Dr. George W. Van Devender

April 24, 2019

Dr. George W. Van Devender, 93, of Carriere, Mississippi, went to be Home with his Lord and Savior on Wednesday, April 24, 2019 in Highland Community Hospital, Picayune.

Dr. Van Devender was born January 27, 1926 in Meridian, Mississippi to Roger and Ethel Van Devender. He was a retired English Professor and a Southern Baptist Minister. He was a veteran of the United States Navy and an alumnus of University of Corpus Christi, Southern Seminary, Mississippi College, and the University of Mississippi. He taught at colleges and universities in Mississippi, Kentucky, Texas, and Virginia. He published many articles for literary reference books and chaired literary conferences.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife, Fay Bell Van Devender; two brothers, Fred Van Devender and Harold Van Devender.

Family members include two children, Doug (Betty) Van Devender, Dianne (Richard) Sellers; one brother, Bobby (Corinne) Van Devender; six grandchildren, Matthew (Jancee) Van Devender, Kim (Paul) Douglass, Faith Van Devender, Bill (Morgan) Cruse, Gordon (Emily) Cruse, Rick (Amanda) Sellers; nine great grandchildren, Madalyn Van Devender, Julianne Van Devender, Levi Van Devender, Liam Cruse, Macie Cruse, Victor Cruse, Jackson Dennis, Tucker Reynolds, and Anna Reese Sellers.

Funeral services will be held at Pine Grove Baptist Church, 34 Pine Grove Road, Picayune, MS, 39466 on Sunday, April 28, 2019 at 2:00 pm. Dr. Cody Warren will officiate the service. Burial will follow at a later date in Elmwood Cemetery, Abilene, Texas. The family will receive friends and have visitation one hour prior to the service, Sunday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Pine Grove Baptist Church to purchase Bibles for George’s favorite ministry: Joseph Omondi’s Kenya Prison Ministry.

White Funeral Home, (601) 795-4982. www.whitefuneralhomepoplarville.com.