Homer Ellis Finger, Jr.
October 8, 1916 ~ May 25, 2008
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Asheville Butterfly Trail
Asheville, NC - Homer Ellis Finger, Jr. of Givens Estates died Sunday, May 25, 2008.
Born October 8, 1916 in Ripley, Miss., he was the son of the late Homer Ellis Finger and Bertha Rogers Finger and was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Mamie Lee Ratliff Finger in 2006.
He was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss. and received a Master of Divinity degree from Yale University Divinity School. He held honorary degrees from five colleges.
He was pastor of the Coldwater, Miss. and Oxford University United Methodist Churches before his election as President of Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss. He served as a Chaplain, USNR, in World War II.
He was elected in 1964 to the Episcopacy in the United Methodist Church and served in the Nashville, Tenn. Episcopal area for twelve years and the Holston area in Knoxville, Tenn. for eight years.
Bishop Finger's church wide ministries include the chair of the Commission on Deaconesses, chair of the Commission on Chaplains and Related Ministries, President of General Council of Finance and Administration, chair of Division of Health and Welfare Ministries and on the Board of Global Ministries. He was President of the Council of Bishops 1980-1981 and after his retirement in 1984, he served as Administrative Assistant Secretary to the Council of Bishops for twelve years.
Bishop Finger is survived by two sons, Homer Ellis Finger, III, and his wife Phyllis, of Easton, Penn., William Ratliff Finger, and his wife Georgia, of Raleigh, NC; daughter, Elizabeth Ellen Finger, and her husband Richard Vander Veen of Arden, NC and five grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held in Asheville at 10:00 A.M., Wednesday, June 4, 2008 in the Norma F. Pulliam Memorial Chapel at Givens Estates.
Memorial gifts may be directed to Givens Estates, Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville, NC 28803 or to the Lake Junaluska Foundation, Lake Junaluska, NC 28745.
Each of you has a special place in my heart and mind, as did (and still do) your father and your mother. Much love, Alice
The Varner family sends condolences. The life long friendship with Ellis and Mamie is a treasured memory. Mississippi roots and Millsaps College formed the earliest bonds. Carroll so often talked of the trip to be in their wedding when his car broke down and he tried to borrow money for rest of trip from his mother, who in turn was trying to borrow from him! Our visits to Givens to be with them are treasured memories, as well, as Mamie Lee and I would retreat to the porch and let the men talk!
With Millsaps roots and friendship with the Finger family through many years, I send condolences. Pete and Grace Wood were my parents. They and the Fingers were such loving friends and loyal to Millsaps and the Methodist Church!
Dr. Finger was Millsaps’ President during my student days. We knew each other well. He brought dignity to everything he did, and left a grand legacy. I send my sincere condolences to his family.
Hi Betsy, I am so sorry to hear about the passing of your dad. He was so kind, and I am so glad he was a part of my life. I didn’t realize that he was exactly a day younger than my dad. Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers during this time. I will never forget my trip to Lake Junaluska. It was so beautiful, and I took my husband there about 30 years ago. Your parents were so wonderful. I would love to make contact with you. God bless you and your family at this time. Love, Suzanne Collier Little
May God comfort and bless all of the family. I am honored to have been a part of the Episcopal family with Bishop Finger.
Littleton Road is a special place, due to its inhabitants and the Fingers helped make it that way. Always remembered with pleasure and love.
Much love and sympathy to all of you, Claudia Ogden
I was deeply saddened to learn of Bishop Finger’s death. He was my bishop when I was at Vanderbilt, and supported me in coming to Emory as dean and then as president. I loved and respected him very much, and regret that I was away when he died and could not attend his service. I send my deepest sympathy to his family. Jim Laney
Sincere Sympathy for one of our ‘heroes’, a person that will always be in my memory bank as is his wife, Mamie Lee, that we loved dearly. Blessings to the wonderful family. Treasure the memories.
Mary Frances and Guy Tucker
Bishop Finger was my bishop during my formative years. I looked up to him very much for his exceptional memory (he knew everyone’s name!) and his ‘presence’ in the pulpit. He was one of a great class of bishops elected the year I was born, and he has left a great heritage. The Fingers are in my prayers.
Betsy, Skipper and Bill,
You are all in my thoughts and prayers. Your father was an extraordinary man who left a great legacy. I am sorry that I am not up there to attend the service, but i hope to see you soon at Lake Junaluska.
Bishop Finger was a classmate of my uncle,Clyde Atkins,at Millsaps College. My Clarksdale (MS) High School librarian was Miss Mary Jo Finger, Bishop Finger’s sister. Mamie Lee’s brother, George, was my Sunday School teacher and lived in Sherard, MS, 10 miles from C’dale. As a Clarksdale native, I was proud to be in the Holston Conference when he was Bishop. I hope that this bit of trivia may add to the family’s memories.