James Simrell Woodroof

James Simrell Woodroof (Jim) was born on the 9th of March, 1933, to Claude and Bessie (Simrell) Woodroof in Obion, Tennessee. He lived to celebrate his 85th birthday. He passed on to be with his Lord (which, for him, was “better by far”) on March 22, 2018. Jim graduated from David Lipscomb High School in 1951. He attended Memphis State University for his freshman year in 1951-52, then attended to David Lipscomb College from 1952-1955, graduating with a BA in Biblical Studies. He began work on a Master’s of Arts in Religion from Harding Graduate School of Religion in the early 1960’s but—due to ministry and family demands and the decision to do mission work in New Zealand—was unable to complete his work until 1967, when he was awarded an MA degree. Jim and Louine (his wife of 64 years) met and dated while Jim led singing and worked with the youth at the Union Avenue Church of Christ in Memphis, Tennessee. They were married in 1953 (in a double-wedding with Louine’s sister Racine and her groom, Bill Kritz; Jim’s father, Claude, officiated). Five children were born of their union over a ten-year span: James Timothy in Hickory, North Carolina, in 1955: David Bryan in Hickory, North Carolina, in 1957; Jonathan Bradley in Columbia, South Carolina in 1959; Amy Elizabeth in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1962; and Rachel Louine in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1965. Jim’s and Louine’s partnership in both family and ministry was—besides faith in Jesus himself—the greatest blessing either of them knew. Ministry Jim and Louine served a number of churches during the course of their six plus decades of ministry. • Berea Church of Christ, Berea, Tennessee (1953-1955) • Hickory Church of Christ, Hickory, North Carolina (1955-1957) • West Columbia Church of Christ, West Columbia, South Carolina (1957-1959) • South Highland Church of Christ, Little Rock, Arkansas (1959-1963) • Union Avenue Church of Christ, Memphis, Tennessee (1963-1965) • Bryndwr Church of Christ, Christchurch, New Zealand (1965-1970) • White Haven Church of Christ, Memphis, Tennessee (1970-1972) • College Church of Christ, Searcy, Arkansas (1972-1980) • A&M Church of Christ, College Station, TX (1980-1984) • Burlington Church of Christ, Burlington, Massachusetts (1984-1990 • Muskogee Church of Christ, Muskogee, Oklahoma (1990-1997) Jim and Louine always spoke fondly of their time in New Zealand (an experience Jim called “pivotal” to his thinking and future ministry) and their work with college students in Searcy (the “high point” of their ministry life). In the closing years of his ministry, Jim also did interim ministries with several churches, including churches of Christ in Searcy, Arkansas, Corpus Christi and Belton, TX, Antioch and Nashville, TN. Writing and Speaking: Jim wrote several books, addressing issues relevant to churches of Christ or focusing on favorite biblical passages. His books have been translated into several languages and were pivotal in shaping the thinking of ministers and church leaders in churches of Christ over the past half century: The Divorce Dilemma; Struggles of the Kingdom; Four Realities; The Aroma of Christ; Beyond Crossroads; Between the Rock and a Hard Place; The Church in Transition; and Sayings that Saved my Sanity. (His last book—Sayings—was written and published at the age of 81.) In addition to his writings, Jim was a popular speaker, preaching at lectureships, retreats, and congregational meetings, as well as at events around the world (in Asia, Europe, and the South Pacific). Jim’s preaching and writing ministries occurred during interesting times in the history of churches of Christ. At a juncture where churches of Christ in general were struggling with more sectarian and reactionary tendencies, Jim stressed the centrality of the person and work of Jesus Christ, the priorities of love and unity over doctrinal divides, and the need for personal transformation by the power of the gospel. Many people who sat under his teaching or read his writings testify to the influence of Jim’s Christ-centered teaching on their own understanding and practice of faith. Jim is preceded in death by his parents and brothers Dan Woodroof and Tom Woodroof. Jim is survived by his wife of sixty-four years: Louine Miloe McGee Woodroof; sisters, Jodi Morris (married to Sonny) and Bettye Alley; children, Tim Woodroof (married to Julie), David Woodroof (married to Debbie), Jon Woodroof (married to Stacy), Amy Phillips (married to Mark), and Rachel Bossier (married to Scott). He is also survived by 15 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 25, 2018 at the College Church of Christ in Searcy. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice.

James Simrell Woodroof

March 9, 1933 - March 22, 2018