Rev. Finley, 53, Long Illness, Dies - January 20, 1939

Retired from Ministry; Once Worked as a Mechanic

    Rev. Edward Lee Finley, retired Methodist minister of Saltillo, Tennessee, and former Memphian, died at 1:30 p.m. yesterday at Methodist Hospital.  He was 53.

    Mr. Finley gave up his ministry more than a year ago when he became ill. He had been in the hospital since October 4.

    Born in Lewisburg, Tenn., he came to Memphis as a young man.  He was a mechanic for several years, and then became an insurance salesman.  He moved to Greenville, Miss. about 20 years ago.

    Always active in church work, Mr. Finley decided to enter the ministry while he was in Greenville.  He attended Texas Christian University, graduating in ministry there in 1923.  He returned to Greenville to become pastor of the Christian Church there.

    In 1927, when the Mississippi flooded the town, the church was swept away.  Mr. Finley worked for days in the town, doing rescue work.

    He returned to Memphis and entered evangelistic work, holding meetings in small towns over the Tri-State territory.  In 1938 he was called to the pastorate of Hollywood Christian Church, and served there a year.  He entered the Memphis Methodist Conference in 1933, and was minister of the Saltillo circuit for three years.

    Mr. Finley was a talented singer, and enjoyed hunting.  He was a Scottish Rite Mason.

    He leaves his wife, Mrs. Mary Leola Finley, Saltillo; three sisters, Mrs. W. W. Covington, and Mrs. J. T. Basham, Memphis, and Mrs. W. A. McClure, Shawnee, Okla.; five brothers, I. H. and R. T. Finley, Memphis; J. W. Finley, Merigold, Miss.; L. H. Finley, Cleveland, Miss.; and J. H. Finley, Milan, Tenn., 

    Services will be held tomorrow afternoon at National Funeral Home.  Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery.

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The Rev. E. L. Finley Dies at age of 53

Pastor Quit Job as Mechanic to Enter Ministry

    The Rev. E. L. Finley, who quit a job as an automobile mechanic 15 years ago to enter the ministry, and who later served as pastor of the Hollywood Christian Church, died at Methodist Hospital at 1:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon following a year's illness.  He was 53.

    It was while operating a garage in Memphis in 1924 that the Rev. Mr. Finley heard the call to preach.  He enrolled in Texas Christian University that year and was graduated in the Summer of 1927, moving at once to Greenville, Miss. to become pastor of the Greenville Christian Church.  Four years later he moved back to Memphis as pastor of the Hollywood Church, while he served for a year.

    Leaving his pastorate here in 1932, he served as an evangelist for three years, conducting revivals in Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas.  Three years ago he was admitted to the Methodist Conference and had been pastor of the Saltillo, Tenn. charge since then.  Ill health forced his retirement last October and he was not given a new charge at the last conference meeting.

    A native of Lewisburg, Tenn., he came to Memphis as a young man and lived here until he entered T.C.U.  He was a Scottish Rite Mason.

    He leaves his wife, Mrs. Mary Leola Finley of Saltillo; three sisters, Mrs. W. W. Covington and Mrs. T. J. Basham of Memphis and Mrs. W. A. McClure of Shawnee, Okla.; and five brothers, I. H. and R. T. Finley of Memphis, J. W. Finley of Merigold, Miss., L. H. Finley of Cleveland, Miss., and J. N. Finley of Milan, Tenn.

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The Rev. E. L. Finley

    Services for the Rev. Edward Lee Finley, 53, who formerly served as pastor of Hollywood Christian Church, and who died Friday at Methodist Hospital following a long illness, will be conducted by the Rev. W. P. Hamilton and the Rev. J. J. Walker, at 3 o'clock this afternoon at National Funeral Home.  Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery.