Herbert Rodney Gaddy

Herbert Gaddy passed away peacefully at his home in Cordova, TN on July 20, 2024. 

On September 3, 1938, Herb Gaddy was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi, to Roy and Varnell Gaddy, the last boy in a family of ten children. Four sisters and five brothers. He served the Lord in the gospel ministry from 1961 to 2006. He was educated at Tennessee Temple University and the late Chancellor, Dr. Lee Roberson, his life-friend and mentor, endorsed his textbook for pastoral theology students entitled More Than a Vision that has been embraced by Bethany Divinity College and Seminary, Tabernacle Baptist College and by preachers and pastors in the pastoral ministry for many years. He received certification in the American Association of Christian Counselors after extensive studies at Liberty University.

Dr. Gaddy received his first doctoral degree in Christian Education from Bethany in 1994 and earned his Ph.D. in 2004. After many years of teaching theology and serving on Bethany’s Board of Advisors as liaison for Florida students, Bethany gifted him with an Honorary Doctor’s Degree. His ministry has included pastoring, youth, music, evangelism, and Christian Education. After retirement, he served as Dean of Tabernacle Baptist College in Greenville, South Carolina, where he also taught Pastoral Theology.

At age nineteen, while in the United States Air Force, stationed at Gunter Air Force Base in Alabama, Herb Gaddy hitch-hiked home to Clarksdale, Mississippi, to marry his beloved Janie Wanda Bennett on December 24, 1957. 

He is preceeded in death by his parents Roy Gaddy and Varnell Truelove Gaddy. 

A visitation will be held on July 25, 2024, at Hillcrest Baptist Church in New Albany, MS from 1:00 PM-2:00 PM with a celebration of life service immediately following at 2:00 PM. Burial will take place at Glenfield Memorial Park in New Albany, MS. 

With a full life of love and ministry of soul-winning, Bro. Herb Gaddy “slipped the surly bonds of earth” into the arms of our loving Heavenly Father, leaving behind that bride of sixty-six years, four wonderful children, Phyl Gaddy Lippy (Jay). Angie Gaddy Grossman (Larry). Tracy Gaddy Danner (Bob), Peter Gaddy (Rhylenne), eleven grandchildren, and twenty-six great-grandchildren. He adored them all.

The days of our years are threescore years and ten;

and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years,

yet is their strength labour and sorrow,

for it is soon cut off and we fly away.

Psalm 90:10.

For me to live is Christ and

To die is gain.

Phillipians 1:21