1932
Reverend
2016
Reverend Paul B. Calloway Sr.
October 29, 1932 — February 6, 2016
Reverend Paul Buttler Calloway, Sr.
A Man sent from God
Writer, Poet, Musician, Pastor, Educator, Veteran, Humanitarian, Encourager, Scholar, Humorist, Husband, Daddy, Granddaddy, Uncle, Cousin; these are merely a few words to describe Paul B. Calloway, Sr.
The Reverend Paul Buttler Calloway, Sr. born October 29, 1932 in Shreveport, Louisiana to his mother, the late Alfreda Cole had a humble and quiet beginning to life. He spent his growing up years in Magnolia, Arkansas; Wichita Falls, Texas; Chicago, Illinois; and Muskegon Heights, Michigan. Even though he was an only child, he was surrounded by relatives who were like his sisters and brothers.
He gave Jesus Christ his heart and was baptized at an early age and endeavored to serve him every day. It wasn’t uncommon for him to give anyone in need assistance. He saw this as his chance to share Jesus in a tangible way.
Paul excelled in school because of his thirst and hunger for knowledge. He graduated from Muskegon Heights High School where he played basketball, ran track, and played the saxophone. He attended Milwaukee Bible Institute, American Baptist Seminary (College), University of Chicago, Tennessee State University, and Middle Tennessee State University. He had two Master’s degrees, only because he felt they were needed to help him be a better servant of God. This was evident as he wrote articles and Sunday School literature for both National Baptist Conventions; and worked as a counselor for youth and adults. Even when he retired from his counseling position at Meharry, he continued to satisfy his thirst and hunger for knowledge by studying every day and honing his analytical skills which afforded him many opportunities to converse with fellow theologians and others during breakfast at McDonalds where he drank his morning cup of coffee.
He pastored three churches; Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Shelbyville, Tennessee; Mt. Vernon Baptist Church, Madison, Tennessee; and Eighth Street Baptist Church, Nashville, Tennessee; served as Minister of Social Concerns at First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill; and was presently serving as Assistant Pastor of New Visions Baptist Church and chair of the Benevolence Committee. His heart for benevolence was evident as each year passed, more and more people were able to receive clothing, food, and financial assistance from the church when they fell upon dire times.
Besides his love for Jesus Christ, his love for his wife of 59 years, Quinester (Queenie) was very apparent. He would secretly write her poems on odd pieces of paper and leave them in places for her to find them and serenade her in his own unique renditions to familiar songs. To their union, God blessed them with three children, Deirtra, Paul Jr. and Byron. He was a loving provider and supporter of his children and grandchildren even as he prepared them for his final days here on this side of Jordan. He left this familiar Valentine song for his family:
Lavender blue, dilly, dilly Who told me so?
Lavender green Who told me so?
If I were king, dilly, dilly I told myself, dilly, dilly
I'd need a queen I told me so
His keen sense of love and humor were apparent even in his last hours as he kept smiles on the staff of Centennial Hospital and had his visitors laughing. He would often say his pain level was at a zero even when he was struggling to catch his breath and would find a humorous way to express what he was going through.
Paul was preceded in death by his mother, Alfreda Cole; his father, John Callaway; and son, Byron Keith Calloway.
He is survived by his wife, Quinester Knox Calloway; daughter, Deirtra Berneda Calloway Bledsoe; son, Paul Buttler Calloway, Jr., his favorite daughter-in-love, Sheila Denise Jones Calloway; grandchildren, Ashley (Morlan), Celeste, Kenneth, Gentry, Kensi, Quinester, and Paul, III; great-grandchildren, Jeremy, Isabella, Gabriel, Alex, Alexia; cousins, Gloria J. Gardner, Floyd Cook, Jr., and Dot Mallery; cousins, Gloria J. Gardner, Floyd Cook, Jr., and Dorothy Mallery; and a host of family members and friends.
In lieu of flowers please send your contributions to the benevolent fund of New Visions Baptist Church, 2830 McGavock Pike Nashville TN 37214.
