, and snow skiing. John skied until age 75 with a last trip to Breckenridge and Vail in 2015. John also enjoyed his motorcycle, a 1997 Yamaha Royal Star. He put over 100,000 miles on the bike with his last ride down to Beaufort, SC, just a few months ago. John will be remembered for his dedication to his Cotton Bowl teammates, his love for his family, and his love for Jesus Christ.
He is survived by his wife, Virginia Tinnell; children, John R Tinnell, Jr. of Charlotte, NC, Virginia Mallard of Charleston, SC, Jennifer Tinnell of Tucker, GA, Elizabeth Tinnell Schuh and her husband Dean of Johns Creek, GA; grandchildren, Bentley Olson, Hunter Olson, Merritt Olson, and Robert R. Mallard III; and two brothers, Amos Tinnell of Davidson, NC, and Lambert Tinnell (Nancy) of Louisville, KY.
Carl was born to J.E. White and Verna (Beaty) White on October 18, 1946, in Comanche, Texas.
The son of a distinguished Air Force Colonel, he spent his formative years in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where amidst the sharp coastal winds he developed a mind and wit in kind.
After graduating high school in 1964 at just 17 years old, he moved to Lubbock, Texas to attend Texas Tech University and pursue a degree in both business and psychology. It was there he married the love of his life, Delila, and together the two embarked on a remarkable 57-year love affair that culminated in a beautiful family encompassing their three children, five grandchildren, and the countless souls they welcomed into their home with open arms.
Carl was many things during his life – husband, father, teacher, student, and friend – but above all, he was a follower of Christ who devoted his life to spreading the Good News, both at home and abroad.
His ministry truly began in Wilmore, Kentucky, where he graduated from Asbury Theological Seminary in 1979. From there, the depth of his testimony was matched only by its breadth; he led congregations across Kentucky, New Mexico, and Texas; served as a missionary to Rome and joined missionary excursions to South Africa; and made frequent visits to maximum security prisons in Mexico, where he ministered words of grace, forgiveness, and salvation.
He also served as Senior Pastor of the Epicenter and sat on the board of Frontline Ministries since 2016. An unabashed entertainer, he found no greater joy than spreading the gospel through stories only slightly embellished to fit the sermon.
Beyond his discipleship, he was an avid historian, loved all things cars, and was at his happiest driving his motor home. Carl’s legacy is that of a kind and sweet man, who will be remembered as a wise teacher, a beloved patriarch, and a servant to his community. He will be dearly missed.
Jamie Carlis White is survived by his wife, Delila Ann, and their three children, Kelly Adams and her husband Mike, Jamie Jones and her husband Shane, Stephen White and his wife Brandi; his five grandchildren, Megan, Sam, Andrew, Caiden, and Ryan; and his sister, Pamela Johnson.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father.
At a young age, Dave was called to serve the Lord through ministry. He attended Asbury College and Asbury Theological Seminary then served 40 years as a minister with the United Methodist Church. He served churches in Bradenton, Tampa, Clewiston, Bartow, Lake Placid, Englewood, Naples, Chiefland and Cedar Key. He had a special place in his heart for children and youth programs. He made loving Jesus fun and wanted others to know that joy beginning at a very early age. Mission and outreach was especially important to him. While serving in Lake Placid he was instrumental in the formation of Lakeview Christian School, Homeless and Orphan Outreach, Inc (HOOI), Manna Ministries and Alpha Omega Crisis Center. He made a point to improve the facilities at churches he served. During his tenure most of his churches had major building projects including fellowship halls, Sunday School classrooms, chapels, teen centers, whatever the need was at the time. His legacy will continue to live on through those serving these ministries today.
Dave was a man of many talents. While working his way through college, he helped with the construction of the original Sunshine Skyway. There he worked as an underwater welder. Once retired, he settled down in Fowler’s Bluff, Florida to enjoy his loving marriage with Margaret (64 years), beautiful views of the Suwannee River, and endless days fishing his favorite spots off Cedar Key. Time in this life is precious, and he would want everyone to love life as much as he did.
Reverend Dr. Jerald B. Landrey, ‘69, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Aug. 1, 2023. He was 79 years old, just three weeks shy of his 57th wedding anniversary. Jerry pastored in the Presbyterian (PCUSA) for nearly 40 years. He and his wife, Carolyn moved from California to Wilmore, KY to attend seminary. Carolyn taught elementary school in Nicholasville. It was quite a change for them coming from the LA area of Calif. For the past 10 years Jerry dealt with prostate cancer and dementia. Three months ago the family admitted him to a memory care facility where he had the most loving caregivers. They were from all over the world, and having been born in India to Wesleyan Methodist missionaries, he loved the international world, especially India, where he lived the first 9 years of his life. Along with his older brothers, Mark and Paul, they attended Woodstock School, a boarding school in the Himalayas. Jerry had a wonderful ministry and spent many summers, using his study leave, teaching other pastors in numerous other countries.
Jerry is survived by his wife, Carolyn, sons, Todd, Troy and Tim, daughters-in-law, Mollie and Kathryn and grandchildren, Maddy, Jack, Gavin, Mack and Alexander Landrey. All except Todd and his family live just minutes from Carolyn in Cumming, GA. Todd lives in PA.
Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, while deep down inside, love leaves a memory, no one can steal.