History of the Restoration Movement


Carvis Cecil Corkren

1925-2008

I Knew Cecil Corkren

There are some people that stand out in your mind when you think of your past, along with those who influenced you most. The name Corkren has been a name this writer has known all of his life. My earliest recollections of my home church, South Haleyville Church of Christ, is in connection with Horace Corkren. He was a long-time elder, and one who I worked with closely as a preacher in the early to mid 1990s. Horace's brother, Cecil, has also been a name that has meant much to me through the years. Summers were the times I often visited Haleyville while growing up. My grandfather, Ralph Harp, and his step-father before him, Stonewall Turner, were elders there, along with Horace Corkren. Cecil would often come to hold gospel meetings. Some of the meetings I remembered as a young man was going and hearing brother Cecil Corkren preach. At that time, brother Cecil Corkren was preaching among churches in the northern part of the U.S. However, when I lived in Haleyville in the early 1990s, Cecil was preaching at the Poplar Springs church of Christ in the southern part of the county.

Brother Corkren was a faithful gospel preacher for many years. He preached many gospel meetings all around the country. He will long be remembered for his leadership among churches, especially in Northwest Alabama.

-Scott Harp, 2011

Obituary for Cecil Corkren

Carvis Cecil Corkren was born in Brilliant, Alabama on August 18, 1925. He was the son of Carvis A. and Arilla Corkren. He was married to Mary Lou Webb on March 17, 1945. She preceded him in death on October 20, 1995. He was also married to Lillian Gregory on June 1, 1996.

Brother Corkren served as minister for churches of Christ at various locations for over 50 years. He taught and preached throughout the United States, and was especially fond of his mission trip and work to Russia. He was a disabled veteran of Word War II.

Cecil's last years was on Swartz Creek, Alabama. He passed from this life, July 31, 2008 at Avalon Hospice, at the age of 82.

He was survived by two daughters and their families: Lana Gail and husband John Allen of Swartz Creek; and Mary Darnell and her husband George Salavics of Swartz Creek. Also there were seven grandchildren including: Kim Pentcost; Tracy Allen MD; Michele Lasley; Jennifer (Dax) Sparks; Nicole (Dan) Anthony; Ashley Salavics; and Nathan Salavics. There were also eight great-grandchildren; three step-grandchildren and four step-great-grandchildren. There are three brothers who survived him: Harold and wife Sara of Winfield, Alabama; Horace and wife Maxine Corkren of Haleyville, Alabama; and Rebert and wife Carolyn of Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Directions To The Grave of Cecil & Mary Lou Corkren

The Corkren Family plot is located in the Brilliant Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Brilliant, Alabama. Take the I-22 interstate north of Birmingham toward the Mississippi line. Take Exit 30/Hwy. 129 and head north. Go about 3 miles and you will enter the Brilliant township. Continue another half mile and the cemetery will be on your left on a hill. There should be a sign there, but the cemetery is up off the highway and not easily seen from the road. Turn down cemetery drive to the end and turn left to enter the cemetery. At the entrance, look straight ahead into the cemetery. About three rows in you will find the Corkren plot.

GPS Location
34.029202,-87.760178

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Carvis Cecil Corkren
AMM2 US NAVY
WORLD WAR II
AUGUST 18, 1925
JULY 31, 2008
OUR BELOVED FATHER


Mary Lou
April 24, 1928
October 20, 1995
Our Dove Of Peace


Carvis Cecil
August 18, 1925
July 31, 2008
Our Strong Foundation

Photos Taken October, 2011
Courtesy of Scott Harp
www.TheRestorationMovement.com

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