Ocie "O.G." Church

Mr. Ocie Gentry “O.G.” Church, age 86, a resident of Columbia, passed away Monday, January 25, 2021 at Maury Regional Medical Center.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 30, 2021 at 1:00 PM at Heritage Funeral Home with Joe Macer and John Thomas officiating. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens with military honors provided by the United States Army. A visitation will also be held on Saturday from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM at the funeral home. Please all in attendance follow CDC guidelines on social distancing and facial coverings. Heritage Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Mr. Church was born on August 17, 1934 in Maury County, Tennessee and was the son of the late Sam Church and the late Cleo King Church. He was a lifelong member of Eastside Church of Christ (Southgate Church of Christ) where he served as a deacon for a number of years. He was a 1953 graduate of Columbia Central High School and served in the United States Army. After returning from the Army, he worked at Peabody Coal Company (Occidental Chemical) and Spontex for many years before retiring.

Mr. Church was a faithful Christian man, husband, father and grandfather who was devoted to his faith and family. He had a servant’s heart, a big bright smile and was always willing to step in and help whenever needed. His unwavering love and care for his wife, Darlene, when she was confined to the nursing home is a testament of the man he was. Not only did he visit the nursing home every day to be with her, he would also visit the other residents to help lift their spirits.

Throughout his life, he enjoyed working in the yard, finding deals at yard sales, fishing, and boating or riding the seadoo on the lake. He also loved working on lawn mowers. He would fix up lawnmowers as a hobby and was known as The Lawnmower Man. He enjoyed attending ballgames, pageants, plays and any other activities in which his grandchildren were involved.

He is survived by his daughter, Kim Church (Mike) Kinzer of Columbia, TN; son, Jeff (Holly) Church of Birmingham, AL; grandchildren: Emily Joy Kinzer of Sarasota, FL, Kaelin Michael Kinzer of Columbia, TN, Connor Gentry Church, and Carson Daniel Church of Birmingham, AL; and brother, Frank (Gail) Church of Columbia, TN.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of fifty-four years, Darlene Joy   Gilliam Church.

Pallbearers will be Connor Church, Carson Church, Darrin Church, Kevin Church, Elliotte Kinzer, Mike Pierce, Steve Pierce and Jim Anderson.

Honorary pallbearers will be the Elders, Deacons, Preachers and members of Southgate Church of Christ, and the family of Patsy Pierce.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to Dr. Christopher Turner, Dr. Brandon Gentry, and the nursing staff on the COVID unit at Maury Regional Medical Center.

Memorial donations may be made to the Southgate Church of Christ Building Fund, 2700 Pulaski Hwy, Columbia, TN 38401.