Funeral services for Rev. William “Luther” Carlisle, of Fair River community, will be Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016, at the Memphis Funeral Home, Bartlett, Tennessee.

Rev. Carlisle, 90, died Friday, Oct. 21, 2016, at Memphis’ Baptist Memorial Hospital from complications of congestive heart failure.

After serving in the U.S. Army 28th Infantry as a machine gunner in World War II during the Battle of the Bulge and the crossing of the Rhine River, Rev. Carlise answered God’s calling to the ministry. He was licensed and ordained at Fair River Baptist Church, his boyhood and family church. After graduating from Mississippi College in Clinton and attending New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, he pastored the Philadelphia Baptist Church in Caseyville. He then was the founding pastor, 60 years ago, for Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Louisiana. Subsequently, he moved to the Memphis, Tennessee area, where he pastored Kensington Baptist Church and Calvary Baptist Church. He was director of the Baptist Association’s “Camp Cordova” for several years.

In retirement, he became a member of Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, and most recently pastored their worship services at the Robinwood Retirement Community. In addition to his ministries, he became involved in his real estate and property management firm, Carlisle Enterprises, and was a member of Masonic Lodge and Eastern Star.

Preceding him in death are his parents, Walter Henry Carlisle and Susie Jane Ritchie Carlisle; second wife Jeanne Greer Carlisle, a brother, Rev. John (Ruby) Carlisle, and a sister Lessie (Robert) Touchstone.

Survivors are his daughter Joyce Hope (Walt) DeLeeuw, of Clermont, Florida, former wife Jo Evans Carlisle (Bobby) Lucas;brothers Henry (Dot), Shelby (Jessie), Dolphus “Doc” (Mavis), and Bill (Debbie) Carlisle; sisters Julie (A.T.) Bankston, Lois (Pat) Hodge, and Lynda (Jediah) Williams;  three step-children, seven  grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews and other family.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the “Forever Young” Veterans Organization, 185 S. Center St, Suite 110, Collierville, TN 38017.