Rev. Roger Cranford Newell
Roger entered into eternal life on October 2, 2015, after a courageous battle with brain cancer.
Roger was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, to the late Johnnie Clarence Newell and Mary Jack Cranford Newell. Roger is survived by his wife of 43 years, Beverly Judd Newell, his children: Angela N. and William Gardiner, Karen L. Shirley and Kenneth E. Pierce, Pamela R. Newell, R. Andrew and Kimberly Newell, and Paul S. Newell and Rhonda Taylor Dunn; grandchildren: Sarah N. Gardiner, Liam J. Gardiner, Andrew C.B. Pierce, Jessica C.B. Pierce, Murray A. Newell, Caleb R. Newell and Anna Grace Newell, and by his brothers, Jackson C. Newell (Shirley, dec.), John L. Newell (Linda) and Douglas M. Newell (Lawana).
Answering the call to the ministry, Roger was first ordained at Flint Hill Baptist Church on August 24, 1961. Roger attended Duke University and graduated from Erskine College (BA, Psychology) and the Lexington Theological Seminary (M. Div.). Roger was ordained as an Elder in the United Methodist Church on May 25, 1977.
Following his dream to play professional baseball, Roger attended Spring Training with the Washington Senators in 1959. He then served proudly in the United States Air Force, both stateside and at RAF Kirknewton in Edinburgh, Scotland. Roger served as an Executive with the Boy Scouts of America and as Director of the Kentucky Interchurch Disaster Recovery Program. Roger pastored United Methodist Churches in Muldraugh, Bethel, Cadiz, Hodgenville, West Point and Louisville, Kentucky, retiring from Parkview (Garrs Lane) United Methodist and again from St. Marks United Methodist Church. Roger served on the Boards of Union College, Shively Area Ministries and Southeast Area Ministries.
A Paul Harris Fellow, Roger was an active member of Rotary International, serving as District Governor, 2002-2003. He was also a member of the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels and of Sigma Nu Fraternity. Using his baseball and coaching experience, Roger served as an inspirational speaker for Fellowship of Christian Athletes at many area high schools.
Roger’s greatest gift was sharing God’s love (and baseball) with all people he encountered. A huge smile, a warm hug, an encouraging word and a helping hand, Roger lived Christ’s commandment to love the Lord God with all his heart, mind and soul and to love your neighbor as yourself.
His funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, October 8, 2015 at St. Mark United Methodist Church, 4611 Lowe Rd. with burial to follow in Kentucky Veteran’s Cemetery Central. Visitation will be from 2-8 p.m. Wednesday at Highlands Funeral Home, 3331 Taylorsville Rd.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to FCA, Wesley Manor Senior Care, St. Mark UMC or Hosparus.

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