Name: Visitation for Juanita Bass Brummitt
Start: 2016-06-26T21:00:00.000Z
End: 2016-06-27T00:00:00.000Z
Location: Belle Meade United Methodist Church

Juanita Bass Brummitt

Nashville, TN

The Rev. Dr. Juanita Ruth Bass, a retired United Methodist pastor and church administrator, died on June 24, 2016 after a long illness at the age 79. She had been confined since suffering a stroke in March 2007.

Rev. Bass grew up in Nashville and Gallatin, the daughter of Larry A. and Ruth Moore Bass. After returning to Nashville, the family was active in the East End United Methodist Church. She attended Gallatin High School and the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1961. Returning to Nashville, she worked for First American Bank and the United Methodist Board of Higher Education. She also enrolled in the Vanderbilt University Divinity School, intending to become ordained.

Rev. Bass moved to New York City in 1967, where she worked for a series of religious publications and organizations, including the Board of Global Ministries, the international mission agency of the United Methodist Church. While in New York, she completed her seminary course of study, Master of Divinity, at the Union Theological Seminary and also earned a Doctor of Ministry degree at Drew Theological Seminary, Madison, New Jersey. She travelled widely for the mission agency, including trips to Africa and China.

She retained her ties to Tennessee, where she had been ordained an elder in the United Methodist Tennessee Conference, and returned to take a pastoral appointment in 1985. She served for six years in Linden and for two years in Erin before being appointed as the first woman United Methodist district superintendent in the conference. She was superintendent of the Clarksville District for seven years.

After returning to Tennessee, Rev. Bass continued to be active in the church on the national and international levels. She served as a director of Global Ministries, the agency for which she once worked, and was a delegate to the 1996 General Conference, the denomination's legislative assembly.

After retirement, she served as administrative assistant to the senior pastor at Madison Street United Methodist Church in Clarksville.

Rev. Bass is survived by her sister, M. Frances Bass of Nashville; three brothers, Larry A. Bass, Jr. of McMinnville, Tennessee, Randall V. Bass (Jo Ann Fisher) of The Villages, Florida, and William A. Bass (LaNette Jones) of Madison, Alabama; five nephews, one niece, one grand-nephew, five grand-nieces and one great-niece.

Active pallbearers are brothers Larry A. Bass, Jr., Randall V. Bass, William A. Bass, nephews Adam R. Bass and Bradley A. Bass, and cousin Charles W. Moore.

Honorary pallbearers are Clergy of the Tennessee Conference of the United Methodist Church, Bishop William McAlilly, Bishop Kenneth L. Carder, James H. Clemmer, and H. Elliott Wright.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Project Transformation, Jim Allen, Tennessee Annual Conference, 304 S. Perimeter Park Drive, Nashville, TN 37211.

Tennessee Project Transformation engages young adults in purposeful leadership and ministry to support underserved children and families, and to connect churches to communities in need. . This will continue honoring Juanita's ministry as she encouraged so many young adults in ministry throughout her life.

Visitation with the family will be on Sunday from 4-7Pm at Belle Meade United Methodist Church and on Monday from 10:30-12:30 PM at Belmont United Methodist Church wit service to follow at 1PM at Belmont United Methodist Church

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Tennessean on Jun. 26, 2016.

Memories and Condolences
for Juanita Brummitt

Sponsored by Rosemary Cameron Spivey.

4 Entries

Rosemary Cameron Spivey

August 18, 2017

There is no doubt at all in my mind that among all of the women I have related to during my own 79 years, Juanita was the very best friend that I have ever known outside of my own family. We were like family, yet time and distance and our somewhat divergent paths created a space between us physically, but never mentally. Juanita spoke with conviction to me as the decision of accepting George Spivey's proposal of marriage was part of our conversation. She was entirely correct in her assessment of his demeanor, sincerity , and character when she said with no hesitation, "If you don't marry him, I will." Thank you, my dear friend for helping me to turn my life toward the direction which was an answer to prayer. Though George has been gone for 13 years now, our family stands as a testimony to the love, Godly purpose, and life of service he lived. She was so very correct! The 3 children, their Christian spouses, and 9 deeply spiritual grand children (one already beginning a Christian marriage) all stand as wonderful gifts of the good decisions made along the way because of the good advice of my dear friend and maid of honor, Juanita.

June 20, 2017

I am sorry for your loss. May the God of comfort be with you during your time of mourning. Isaiah 61:1,2 ; Matthew 5:4

June 26, 2016

I first met Juanita at Drew University. She taught courses in the School of Missions and I led worship. She also receive her D. Min from Drew Theological Seminary.

When I first visited the TN Conference She was one of 2 people I knew. Later she became my District Superintendent. All clergywomen in middle Tn owe her a hugh debt of gratitude.

Rest in peace Juanita, rest in peace, Rev. Jacquie Sojourner

Peggy Berglund

June 26, 2016

What I remember about my cousin, Juanita, is the way she could express ideas in a concise and clear way using common sense. She also had a great sense of humor. I wish we could have spent more time together so that I could have absorbed more of her wisdom. I send my love to the family.

Peggy Bass Berglund

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