Brother Tommy Gerald Purvis

Brother Tommy Gerald Purvis, 77

Brother Tommy Gerald Purvis, son of Enoch and Loyce Purvis, was born in New Albany, Miss. on May 20, 1948, and died suddenly in La Grange, Ky. on Jan. 20, 2026.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Mike Purvis and his precious daughter, Stacey Leah Purvis. He leaves behind Carla, his wife of 57 years; his daughters, Dorian Clark (Kevin) and Lydia Winters (Kurtis); his grandchildren, Camryn Clark Ball (John Caleb), Elijah Winters, Julianna Winters and Naomi Winters; his sister, Judy Mengel; and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was a graduate of W.P. Daniel High School, Mississippi State University (B.S and master's in agriculture), Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and Asbury Seminary (Doctorate of Missiology).
Tommy managed several farms in Mississippi and Alabama. He served as the 4-H Agent and later as the County Agent in Iuka, Mississippi in Tishomingo County. Tommy surrendered to the ministry in 1985 and pastored several wonderful churches in Mississippi and Kentucky, including Highland Baptist (Tishomingo Co, Miss.), Little Mount Baptist (Taylorsville, Ky.) Calvary Baptist
(Belmont, Miss.) Ballardsville Baptist, (Oldham Co.), Director of Missions for the Severns Valley Baptist Association (Elizabethtown, Ky.) and DeHaven Baptist Church (La Grange, Ky.)
He then served a variety of churches in Kentucky as interim pastor for Warsaw United Methodist (Gallatin County, Ky.), Hickory Grove United Methodist Church (Trimble Co.) Smithfield Baptist Church (Henry County, Ky.), Harrods Creek Baptist (Oldham County, Ky.) and full-time pastor at Union Grove Church (Trimble County, Ky.) from 2022-present.
He served as the Rotary Club President in Newton, and Iuka, Miss. and La Grange, Ky.
He served on the Baptist Health Hospital Board in La Grange, was Oldham County Shriner Club President, member of the Pewee Valley Masonic Lodge, Chaplain for Louisville Scottish Rites and board member for Cedar Lake Lodge.
Tommy and Carla loved being a part of the Shriner Hillbillies where they raised funds for Shriner Children's Hospitals. Two of their favorite fundraisers each year were the Hillbilly Day Festival and the Hillbilly Christmas in July event.
Tommy loved sharing the gospel at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota and Daytona Beach Bike Week in Florida. He was also a supporter of FEAT of Louisville in helping raise autism awareness in honor of his only grandson, Elijah.
Tommy went on numerous international mission trips through the years to China, Honduras, Brazil, Russia, Zimbabwe and Tanzania. He also did mission work on the Navajo Reservation and E KY. Evangelism, and witnessing were very important parts of his life. Tommy wanted to share the love and joy of Jesus with others so they could know the Lord like he did and also have the eternal gift of salvation. Because of this Tommy is now more alive than ever living eternally in heaven with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! We are Praising God for the hope we have in Him and that "Bro T" is now with Jesus and got to hear those beautiful words, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."
A Celebration of Life will be held at Ballardsville Baptist Church on Saturday, Feb. 7 at 1 p.m. Please bring your favorite story/memory of Brother Tommy to share during the celebration.
Tommy chose cremation and will be buried next to his daughter, Stacey at his hometown church, New Prospect Baptist Church in Mississippi, where he was ordained as a minister.
Please continue to keep his family in your prayers. Honor Brother Tommy and share the Gospel as he always did!
In lieu of flowers, please donate in memory of Tommy to either the Shriner's Children's Hospital, 110 Conn Terrace, Lexington, KY 40508 or Kosair for Kids,982 Eastern Parkway, Louisville, KY 40217.