November 21, 1957

This Article Appeared In The Times

But Was Not Actually Titled Cal’s Column

Transcribed by Janette West Grimes

Reverend Calvin Gregory, Times Publisher, Dies Unexpectedly

Services Held Sunday For Minister, Publisher

Funeral services for Rev. Calvin Gregory, 66, publisher of the Macon County Times and a widely-known Missionary Baptist minister, were conducted Sunday morning at 11 a. m. from the auditorium of Macon County High by Rev. F. W. Lambert, Rev. W. T. Russell and Rev. Paul Oldham.

Burial was in the Haysville Cemetery.

The Times publisher died unexpectedly about 2: 15 Saturday morning in Smith-Chitwood Hospital, less than 24 hours after being admitted. Death was attributed to heart failure. He became ill Thursday night at his home, 219 College St.

Rev. Gregory was actively engaged in publishing the Times and in carrying on his church and civic work until Thursday of last week when he became ill.

He had pastored the Mace's Hill Baptist church since its organization 40 years ago and was at the time of his death the pastor of his home church, Mt. Tabor. Both churches are in Smith County.

During the long tenure as a minister of the gospel, he had pastored more than 50 churches in Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky. At one time, he was actively engaged in pastoring seven churches at once, the churches setting their meeting hours to fit his busy schedule.

A well-known revivalist; he has conducted hundreds of protracted meetings in all three divisions of Tennessee, in Kentucky, Missouri and Virginia. An avid debater, he encountered many of the leaders of other church groups in religious discussions. He conducted the funerals of more than 3,000 persons during his lifetime.

A native of the Mace's Hill section of Smith County, he was the son of Thomas Morgan and Marietta Ballou Gregory. Reared the oldest child in a large family, he left the farm in his youth to enter the ministry. He first became associated with the newspaper field when he accepted a position with the Carthage Courier.

At the age of 23, following the death of his parents, he accepted the responsibility of rearing his parents' children until they married and left his home, which was in the Pleasant Shade community of Smith County at that time.

He moved to Lafayette in 1930 and purchased a half interest in the Macon County Times, assuming full control of the operation in 1937.

In addition to his church work and his career in the weekly newspaper field, he also served as correspondent for the Nashville Banner and as agent for Macon, Smith and Trousdale counties for Newspaper Printing Corporation of Nashville, until recent years.

A member of the Macon County Court in recent years, he was instrumental in the court's voting to construct the new Macon County High School building, where thousands attended his funeral.

A leader in his community, he served as president of the North Central Telephone Cooperative which brought dial telephone service to this area. He was a director of the concern upon his death.

He is survived by his wife, Betty Jenkins Gregory; two sons, Leonard C. Gregory and Charles F. Gregory, both of Lafayette; two daughters, Miss Sue Gregory, of Knoxville; and Mrs. Walt Bolinger, of Indianapolis, Ind.; a brother, Thomas Gregory, of Toledo, Ohio; six sisters, Mrs. Nannie Porter, Hendersonville; Mrs. Mary Perrigo, Gallatin; Mrs. Grace Dickerson, Pleasant Shade; Mrs. Clara Barton, Lafayette; Mrs. Eunice Wilmore; and Mrs. Alice Beasley, of Riddleton; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

____________________________________

MACON COUNTY TIMES WILL CONTINUE TO BE PUBLISHED

_______________________

Since the death of our beloved publisher of the Macon County Times, Elder Calvin Gregory, the question has been asked many times if this newspaper would continue to be published.

There are no plans to discontinue the publication of the Macon County Times.

The staff of this newspaper sincerly hopes and expects to continue to publish the type newspaper which we believe you, our readers, will enjoy receiving and reading each week. No basic policies of this newspaper are to be changed so far as can be foreseen at this time.

We will continue to solicit subscriptions and will also continue to call on our advertisers and printing customers. We sincerely feel that we can continue to serve you in the manner to which you have become accustomed.

Over the years, the late publisher built this newspaper into a monument of honesty and integrity. Subscribers knew that they received full value for their money and every advertiser, so far as we know, was treated fairly and honestly in every case. Printing customers expected and received quality work at the lowest prices possible.

To the best of our ability, we, the staff of the Macon County Times, pledge ourselves to continue in the traditions exemplified by the late Elder Calvin Gregory.