Jeffrey Bruce Whitlock Sr.'s Obituary
Jeffrey Bruce Whitlock, Sr., born October 4, 1955 in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, and longtime resident of New Salem, PA, Memphis, TN, and Collierville, TN, passed away at age 70 on May 26, 2026.
Jeff was a 1973 graduate of Uniontown High School. He then graduated with distinction in 1977 from The Pennsylvania State University with his Bachelor of Science Degree in Adaptive Physical Education – and plenty of memories from the ’76 and ’77 Penn State baseball teams – and began his intended career working with children in special education.
But God soon had other plans. Feeling a calling to ministry, Jeff enrolled in Johnson Bible College in Knoxville, Tennessee (now known as Johnson University), graduating in 1981 with a second Bachelor of Science Degree in Bible and Preaching.
He was ordained as a Minister of Christ on May 31, 1981 at First Christian Church of New Salem, Pennsylvania, and immediately began his ministry at Fairlawn Church of Christ in Galax, Virginia. He married Julie Daniel soon thereafter.
In 1984, Jeff, Julie, and son Jeff Jr. relocated to Julie’s hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, and began their time at Park Village Christian Church. In 1985, they welcomed a daughter, Patti.
In 1987, Jeff began his work as Senior Minister and charter member of East Win Christian Church in Memphis, Tennessee, retiring in 2024 after 37 years of faithful service to that congregation, now known as Oak Lane Christian Church of Collierville, Tennessee.
Jeff was deeply engaged in serving the institution that trained him, as a member of the Board of Trustees of Johnson University for the last twenty years, and as Secretary of the Board for many of those years.
He was preceded in death by his parents, David E. Whitlock, Sr. and Patricia Ryan Whitlock of New Salem, Pennsylvania.
He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Julie Daniel Whitlock of Collierville, Tennessee; son Jeff B. Whitlock, Jr. (Michael Chagros) of Reston, Virginia; daughter Patti Honnoll (Scott) and grandsons Huck and Whit Honnoll of Cleveland, Mississippi; brother David E. Whitlock, Jr. (Chris) and nephew Nathan Whitlock of New Salem, Pennsylvania; nephew Tim Whitlock (Ali) of Berlin, Maryland, and great-niece Olive; father-in-law Fred H. Daniel (the late Frances Martin Daniel) of Memphis, Tennessee; brother-in-law John Paul Daniel (the late Betty Blair) of Kingston Springs, Tennessee; brother-in-law James Daniel (Debbie) of Southaven, Mississippi; nephew Tyler Daniel (Candace, Grayson, Elaina) of Land O’ Lakes, Florida; and niece Hollie Collins (Clint) of Memphis, Tennessee.
He was an evangelist, an orator, a communicator, a leader, an entrepreneur, an athlete, a shoulder, a friend, and a father.
While his sudden and untimely death on earth is confounding, of this we remain fully assured: His reach was and will be immeasurable. Jeff led countless people, through his own efforts and those he inspired, to believe in their hearts and confess with their mouths, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and to accept Him as their personal Lord and Savior.
Second only to Jesus was his passion for his hometown Pittsburgh Steelers and Pittsburgh Pirates, along with Penn State football.
In his final journey, Jeff continued to change lives, selflessly donating his organs, enabling life-saving procedures for multiple people he will never know on earth.
A memorial service in Jeff’s honor will be held on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at 1:00 PM Central time, in the Riverside Chapel at Memorial Park Funeral Home, at 5668 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN, 38119.
To view the service via livestream, please use the link below:
https://www.hdezwebcast.com/show/jeff-whitlock
Prior to the service, family and friends are welcome to pay their respects during visitation beginning at 11:00 AM.
Donations in Jeff’s honor can be made to Oak Lane Christian Church (https://oaklanecc.com/giving) or The Jeff and Julie Whitlock Preaching Scholarship Fund at Johnson University (https://johnsonu.edu/donation-form/) and select "Named Scholarship Fund"
Arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38119 (901) 767-8930. “Where Memphis comes to remember, since 1924.”
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