Sat. Apr. 29th: David Buttrick Memorial Service

David Buttrick Memorial Service

Dear Brookmeaders ~ We received news Saturday that David Buttrick died early Saturday morning. He spent the last couple of days of his life peacefully at Alive Hospice surrounded by family and visited by dear friends. David was a beloved member of our congregation and a bigger-than-life force in the many lives he touched in many venues. He will be greatly missed. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.

Memorial Service:

A Witness to the Resurrection
Saturday, April 29 at 12 p.m.
Benton Chapel at Vanderbilt Divinity School
Reception to follow in Reading Room

Vanderbilt has kindly reserved a few floors of the Wesley Place Garage for the service on Saturday. The garage is located across from the Divinity School at 21st Avenue and Scarritt Place. The spaces 301-698 are free for the taking.

In lieu of flowers, you may wish to consider making a contribution to Church World Service, North Shore Animal League, Vanderbilt Divinity School, or Brookmeade Congregational Church. Out of deference to a friend with severe allergies, we politely ask no lilies be brought to the church or home.

Obituary:

“David G. Buttrick was born in New York City. He was the youngest son of Rev. George A. Buttrick, a pastor committed to community outreach, and his wife, Agnes Gardner.

David attended Haverford College and then pursued graduate study at Union Theological Seminary, Garrett Biblical Institute and Northwestern University.

Called to ministry at First Presbyterian in Fredonia, New York, he helped design a new space of worship for a congregation that had grown during his service from 35 to almost 700 members.

David taught on the faculties of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, St. Meinrad School of Theology, and Vanderbilt Divinity School, where he served for almost 20 years as the Drucilla Moore Buffington Professor of Homiletics and Liturgics. Offering warmth, humor, acceptance, and lively discussion, David and his wife Betty welcomed students and those in need into their home as family.

A prolific author, David wrote 19 books, including his landmark work Homiletics, and innumerous chapters in books and articles. He also spoke at colleges and churches across North America and Europe. David became a proud member of the United Church of Christ, citing its policies of inclusion and diversity.

On April 22, 2017, David “side-stepped into the mystery of God.” He was preceded in death by: his brothers John and Robert; his wife of 64 years, Betty More Allaben Buttrick; and his daughter, Anne Crumpler. He is survived by: his son-in-law David Crumpler; grandchildren Benjamin Crumpler, Rachel Crumpler, and her husband Jason Ostenson; and his niece Betty Ives Adams and her husband Stephen Adams.

A service will be held on Saturday, April 29, at 12 noon at Benton Chapel at the Vanderbilt Divinity School. In lieu of flowers, you may wish to contribute to Church World Service, North Shore Animal League, Vanderbilt Divinity School, or Brookmeade Congregational Church.”