Alexander William Delk

Alexander William Delk, 93, a resident of Cleveland, TN passed away on Saturday morning, November 21st, 2015 in a Smyrna, TN assisted living. He was born July 19, 1922, in the Union Hill community of Davidson County, Tennessee, near the small town of Goodlettsville; He was the son of the late Alexander William Delk (Sr.) and Carrie Hitt (Delk) Hardcastle. His father died two months before the birth of his son from World War I injuries. Alex and his mother resided with her parents, James W. and Kate Perry Hitt for the first six years of his life. In 1928 she remarried and Alex continued to live with his grandparents.
He attend Union Hill elementary school, finishing his eight grade as valedictorian of his class. He then attended Goodlettsville High School, graduating in 1940. He then enrolled at Madison College, transferred to Peabody College, then to Scarritt College, from which he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1943. He attended Vanderbilt University School of Divinity for three years, graduating in 1946 with a Masters of Divinity degree.
From 1943 until 1952 he pastored in the Methodist church, serving nineteen churches during those years. His pastorates included Hillsboro Circuit, Joelton Circuit, Waynesboro, Antioch Circuit and Cross Plains Circuit.
In 1946 he was assigned as pastor of First Methodist Church at Waynesboro. While there he was married to his wife of 58+ years, Fayetta Treadwell, the daughter of the late Grady and Josie Treadwell. She passed away on December 19th, 2005.
After leaving the pastorate in 1952 for two years the family resided briefly in Birmingham, Alabama, and in Jacksonville, Florida. In 1954 they moved to Cleveland, Tennessee, where for the next six years (1954-1960) he taught Bible and other subjects at the Lee College. During these years he attended the University of Tennessee at Knoxville from which he received a Masters degree in school administration (1958).
In 1960 the family moved to Urbana, Illinois, for further work at the University of Illinois. They remained in Illinois for the next thirty years, moving back to Cleveland in 1990. During these years he served as teacher at Urbana and Ludlow schools, then as principle at Momence Junior High School and at Williamsfield High School. He and wife were founders of the Momence Pentecostal Church (now New Life Fellowship Church), which he pastored during its earlier years. He was retired from the Illinois public school system, retiring in 1987.
After returning to Cleveland, he taught twenty-one years at Cleveland State Community College, teaching public speaking. He was almost ninety years of age when he left Cleveland State, having a total of 57 years in teaching and school administration.
He held a dual membership in two churches, South Cleveland Church of God and Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, both of which he attended regularly each Sunday morning. He taught various Bible classes at both churches throughout the years.
For many years he had been an active member of Gideons International, Cleveland South Camp.
In 2012 he had published the book, Memories of Yesteryear, vividly describing rural life in America during the period between the two great wars, World War I and World War II.
In September 2015 he left Cleveland and moved to Smyrna, Tennessee, where he resided at the Waterford Assisted Living facility.
He is survived by two daughters Angela (Berry) French of Waynesboro, Tennessee and Carrie Devonne (Steve) Lewallen of Cleveland, Tennessee; two sons William Brent (Debra) Delk of Smyrna, Tennessee and Keith (Melody) Delk of Nolensville, Tennessee; six grandchildren Andra French Fugate, Alexa French Hibschweiler, Robert A. Money, Vanessa Delk Laughlin, Ashley Delk and Katie Delk; ten great grandchildren Aaron Fugate, Sarah Fugate, Tyler Getz, Josie Getz, Alyssa Money, Eryn Money, Isaiah Money, Emily Laughlin, Abigail Laughlin and Rosalyn Delk; three half brothers Noel Hardcastle, Tony Hardcastle and Walden Hardcastle, one half sister Grace Hardcastle Holmes; two sisters-in-law Dorothy Sainsbury and Sarah Current; numerous other extended family members and a host of special friends.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday afternoon, November 24th, 2015 from 3:00 PM EST until 5:30 PM EST at the Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church located at 3405 Peerless Road NW in Cleveland, TN 37312. A celebration of his life service will follow at 6:00 PM EST at the church officiated at Pastor Chris Moody.
Another service of committal will take place on Wednesday, November 25th, 2015 at 2:00 PM CST at the Mt. Hope United Methodist Church located at 2510 Mt. Hope Road in Waynesboro, TN 38485. Interment will follow in the church cemetery where Mr. Delk will be laid to rest by his dear wife Faye. The family will receive friends at Mt. Hope from 1:00 PM CST until 1:45 PM CST for those family and friends in the Waynesboro area.
In lieu of flowers, the family request that memorial donations be made to the Cleveland Gideons South Camp in Mr. Delk's memory. Those can be mailed to Cleveland Gideons South Camp; P.O. Box 1163; Cleveland, TN 37364.
You are encouraged to share a memory of Mr. Delk and/or your personal condolences with his family by visiting his memorial web page and guestbook at www.companionfunerals.com.
Companion Funeral Home and the Cody family are honored to assist the Delk family with his arrangements.