Corley, Elmus W.
1/8/1973
1882-1973 |
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| The Reverend Elmus W. Corley was born May 7, 1882 at DeVille, Louisiana (Rapides Parish), the child of L. D. Corley and his wife Adeline Sanson. He attended whatever school he could in his early life. After his call to preach he attended what was known as Hudson College in the summers, in an effort to prepare himself better for the ministry to which he had been called. This was a difficult task because of his responsibility for supporting his wife and two children. He was converted at the Bethel Methodist Protestant Church in DeVille. Following his conversion he felt the call to preach and was licensed in the Methodist Protestant Church about 1906. He was ordained an Elder in the Methodist Protestant Church in 1916. During part of the depression years he share-cropped on Bellevue Plantation, just east of Columbia, on the Ouachita River, during the week and hitch-hiked to Downsville, Louisiana, in Union Parish, where he served two churches. On Monday he got back to the farm the best way he could to begin another week’s work in the field. He served churches throughout the state. Brother Corley retired in 1954 at age 72, but continued serving full-time for six years. He actually retired at age 78, being a Methodist preacher for 66 years. He married Mary Pauline “Polly” Chevallier September 10, 1902. They were married for 68 years, Mrs. Corley preceding him in death by two and one-half months. Surviving Brother Corley are six sons and two daughters: Guy and Alvin Corley, Denham Springs; Marvin Corley, New Orleans; E. W., Jr. and James P. Corley, Mrs. Oscar (Ruby) Cloyd, and Mrs. Clyde (Ruth) Medaries, of West Monroe, Louisiana; and the Reverend John David Corley, Tallulah; 19 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. Brother Corley died on January 8, 1973 in Glenwood Hospital in West Monroe, following surgery. The funeral was held in Hixson Brothers Chapel in Monroe, with burial in Bethel Cemetery at DeVille, Louisiana. The officiating clergy were the Reverend Clyde C. Frazier, Jr., District Superintendent, Monroe District; Dr. W. D. Boddie, Pastor, First United Methodist Church, Monroe; the Reverend John H. Sewell, Pastor, McGuire United Methodist Church, West Monroe; the Reverend Don E. Wineinger, Chaplain, Glenwood Hospital, West Monroe. Presiding at the graveside service at Bethel was the Reverend C. Richard Hoffpauir, Palestine United Methodist Church. |
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| Source: Journal Louisiana Conference, 1973; p. 123 By W. D. Boddie | |
