Rev. Gosnell

Rev. James Wylie Gosnell, 82, died Monday, March 21, 2011, in Mary Black Memorial Hospital after an extended illness. Born Saturday, September 1, 1928, in Spartanburg, SC, he was the youngest of seven children of the late William "Will" Gaither Gosnell and Minnie Idella Robinson Gosnell. He was the last surviving member of his immediate family. His paternal grandparents were Wiley Sylvester and Lillie Aveline Ingle Gosnell and his maternal grandparents were Ellis Yancey and Minerva Dulcina "Dullie" Gregory Robinson. He was a seventh generation descendant of Charles Gosnell, I, progenitor of the Gosnell Family of South Carolina and a pioneer settler of the Glassy Mountain (Dark Corner) section of upper Greenville Co., SC, who in 1792 received a 166 acre South Carolina Land Grant on the North and South Forks of Vaughn Creek, a tributary of the North Pacolet River in Greenville Co., (near present day Lake Lanier). In 1818, his sixth generation ancestor, Charles Gosnell II, acquired 60 acres atop Glassy Mountain including Glassy Rock, current site of the 4th most beautiful golf course in the United States ranked by a national publication. His fifth generation ancestor, Joshua Gosnell moved c. 1835 to Sodom Laurel in Yancey (Madison) Co., NC where many of his direct descendants became well known ballad singers and musicians whose songs were recorded by The Library of Congress and The Smithsonian Institution. Sodom Laurel is one of the last communities in the United States where there is an oral tradition of ballad singing spanning 7 generations. Many of these songs were transported to America from the British Isles. His mother was a seventh cousin of Harry S. Truman (1884-1972), 33rd President of the United States (1945-1953). Both were direct descendants of Maureen Duvall (1630-1694), a French Huguenot who settled in Anne Arundel Co., MD. She was also related to Charles "Charlie" Silver who in 1831 was murdered, dismembered, and incinerated by his wife, Frances "Frankie" Stuart Silver at Kona, Burke (Mitchell) Co., NC. Frankie Stuart Silver was the first woman to be legally hanged in North Carolina at Morganton in 1833. Minnie Robinson Gosnell was also related to the renowned bear hunter, Thomas "Big Tom" Wilson who in 1857 discovered the body of Prof. Elisha Mitchell, who fell to his death at the base of Mt. Mitchell, later named in his memory. James was reared in the Johnson City, Saxon-Una, and Valley Falls areas of Spartanburg Co. He attended public schools at Saxon and Valley Falls and Spartanburg Junior College in 1954. He later completed the Emory University Correspondence Course of Study for an Approved Supply Methodist Minister in 1961. He was employed in the Cloth Room at Valley Falls Mill (1944-1958). In April 1958, he was the 69th person to be hired at Kohler Co., where he became an inspector. He was formerly married to the late Bernice Lee Cummings Gosnell of Spartanburg, who died in 2007. Surviving from this union is one son, James Richard Gosnell of Spartanburg. He was licensed to preach in 1959 and entered into the ministry of the South Carolina Methodist Conference in 1960. He became an Approved Supply (1961), Associate Member of South Carolina United Methodist Conference (1970), and received as a full elder of the South Carolina United Methodist Conference (1999) and retired in 1999 after 39 active years in the ministry. Appointments included: Johnsonville Circuit; Brandon, Greenville; Gravely Memorial, Spartanburg; Hebron, Walnut Grove; Arcadia; Central, Laurens; Unity, Union; Jonesville-New Hope; Dunean, Greenville; St. Mark, Spartanburg; and Beaumont-Whitney, Spartanburg; and served as retired Supply: St. John-Sardis, Blacksburg; and Fairmont. Rev. Gosnell served on several South Carolina United Methodist Conference boards and committees including the Equitable Salary Committee, and for one year, served as chairperson on Conference Board of Trustees. He was a member of Charge Conference of Central United Methodist Church in Spartanburg since 2006, after closure of Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church