Olive Ranch-MS – Ken Joines passed away on April 2, 2021. One of the last statements he made to his wife (based on Revelations 21) was “I’ll be watching for you on the East side at the middle gate. Born December 27,1935 near Belton, to Guy and Truly McElwain Joines. He grew up there, graduating from Hughes-Kirkpatrick High School. In his senior year, he met Janrose Forgy and married the following December, while a student at David Lipscomb College. It was during the following year, while still eighteen years of age, that he answered the call to become the full-time preacher for the church at Butte, Mont. He later served churches at Claremore, Okla., Augusta, Kansas, Sebring Fla., Elizabethtown, Merkel Texas, Greenville, Hixson Tenn. and Whitehaven church in Memphis, Tenn. which would relocate to become Goodman Oaks church in Southaven Miss. He preached at Goodman Oaks for twenty-nine years and it was during his ministry that Goodman Oaks grew to become the largest congregation of churches of Christ in Mississippi. Following retirement in 2004, he remained at Goodman Oaks, while doing interim work at Woodland Hills in Memphis, twice at Sebring Fla. and twice at Lake Placid, Fla. , as well as preaching by appointment in states from Florida to Alaska, and from Texas to West Virginia. In addition to studying at Lipscomb, he took additional training at Central (now Oklahoma) Christian College, Abilene Christian College, and Murray State University.
An avid big-game hunter, he enjoyed numerous trips to Colorado and Wyoming where he took bull elk and antelope as well as numerous mule deer. He was commissioned a Kentucky Colonel by Governor Louie Nunn, and served two terms as President of Whitehaven Civitan Club. For several years he served the Shelby County Juvenile Court as Auxiliary Probation Officer, working with numerous young men in rehabilitation. In 2012, his first wife, Jan, died of Pulmonary Fibrosis. Two years later, He was married to Sue Noto, a member at Goodman Oaks. Many times, he observed, “It is almost unbelievable that God gave me two of the very best women to walk and work beside me. I am blessed and have never been happier” Ken was preceded in death by his parents, and by his older brother Virgil, sister Marjorie Rhoads and son-in-law Robin Enochs, a sister-in-law Jo Nell Jarvis and brother-in-law Forest Rhoads.
Survivors include his wife of six years Sue; son Mike of Seattle; daughters Laura of Denver; Pam (Steve) Peraza of Abilene, Teaxas and Jennifer Enochs of Tupelo, Miss. As well as step-sons Joseph (Bethany) Noto of Bono, Ark. and Matthew (Christina) Noto of Olive Branch Miss; sister Shirley (Eugene) McPherson of Greenville and brother Jimmy (Mary) of Snellville, Ga., as well as four grand-daughters, one grandson and two great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral sevice was held April 6, 2021 at Goodman Oaks Church of Christ where it was live streamed on Facebook. Those wishing to view the service may do so on Goodman Oaks Church of Christ Facebook page. Burial was in Twin Oaks Memorial Gardens in Southhaven Miss. where he was laid to rest beside his first wife Janrose.
Ken wrote his own autobiography “Being The Memoirs of Kenneth Joines”. He also established the Ken Joines Scholarship Fund to be used at Freed Hardman University in Henderson Tenn. These scholarships help young men become preachers. Forms of sympathy and support of this scholarship can be made by purchasing the book. (The proceeds go to the scholarship fund). To purchase a book contact Shirley McPherson at 270-338-3909.
