Winford Claiborne

Funeral services for Winford Claiborne, age 88 of Fayetteville, will be conducted Friday at 10 a.m. at the West Fayettville Church of Christ with Bro. Tom Holland officiating. Bro. Claiborne passed away Tuesday morning at his residence.
He was a native of Portland, TN, and the son of the late Marvin and Susie Dillahay Claiborne. In October 2002, brother Claiborne and his family suffered a great loss. Molly, his wife of 53+ years succumbed to lung cancer.
As of February 2014, brother Claiborne had been preaching the gospel for 71 years. He was a graduate of both Freed-Hardeman College and Murray State University. His academic work also includes graduate studies at Harding Graduate and University of Georgia.
While serving as a gospel preacher for numerous congregations, he's had other experiences as well, including high school teacher, business owner and college professor. In the last 71 years he's been a pulpit minister for congregations in Kentucky, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee.
After teaching at Freed-Hardeman for 14 years, he retired in 1993 and moved to Fayetteville where began preaching full-time for West Fayettville congregation.
In August 1995, brother Claiborne took over the International Gospel Hour radio program. The operation of the International Gospel is under the direction of the Elders at the West Fayettville Church of Christ.
In October 2002, brother Claiborne and his family suffered a great loss. Molly, his wife of 53+ years succumbed to the lung cancer she had been fighting for over a year and a half. Although it has been incredibly difficult, as you might imagine, his dedication to this ministry has inspired him to continue this great work.
Over the last several years, this program has been blessed with exceptional growth. The number of radio stations on which brother Claiborne can be heard each week has almost doubled in the last twenty years.
Survivors include two sons, Doron (Kathee) Claiborne of Murfreesboro, TN and Danny (Gina) Claiborne of Murray, KY, grandchildren Hannah and Mark Claiborne, Wesley (Heather) Claiborne, brothers and sisters Edgar Claiborne, Lucien (Ellen) Claiborne, Charlie (Paulette) Claiborne, Wilma (Irvin) Hill, Garvin (Beverly) Claiborne, and brother-in-law Chester Hill. He was preceded in death by brothers and sisters William, Eathel, Nadine, Raymond, Douglas and Laura. Funeral services will be conducted Friday at 10 a.m. at the West Fayettville Church of Christ. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the International Gospel Hour or the Freed-Hardeman University Scholarship.

There will also be a memorial service for Bro. Claiborne on Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Williams Chapel Church in Lynn Grove, KY. Burial will follow at 3 p.m. at the Lebanon Cemetery in Lynn Grove, KY.

J.H. Churchill Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements.