CORRYTON, TN – Jerry Lee Cleveland, 71, went home to be with his Lord and Savio
r on June 17, 2016. Jerry was born on April 20, 1945, in Cheboygan, Michigan to Grover and Virginia Cleveland. He graduated from Brandon High School in Ortonville, Michigan, and then entered the Armed Forces for a period of three years. His service included one year in Vietnam. Jerry married his high school sweetheart, Rosemary Allen, on May 26, 1966, in Ortonville, Michigan. They just celebrated their 50-year anniversary. Jerry surrendered his life to the Lord at a missions conference in 1972 and then enrolled at Midwestern Baptist College the following fall to prepare for the ministry. After graduation he served as an associate pastor for one year in Pontiac, Michigan, and then in 1978 he moved his family to Westfield, MA to start the Pioneer Valley Baptist Church where he pastored for 32 years. His life and ministry impacted many people. He was a devoted pastor to his church and loved his God. Jerry was diagnosed with cancer in 2008 and three years later, after much prayer, he stepped down from pastoring and retired to the Knoxville, Tennessee area.
Those left to honor his memory are his wife of 50 years and the love of his life, Rosemary; his children, Jeff and wife Kat; Angi and husband Craig; Darci and husband Danny; Jeremy and wife Wendy; his grandchildren, Sara, Chandler, Tyler, Kiersten, Kaitlyn, Ran, Addli, Breccan, and Eleanor; his step-dad, Larry; his sisters Arlene and Anna, and his brothers Milton and Evert.
Visitation will be from 5-7pm. at Berry Lynnhurst Funeral Home, Knoxville. A funeral service celebrating his life will be held at 10:30am. on Friday, June 24th at the Halls Baptist Church, Knoxville. Pastors Timothy Gupton, Tom Crichton and Eric Tharp will officiate. Burial will follow at Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery in Knoxville. Pioneer Valley Baptist Church in Westfield, Massachusetts will hold a memorial service for Mr. Cleveland, July 11, 2016 at 10:00am.
In lieu of flowers, donation may be sent to the Halls Baptist Church Building Fund at 7747 Andersonville Pike, Knoxville, TN 37938.
