James Arthur Guynn

Reverend James Arthur Guynn Jr., a mighty man of God, left this earthly life to be with his Lord on July 1, 2016, in Brownsville, Texas, at the age of 90.  He was born on September 20, 1925, in East St. Louis, Illinois, to James Arthur Sr. and Versa Sutton Guynn.  He was an only child and often joked about being his parents’ favorite child. After spending his early childhood in East St. Louis, he and his parents moved to “the little yellow farmhouse” on Douglass Road in Eldorado, which remained the family home until the death of his wife.  After our mother’s death in 2011, we, their children, were privileged to have him in our homes until his death.   He is a veteran of World War II, serving in post-construction Germany at the end of the war in the United States Army.  After his return from Germany, he met and was married for 63 years to the love of his life, Roberta Joy Raley, and had two children, Mary Anne and James David.  He had a great sense of humor, always enjoying a good joke, and viewed life and people with a positive attitude.  He was a wonderful and devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather and is adored by his family.  

Reverend Guynn accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior in l947 and was called into the ministry with the Church of God in Cleveland, TN.  He and Joy moved to Cleveland where he attended Lee College to prepare for the ministry.  He received his pastoral license and was ordained by the Church of God and pastored for 60 years in churches in Illinois, Ohio and Tennessee.  During his many years in Illinois, he served multiple times on the State Overseer’s Council and the State Youth Council.  He had a reputation for being a peacemaker and helping resolve difficult situations.  When he and his wife pastored in Mt. Healthy, Ohio, he built a new church sanctuary, doing much of the work himself.  He always made it a point to leave a church and the parsonage in better condition than when they arrived.  He taught Sunday School to a group of nursing home residents with Downs Syndrome, had a vibrant church bus ministry in Mt. Healthy, and tremendously enjoyed being a Jail Chaplain at the Harrisburg County Jail.  He deeply loved the people he pastored and was loved and respected in return.  

He greatly enjoyed reading and studying God’s Word and did much research to prepare his sermons.  Even in his later years with his eyesight almost gone, he could be found with his lighted magnifying glass reading the Bible word by word and meditating on the meanings of the Scriptures, especially Psalm 119.    He also enjoyed gardening and being outdoors.  He was skilled in woodworking and made hundreds of toys; signs, including the Douglass Cemetery sign; and furniture.  His great pride was in the many canes he hand-carved for family and friends.      

Reverend Guynn is survived by his two children:  Mary Anne Shoupe (Don) and James David Guynn (Pam); six grandchildren: Rachel (Guynn) Hughes, Erika (Shoupe) Pfluke, James Guynn, Stephanie (Guynn) Tussey, Jordan Shoupe and Adam Shoupe; and 14 great-grandchildren.  In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his beloved wife Joy and infant great-granddaughter Corban Tussey. 

Funeral services will be on Wednesday, July 13, 2016 at 11 a.m. at the Colonial Terrace Funeral Home in Eldorado, Illinois, with Reverend Tom Cody officiating.  A private burial will be held later.  Visitation will be on Wednesday, July 13 at 10 a.m.  In addition to flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Church of God World Missions Fund and can be sent to P.O. Box 8016, Cleveland, TN 37320 and will also be accepted at the funeral home.

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