Dr. Willie "Gene" Eugene Gurganus

Taking the words directly from the memoirs of Gene Gurganus, “I am convinced that without God and His blessings, this nobody would have no story—at least not a good story—to tell! If God could use me, a very ordinary man, then He can use anybody that is willing to be used. God often uses weak people to accomplish His goals, so that in the end, He alone will get the glory. I often queried the Lord why He did not give me a booming voice or dominant personality. I learned it is because He wants people without booming voices or dominant personalities to know that God can also use them to accomplish His plans.”

Willie Eugene Gurganus, age 91, passed from this earth to his heavenly home and saw his Savior face to face on the 2nd day of January in the year 2021. He battled with pneumonia since November and was in Nash General Hospital of Rocky Mount, North Carolina when he took his last breath. His nurse was the only one present holding his hand while the strains of his favorite hymn, “Amazing Grace”, were playing in his room. His family will ever be grateful to Alexis for her compassion to our loved one.

Born on June 7, 1929, Genie-Boy was the last child of Herbert and Ethel Faithful Gurganus of Rocky Mount, North Carolina and the last to leave to go to meet his Heavenly Father.  His sisters and brothers that he loved dearly that have passed on before him were: Jesse Dell Gurganus Harris, Herbert Earl Gurganus, Marvin Faithful Gurganus, Ethel Gray Gurganus Pitt, Helen Marie Gurganus Mordh, and Jack Linwood Gurganus. He was also preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Elizabeth English Gurganus.

He was a husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather and spiritual father and grandfather to many more. He leaves behind his wife of 8 years, Nancy Ward Gurganus of Rocky Mount, North Carolina. He is survived by three daughters and their spouses: Lydia Gene Gurganus Greene & Dr. Scott Greene of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania; Martha Hux Gurganus Greene & Roger Greene of Honea Path, South Carolina; and Jody Ruth Gurganus Koop & Don Koop of Lawrenceville, Georgia. Together they have given him 20 beloved grandchildren. His goodly heritage continues with 32 great- grandchildren at the time of his passing. Each of his daughters was able to spend time with him in the week before he passed and say their goodbyes to their beloved daddy. We are confident that it was only a temporary goodbye for now-- as we have the blessed hope of the appearing of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Dr. Gene Gurganus was a faithful servant of Jesus Christ after he was saved by grace in a tent meeting held in Rocky Mount by Evangelist Oliver B. Greene in July of 1950. His life was changed from that day forward. A few words that describe him are follower of Jesus Christ, faithful, humble, prayer warrior, missionary, peacemaker, preacher, evangelist, world-traveler, author, soul-winner, servant, and loyal friend.

Arriving in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) as pioneer missionaries in 1958, Gene and Elizabeth Gurganus with Lydia, began 17 years of fruitful ministry in Chittagong. Gene organized the Bible Information Centre and the Bible Correspondence School which is being greatly used of the Lord even today in reaching many thousands with the Word of God. In the first 10 years, a million advertisements to receive Bible lessons in the mail were distributed on the streets. When they retired from the field, he served as the Southeastern Representative for ABWE for 17 years, holding mission conferences and helping new missionaries on their way to foreign countries.

Dr. Gurganus has authored multiple books including a postal Bible study course, Path to Truth and Freedom, currently published in English, Hindi, Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, Nepalese, Burmese, Mandarin Chinese, and Tedin Chin (Myanmar). He received a Doctorate of Ministries degree from Bob Jones University in 1990.  He was active in Men for Missions at Hampton Park Baptist Church in Greenville, South Carolina. In the ‘90s, he teamed up with Mel Lacock to begin Jerusalem Outreach Conferences to aid churches in reaching their neighborhoods for Christ. His passion for souls never waned. He testified wherever he was, whether in a foreign land, at home, or in a hospital bed. He never retired from proclaiming the Good News. In his last week, he passed out over 50 gospel booklets from his hospital bed.

For a full account of his life: Request a copy of his memoirs, Beautiful Feet: Life Story of Missionary Gene Gurganus at TRUTH PUBLISHERS c/o Martha G. Greene, POB 425, Honea Path, South Carolina, 29654.

A service to celebrate and remember his life will be held at Crossroads Baptist Church, 3224 Benvenue Road, Rocky Mount, North Carolina, at 2 p.m., Friday, January 8th, 2021.  A socially distanced viewing will take place from 12-2p.m. A private interment will follow in Nashville, NC.

For those who cannot attend, the service will be live- streamed @ 2 p.m. (EST) 1/8/2021.
Youtube Channel @ CrossroadsBapt RockyMount
www.youtube.com/channel/UCoZQho0mDbTSrUUOZ5jsNHg 

In lieu of flowers, please send any charitable donations through https://www.igmgo.org/ (specifically for Asia 20/20). If anyone knew our daddy, they would know his heartbeat was for the work of the Lord to go on. It was one of his last words of advice he spoke to his daughter before his passing, “If there is one thing I’ve learned, it is that you can never outgive God.” 

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