October 24, 1957

This Article Appeared In The Times

But Was Not Actually Titled Cal’s Column

Transcribed by Janette West Grimes

Elder C. B. Massey Dies Thursday Night

Elder Captain Buie Massey, perhaps the best known Baptist minister in North Middle Tennessee, died at mid-night Thursday, passing away from a heart attack to which he had been subject for some time. He lived only 30 minutes after being stricken. He lived alone in his home at Pleasant Shade. However, part of his loved ones were at his bedside when the end came. He was 90 years, four months and one day of age, having been born about eight miles north of Lafayette, on June 16, 1867, the son of L. W. and Millie Jent Massey.

He is survived by three sons, Henry Massey and Buie Massey, both of Pleasant Shade; and Johnnie W. Massey, of Nashville; one daughter, Mrs. J. E. McDonald, of Lafayette; seven grandchildren adn 10 great-grandchildren. All his brothers and sisters had preceded him in death.

Funeral services were held at Mt. Tabor Baptist church, a mile south of Pleasant Shade, where he had resided for the past few years, on last Saturday morning, with Elders T. C. Jones, F. W. Lamber and Calvin Gregory in charge. A crowd estimated at 2,000 persons attended the funeral services including perhaps 40 Baptists ministers. The remains were then taken to Dixon Springs to his family burial lot where the Masonic fraternity took charge and made the burial. He was a member of Sycamore Valley Baptist church and was the oldest Baptist minister in years and in point of service through this section of Northern Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky, having been actively engaged as a minister for about 60 years.He was pastor of Faith Baptist church in Bowling Green, Ky., up to his death.

He had preached what he called his farewell sermon before Enon Association a week before his death. He had also preached to his church at Sycamore Valley on Sunday before the end came. He was ordained on June 10, 1899, by Rocky Mound Baptist church and so far as we have learned, having out-lived all those who had a part in his ordination. He had served as pastor of 33 different Baptist churches, serving them from six months, his shortest pastorate, to 23 years. He had about 80 oral debates with some of the representative men of other church groups. He had baptized 2,000 persons or more and held 2,500 funeral services. He had long been the most active minister in this part of Tennessee.

Brother Massey was first married, on Oct. 26, 1890, to Miss Effie Hanes. After her death he married Fannie Graves, daughter of Wilford and Harriett Graves. After her death he married Miss Maggie Barhan, who preceded her husband in death April 27, 1930. Still later he was married to Mrs. Darthulia Williams Oldham, widow of the late Elder Henry C. Oldham. She, too, preceded Brother Massey in death more than five years ago. Since that time he had lived alone.