William Eli Crum


1860-1924

The first preacher at the Beech Hill church of Christ, Ripley, Miss.

William Eli Crum was born at Hickory Flat, Mississippi on September 28, 1860. His parents were William Allen and Mary Malvina Smith Crum. Mrs. Crum was originally from Indiana. Her parents, John and Annis Hartley Smith, were very instrumental in the Restoration Movement in North Mississippi.

Brother Crum was converted at the age of fourteen and baptized by his father who was also a gospel preacher; He began preaching in 1880 and preached continuously until his death. Also in 1880, he married Olivia Nunnally in Hardeman County Tennessee. To this union were born two daughters, Lelon and Mary Helon and one son, Lee. Judge D. Lee Crum of New Albany was brother Crum's only brother and a Mrs. Walls from Hickory Flat was his sister.

Brother Crum rode a horse and preached throughout West Tennessee and North Mississippi and in parts of Arkansas and Texas. Having been born to a wounded Confederate veteran and reared just after the war, he had little opportunity for a formal education. According to an article by Brother D. P. Craig, "Will" took advantage of every opportunity that came his way. After his death, he was eulogized by the Southern Sentinel, The Commercial Appeal and the Jackson Daily News as a very able Bible student, a good preacher and a devout Christian.

Brother W.E. Crum died suddenly in Sept. 19, 1924 at the age of sixty five. He was conducting a gospel meeting at Potts Camp, Mississippi. Prior to the morning service he went by the J. C. Laws store to talk to friends. He was reading the daily paper on the store porch at the time of his death. Both he and his wife, Olivia are buried in the Old Hickory Flat, Miss. cemetery.

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From Memphis take highway 78 east. Turn LEFT (North) onto SR-5, turn left onto highway 2. As you turn left, the Old Hickory Flat Cemetery will be on the left.