Joe Cooke Van Dyke
1909-1983
The Life Of Joe Cooke Vandyke, Sr.
Joe Cooke Van Dyke was born in Alamo, Crockett County, Tennessee December 28, 1909. He was married to Charlotte Lucille Locke on August 27, 1936. To this union were born two children, Glenda Lee Taylor and Joe Cooke, Jr.
Van Dyke attended David Lipscomb University when it was a two-year junior college. He also attended West Tennessee State Teachers College, the University of Colorado, and finally Harding Graduate School of Bible and Religion.
He was baptized August 29, 1922 by A.B. Barret. He began preaching seven years later in churches around his home in Crockett County. He preached for a number of congregations through the years. He served the Normal (later named Highland St.) church of Christ in Memphis, Tennessee from 1931-1939. He moved to Florida in 1939 and preached for the Avon Park church until 1941. He moved to Conroe, Texas in 1941 and was there for two years, then at Nederland, Texas from 1942-1944. He served the church in Lexington, Tennessee three times. His first time was between the years of 1944 and 1948. For a brief time he moved to Colorado to preach for the Logan St. church of Christ in Denver, from 1948-1951. He then returned to Lexington, Tennessee in 1951 and stayed for four years. He moved to Hohenwald in 1958, and was there until 1961. He then moved to Memphis where he served the South Parkway (later Oak Acres) church from 1955-1958. He served the Coro Lake congregation for a few years in the early 60's. He later moved back to Lexington and remained there for the last years of his life. In the fourth volume of Preachers of Today it was reported that while preaching at one congregation they had preaching every evening for six months consecutively (p.324).
Brother Van Dyke was an educator. While living at Lexington he taught at Freed-Hardeman University, then a two-year college from 1953 to 1954. His brother, Frank Van Dyke, was also a gospel preacher with strong ties to Freed-Hardeman. His son Joe Cooke, Jr. also preaches in Florence, Alabama.
He passed from this life in 1983, and is buried in the city cemetery in Lexington, Tennessee.
Sources: Preachers of Today, Vol. 2-4
The Directions To The Grave of J.C. Van Dyke
The Van Dykes are buried in the Lexington Cemetery in Lexington, Tennessee. From Memphis take I-40 East (or I-40 west from Nashville) to Exit 108, Lexington, Tennessee and turn south on Hwy. 22. Head about 10 miles toward Lexington. When coming into town turn left on Hwy. 412 and go one block. Then turn left (north) on Hwy. 114. (Natchez Trace Dr.) The cemetery will be very close on your right hand side. Enter the cemetery and quickly you will notice part of the cemetery will be on your right and part to your left. You want to go to the left section and head toward the back. Take your first left and head toward the north rear of the cemetery. At the next to last section turn right and head up toward the east end. Begin looking to the right about 2/3rds of the way back. The actual GPS location of the grave is: 35°39'06.2"N 88°23'07.5"W / or D.d. 35.651731,-88.385402
VANDYKE
Charlotte L 1917-2000
Joe Cooke 1908-1983
