J. Willett Vess

Rev. John Willett Vess, Sr., 89, of Liberty, SC, passed away peacefully at the McCall Hospice House with his family by his side on September 13, 2018. He was born in Central, SC, in the home where his father served as president of Central Wesleyan College (now Southern Wesleyan University). Rev. Vess was a graduate of Central Wesleyan College and Bob Jones University Seminary. He was a minister of the gospel since 1953, with pastorates in Anniston, AL, Columbus, GA, Talladega, AL, Selma, AL, Easley, SC, Six Mile, SC, Iva, SC and Oakway, SC. Additionally, he served as a general evangelist at church revivals and camp meetings nationally and internationally, including the Philippines, Mexico, Africa, Russia, Taiwan, Korea, and China. He also held several offices within the Bible Methodist Connection of Churches.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Rev. Arthur L. and Olive Vess, and his brother, Wesley A. Vess. He is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Mary Nell Lindsey Vess; children, Libby (David) Hall of Mechanicsburg, PA, Ronda (Dan) Whisner of Mt. Vernon, OH, Joy (Eddie) Beaver of Easley, SC, and John Willett, Jr. (Melissa) Vess of Easley, SC; and sister, Margaret (Amos) Glendenning of Leitchfield, KY. He also leaves behind beloved grandchildren, Jeremy (Christine) Hall, Danny (Melissa) Whisner, Jon (Kari) Whisner, Elizabeth (Dean) Rosencrans, Lindsey (Chad) Ford, Katie (Nate) Crater, Michael Walker, Marci (Kevin) Nattinger, John Willett III "Will" (Nicole) Vess, and Jake (Emma) Vess; great-grandchildren, Garrett Ford, Ethan Hall, Trey Whisner, Stephanie Hall, Madison Grace Ford, Leah Rosencrans, Reagan Whisner, Valerie Hall, Bethany Rosencrans, Gibbs Whisner, Amber Walker, Ryland Whisner, Nolan Whisner, Cole Crater, Zane Ford, and Beckett Whisner, as well as step-grandchildren Michelle (Kevin) Stinehart and Janelle (Brian) Patterson, and step-great-grandchildren, Numora Stinehart, Bennett Patterson, Emerson Stinehart, and Bowen Patterson, and a host of dearly loved nieces and nephews.

In addition to his dedicated life of ministry, he is known for being able to do almost anything; and not just do it, but excel at it. He designed, built and remodeled houses and churches, laid carpet, was an expert mechanic, certified in heating and air-conditioning, and even completed real estate classes when he was in his 80s. He loved to learn and was intrigued by figuring things out. Any time he was facing a surgery or a new medical treatment, he would research it tirelessly and has been known to correct physicians if they were wrong about some of the details. He would find a way to repair anything, and we accepted his cluttered garage, dirty truck and tracked-in mud, knowing he was fixing whatever needed to be fixed. He could change from his stained work clothes to a suit and tie and seamlessly go from being under the hood of a car to visiting a sick person in the hospital in a matter of minutes. He had his trusty video recorder with him almost everywhere he went and has thousands of hours of video, slides and pictures. He had a steel-trap memory and you could hardly mention a place or a person that he wouldn't immediately tell you everything there was to know about the subject. His energy was tireless and up until a few weeks before his death, he did hard physical labor all day long, just refusing to accept any limitations.

Far and above the many gifts he had, Rev. Vess considered his call to preach his highest calling. Those who were privileged to sit under his ministry would agree he was a powerfully annointed preacher. He lived a rich, full life, and often quoted the late Jim Elliot when he said, "When the time comes to die, make sure that all you have to do is die." Truly he lived his life that way, and was peacefully welcomed into the arms of the loving God he faithfully served.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, September 16, 2018, 3:30pm at Trinity Wesleyan Church, Central, SC, officiated by his sons-in-law, Revs. David Hall, Dan Whisner and Eddie Beaver. The family will receive friends from 2:00-3:15pm at the church prior to the service. A private family burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park, Easley, SC.

The family would like to express their heartfelt appreciation to Dr. Joe Stephenson, oncologist, for his compassion and expertise; and to the staff of Open Arms Hospice and the McCall Hospice House for their loving care. The family also wants to say thank you to all who have expressed sympathy during their loss. Your love and prayers have been a great comfort.

Memorials may be made to Trinity Wesleyan Church Missions to be used for drilling clean water wells in impoverished countries.