Dr. Samuel Edgar McFadden (October 1961 – November 1966)

Rev. Dr. Samuel Edgar McFadden, Sr. was born on September 16, 1886 in Oakland, Tennessee, the son of William Steel and Alcie Ann (nee Murray) McFadden. He attended Sligo Community School near Warren, Tennessee, for elementary school, and Fayette County schools (with some possible home schooling) for high school. He then attended Southwestern Presbyterian University at Clarksville, earning a Bachelor of Arts in 1911. That was followed by seminary at Louisville Presbyterian Seminary, where he received a Bachelor of Divinity in 1914. He also later attended Southwestern College (now Rhodes College) at Memphis, where he received a Doctor of Divinity degree in 1933.

On August 16, 1922, Rev. McFadden married Lois Veleria “Vallie” McKinstry of Fayette County, Tennessee. Rev. and Mrs. McFadden had four children: Samuel Edgar, Jr. (b. June 4, 1923); William James (b. December 14, 1924); Lois Valeria (b. January 27, 1928) and Betty Ann (b. December 30, 1929. They also had seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Mrs. McFadden died in February of 1986 and was buried in the Somerville, Tennessee town cemetary.

Rev. McFadden served as a Presbyterian minister for over 50 years, beginning after seminary with service in Liberty, Mississippi. Prior to serving Oakland Presbyterian Church and Hickory Withe Presbyterian Church concurrently, his pastoral service included 21 years as minister of the First Presbyterian Church of Ruston, Louisiana and 14 years as minister of the First Presbyterian Church of Tupelo, Mississippi. Rev. McFadden also served Alabama Presbyterian Church in Choudrant, Louisiana. Oakland Presbyterian and Hickory Withe Presbyterian were Rev. McFadden’s last call to ministry before his retirement in 1972.

Red. McFadden died on April 24, 1984, at the age of 97. He was buried in Somerville, Tennessee, with memorial services held on April 26th at the First Presbyterian Church of Somerville, where Rev. McFadden was a member. Dr. Paul Tudor Jones officiated the service and Carter Boswell, Roger Elser, Alexander Harvey, Payson Matthews, Spike Steiner, Ralph Stevens, Jack Tapp and Bill Tomlin served as pallbearers.