Pastor Kenneth Duke was born in Giles County, TN on December 10, 1943. He departed this life for his Heavenly Home on Thursday, December 26, 2019 with his family by his side.
Visitation will be 9:30 to 11:00 Monday, December 30th, 2019, at Bennett-May & Pierce Funeral Home and Crematory.
The funeral service will follow at 11:00am in the chapel of Bennett-May & Pierce Funeral Home and Crematory.
The burial will follow in the Everbright Cemetery in Lynnville, Tennessee.
Pastor Duke was preceded in death by his father Dan Duke, mother Willie Alice Coleman, sister Mary Alice Drake, and granddaughter Mackenzie Duke.
He grew up in Lynnville, TN and was educated in the Giles County School System. He worked at Jack’s Cookie Plant for many years before retiring from Maggoteaux after 28 years.
But, Pastor Duke’s first love was the Lord. He was baptized as a young adult and his favorite Bible passage was Psalms 121. He served faithfully as a deacon at Ebenezer MB Church in Goodsprings, TN and Round Hill MB Church in Lynnville, TN. In 1997, Rev. Duke was ordained to preach God’s Word and accepted pastorate at Willow Grove M.B. Church. He would serve at Willow Grove for 9 years and as Moderator of the Greater Richland Creek MB Association for a year. Rev. Duke began serving as the Pastor of Happy Hill MB Church in 2010 until his death.
Pastor Duke also enjoyed singing God’s praises. He sung with the Gospel Harmonizers and formed two quartets: The Duke Family Gospel Singers and Rev. Kenneth Duke & The Family Ambassadors.
If you couldn’t find Rev. Duke somewhere serving the Lord, he was spending time with his family. He was a devoted husband of 44 years to Catherine Johnson. And, Pastor Duke enjoyed gatherings with his kids and grandkids.Pastor Duke was truly a man after God’s own heart, who loved preaching, teaching and singing The Word of God. He counted it a privilege to shepherd God’s people. His caring spirit will truly be missed.
He leaves behind to cherish his memory, his loving wife, Catherine Johnson Duke, his five adoring children: Brenda (Ken) Dangerfield, Rev. Kenneth L. (Angela) Duke, Gayle Elaine Duke, Rev. Timothy L. (Tarissa) Duke, and Rev. Marcus K. (Shannon) Duke. Nine Grandchildren and Three Great-Grandchildren; Five brothers: Nathaniel (Darlene) Coleman,William Albert Coleman, and, Michael (DeDe) Coleman in Pulaski, TN, Larry Coleman (Divita) of Spannway, Washington and Charles Coleman of Bettendorf, IA; Two sisters: Rose Mary Brown of Louisville, KY, Adrienne (Stacy) Braden of Bettendorf, IA, Jean Ann (Greg) Cane of South Bend,IN; Four Sisters-In-Laws: Alma Ruth Johnson, Jacqueline Johnson, Faye Ola (Robert) White, Nurelean Johnson, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Bennett-May & Pierce Funeral Home and Crematory are in charge of arrangements for Pastor Kenneth Duke.