A Man sent from God
Writer, Poet, Musician, Pastor, Educator, Veteran, Humanitarian, Encourager, Scholar, Humorist, Husband, Daddy, Granddaddy, Uncle, Cousin; these are merely a few words to describe Paul B. Calloway, Sr.
The Reverend Paul Buttler Calloway, Sr. born October 29, 1932 in Shreveport, Louisiana to his mother, the late Alfreda Cole had a humble and quiet beginning to life. He spent his growing up years in Magnolia, Arkansas; Wichita Falls, Texas; Chicago, Illinois; and Muskegon Heights, Michigan. Even though he was an only child, he was surrounded by relatives who were like his sisters and brothers.
He gave Jesus Christ his heart and was baptized at an early age and endeavored to serve him every day. It wasn’t uncommon for him to give anyone in need assistance. He saw this as his chance to share Jesus in a tangible way.
Paul excelled in school because of his thirst and hunger for knowledge. He graduated from Muskegon Heights High School where he played basketball, ran track, and played the saxophone. He attended Milwaukee Bible Institute, American Baptist Seminary (College), University of Chicago, Tennessee State University, and Middle Tennessee State University. He had two Master’s degrees, only because he felt they were needed to help him be a better servant of God. This was evident as he wrote articles and Sunday School literature for both National Baptist Conventions; and worked as a counselor for youth and adults. Even when he retired from his counseling position at Meharry, he continued to satisfy his thirst and hunger for knowledge by studying every day and honing his analytical skills which afforded him many opportunities to converse with fellow theologians and others during breakfast at McDonalds where he drank his morning cup of coffee.
He pastored three churches; Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Shelbyville, Tennessee; Mt. Vernon Baptist Church, Madison, Tennessee; and Eighth Street Baptist Church, Nashville, Tennessee; served as Minister of Social Concerns at First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill; and was presently serving as Assistant Pastor of New Visions Baptist Church and chair of the Benevolence Committee. His heart for benevolence was evident as each year passed, more and more people were able to receive clothing, food, and financial assistance from the church when they fell upon dire times.
Besides his love for Jesus Christ, his love for his wife of 59 years, Quinester (Queenie) was very apparent. He would secretly write her poems on odd pieces of paper and leave them in places for her to find them and serenade her in his own unique renditions to familiar songs. To their union, God blessed them with three children, Deirtra, Paul Jr. and Byron. He was a loving provider and supporter of his children and grandchildren even as he prepared them for his final days here on this side of Jordan. He left this familiar Valentine song for his family:
Lavender blue, dilly, dilly Who told me so?
Lavender green Who told me so?
If I were king, dilly, dilly I told myself, dilly, dilly
I'd need a queen I told me so
His keen sense of love and humor were apparent even in his last hours as he kept smiles on the staff of Centennial Hospital and had his visitors laughing. He would often say his pain level was at a zero even when he was struggling to catch his breath and would find a humorous way to express what he was going through.
Paul was preceded in death by his mother, Alfreda Cole; his father, John Callaway; and son, Byron Keith Calloway.
He is survived by his wife, Quinester Knox Calloway; daughter, Deirtra Berneda Calloway Bledsoe; son, Paul Buttler Calloway, Jr., his favorite daughter-in-love, Sheila Denise Jones Calloway; grandchildren, Ashley (Morlan), Celeste, Kenneth, Gentry, Kensi, Quinester, and Paul, III; great-grandchildren, Jeremy, Isabella, Gabriel, Alex, Alexia; cousins, Gloria J. Gardner, Floyd Cook, Jr., and Dot Mallery; cousins, Gloria J. Gardner, Floyd Cook, Jr., and Dorothy Mallery; and a host of family members and friends.
In lieu of flowers please send your contributions to the benevolent fund of New Visions Baptist Church, 2830 McGavock Pike Nashville TN 37214.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Reverend Paul B. Calloway Sr., please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Public Viewing
Friday, February 12, 2016
1:00 - 6:00 pm (Central time)
Highland Hills Funeral Home & Crematory
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