at Spartan Mill, and was a member of The Norton Sunday School Class. He served three years in the South Carolina National Guard and was a retired Chaplain (Major) of the South Carolina State Guard. Rev. Gosnell was also past-member of Spartanburg Rescue Squad #1 and Spartanburg Civil Air Patrol, a life member of Whitney Lodge #364 A.F.M., and past member of Scottish Rite Masons, Council #33. He was predeceased by: step-mother, Pearl Ophelia Hatcher Teague Gosnell; paternal step-grandmother, Hulda McGarity Graham Gosnell; maternal step-grandfather, Charles Shufflan "Shuff" Bailey; five brothers, Fred Lee Gosnell (Blanche), Roy Lee Gosnell (Jennie Mae), Ellis Evoy Gosnell (Lucille), CPO (ret.) William "Bill" Irvin Gosnell (Ona), and Wade Nelson Gosnell; one sister, Lillian Doris Gosnell Guy (Pvt. Hilliard "Red"); the following nephews and nieces: Edward Marshall Gosnell, William Fred "Freddie" Gosnell, Joseph "Joe" Ferrell Gosnell, Nancy Louise Gosnell Singletary (Arthur), Franklin "Frank" Kenneth Gosnell (Trixie), and Betty Jo Gosnell Johnson; nephews-in-law: Cole Blease "CB" Quinn and Earl Clinton Welch, Sr.; great-nephew-in-law: Calvitte Eugene "Gene" Clarke; great-great-nephew, William Reese McArthur Singletary; great-great-niece, Tiffany Dawn Owens; and a host of other relatives. Also surviving, his wife of 34 years, Gwendolyn "Gwen" Sanders Simpson Gosnell; two step-daughters, Linda "Lindy" Carole S. Hamilton of Ventura, CA, and Susan Jean S. Pender of Spartanburg; three step-grandsons, Samuel "Sam" David Shell of Spartanburg, Petty Officer Third Class Evan Eugene Pender, U.S. Navy in Norfolk, VA, and David Bunheirao (Katie of Ventura, CA; one step-great-granddaughter, Lila Bunheirao of Ventura, CA; one sister-in-law Carolyn S. Coates of Spartanburg; one brother-in-law, David "Dave" Eston Buchanan Sanders (Pat) of Lovonia, GA; a sister-in-law, Mary Sanders of Dunwoody, GA; the following nieces: Eura Melissa G. Quinn Welch of Belton, SC, Sara Elizabeth G. Peagler (Harold) of Cross, SC, Mary Patricia "Pat" G. Smith (James "Jimmy") of Moncks Corner, SC, Darlee G. Morgan of Travelers Rest, SC; a niece-in-law, Lou Ellen Gosnell of Moncks Corner, SC; a nephew-in-law, Thurmond D. "Hap" Johnson of Arcadia, SC; nephews, Ellis Eugene "Gene" Gosnell of Cape Coral, FL, William "Bill" Robert Guy (Anita) of Spartanburg; nine great-nieces and nine great-nephews; seven great-great nieces and ten great-great-nephews; one step-great-great-nephew; one step-great-great-niece and her daughter; several cousins; and his beloved dog, "Bo." He was predeceased by brothers-in-law, Lyles William Sanders and Guy Marshall "Buster" Coates; and sister-in-law, Wilma S. Barton (Robert "Bob"). A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 AM Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at Floyd's North Church Street Chapel, conducted by the Rev. Luther H. Rickenbaker, III. Eulogies will be given by the Rev. David F. Ervin and James Richard Gosnell. Visitation will follow the chapel service. A committal service was held Thursday, March 24, 2011 at 2:00 PM at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, conducted by the Rev. David F. Ervin, the Rev. Jack D. Harris, and the Rev. F. Ed Traxler with Masonic Rites, conducted by Whitney Lodge #364 A.F.M. All active and retired ministers and their wives are asked to serve as honorary escort. Special thanks to the staff of Skylyn Place and Spring Arbor (Dillon Pointe) for their loving care and support, to the members and staff of Central United Methodist Church for their cards, flowers, prayers, visits, and other acts of kindness, to the staff of Mary Black Memorial Hospital, and to the staff of The J. F. Floyd Mortuary for their dedicated service and support. Contributions may be made to the Building Fund of Central United Methodist Church, 233 North Church Street, Spartanburg, SC 29306; or the charity of one's choice. Floyd's North Church Street Chapel To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Rev. James Wylie Gosnell please visit our Sympathy Store.