Jackie Maxwell Stearsman, age 78, died in Livingston, Tennessee from acute myeloid leukemia on December 24, 2016. He was a beloved father, grandfather, preacher and teacher. He was born April 4th, 1938 in Mortons Gap, Kentucky to Wallace Earl and Mary Wessie Maxwell Stearsman. He is survived by his wife, Joyce H. Kidwell Stearsman and eight children: David Stearsman, 44; Daniel Stearsman, 42; Paul Kidwell Jr., 66; Laura Boyd, 60; Timothy Kidwell, 57; Linda Bell-Lopez, 56; Mark Kidwell, 53; and Nathan Kidwell, 45. He leaves behind 22 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren and four siblings: Delbert Stearsman, 90; Ronnie Stearsman, 75; Kaye Simmons, 74; and Kent Stearsman, 72.
Mr. Stearsman graduated from South Hopkins High School in Hopkins County, Kentucky in 1956. He worked in the West Kentucky Coal Company as an underground coal miner from 1956-1962. He left the mining industry to become a gospel preacher, graduating from Freed-Hardeman College with an Associate of Arts and Third Year Certificate in Bible in 1965. He attended David Lipscomb College, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Bible in 1966. He attended Harding Graduate School of Religion in 1970 and received a Master of Arts in the Doctrinal Field. From 1970 to 1990 he served as an evangelist in Kentucky, Alabama, Tennessee, Michigan and Florida.
Mr. Stearsman had a passion for truth and teaching. Early in his career he preached on the radio. He was a part of gospel meetings all over the United States and in Kingston, Jamaica. He spoke on lectureships at Freed-Hardeman College, the Alabama Christian School of Religion, the Spiritual Sword, the Firm Foundation, the East Tennessee School of Preaching, the Memphis School of Preaching, and the Florida School of Preaching, as well as several others throughout the south and as far north as Michigan. He was a prolific writer for publications such as the Christian Bible Teacher, the Gospel Advocate, The Spiritual Sword, and his own Stearsman's Publications, which included his tract What About Gambling?, his book A Critique of The Multiplying Ministries of The Boston Church of Christ, and multiple study notes developed from classes that he taught at the Florida School of Preaching.
He began teaching at Michigan Christian College but taught the majority of his career in Lakeland, Florida at the Florida School of Preaching. He served there as Associate Director from 1986 to 1992, and as Director from 1992 to 2009. He was appointed to serve as an elder in the Orange Street church of Christ in 2008 until 2013, when he retired to Livingston, Tennessee. His teaching style was an endearing blend of humor and western Kentucky wit culled from his childhood on the farm. Yet he was also known as a serious student of the Bible and scholar in the New Testament text of Koine Greek. He was serious but approachable, and loved interacting with students and observing their growth. He was often heard saying, "if a coal miner from western Kentucky can teach Greek, I know you can learn it."
Funeral services will be at Hall Funeral Home Of Livingston, 2106 Cookeville Highway, Livingston, Tennessee 38570. The funeral service will be Wednesday, December 28, 2016 at 11 a.m. from the Chapel with burial to follow in the Walnut Grove Cemetery in Overton County, Tennessee. Family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday, December 27th from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Officiating the service will be Brooks Boyd and Timothy Kidwell. Serving as pallbearers will be David Stearsman, Daniel Stearsman, Mark Kidwell, Paul Kidwell, Bill Simmons, David Boyd, Jerry Lancaster, Monte Everley. Honorary Pallbearers will be James Brown, Darrin Gore, Billy Joe Gore, Bobby Gore, Ron Johnson, Dwayne Ledbetter, John Mabrey, Larry Cole, Jack Pigg, Gary Koger, David Dickerson, Earl Carr.