Middle Tennessee Friday Night Singings

Harold Long (Nashville) - December 21, 2009

Harold Hunter Long, age 80, passed away Monday, December 21, 2009, at Vanderbilt Hospital. He was born in Jackson County) TN, on June 1, 1929, and was preceded in death by his parents, Mattie & Rufus Long; brothers, Fred & Chester Long; sisters, Alma Ray & Faydell Sewell. Survived by wife of almost 60 years, Lucille (Lucy) Bybee Long; daughter, Renay Lawson Brown (Keith); son, Duane Long; grandsons.. Matthew (Andrea) Lawson & Brandon Lawson, along with several nieces, nephews) and cousins. Harold committed himself to a lifelong goal of making as many friends as possible. He loved people, his family & singing. He currently served as Song Director for Pennington Bend Church of Christ. Harold retired after 39 years of service as Safety Coordinator with Metro Board of Education. He was an avid UT Sports Fan. Active Pallbearers were:. Jerry Callis, Harold Taylor, Tommy Overstreet, Buddy Casteel, Todd & Greg Bybee, Ronnie Lang & Charles Swift. Honorary Pallbearers included: Friday Night Singers and "Hardee's Bunch." Funeral services were held Wednesday, December 23rd, at 2 p.m., at Hermitage Funeral Home, with Brother Mike Walters & Tom Boyette officiating, and burial followed at Hermitage Memorial Gardens. Visitation was Tuesday, December 22, 2009, from 4p.m. -8 p.m. & Noon until time of service at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, at HERMITAGE FUNERAL HOME AND MEMORIAL GARDENS, 535 Shute Lane, Old Hickory, TN 37138; (615) 883-0361.

A Wonderful Life

Harold Long was an Elder and Song Leader at Joywood Church of Christ for 18 years. Other congregations where he led singing were Trinity Lane, Corinth, Ivy Point, and Robertson County. He led singing in several Gospel Meetings in the Nashville area, and once led singing at Nashville Christian Institute for Brother Marshall Keeble, visiting with him in his home. In 1978, he had an idea to have Friday night singings, which continue today all over Middle Tennessee and surrounding states.

In the 1950's Harold worked in the insurance field and was promoted to Assistant Manager for American National Insurance Company. He later had his own agency with multiple lines of insurance. In the 1960's, with a General Contractor's License, he repaired homes and other buildings. Later he obtained an Auto Dealer's License and bought and sold cars. Always a politician, he was once elected Lakewood City Commissioner for a 4-year term.

In the 1970's he was a successful basketball coach for boys age 10-14 and always had winning seasons for his teams "The Vols." In 1975, the team won the Tennessee State Championship and went on to be runner-up in the National Championship in Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. While there he was made an Honorary Kentucky Colonel.

Harold sang and did Karaoke for Nursing Homes on a monthly basis, including Vanco Manor, Madison-Avon North Center, McKendree, Providence, and Imperial Manor. He occasionally did the same for Senior Citizen Centers, including Mt. Juliet, Madison, Gallatin, and Donelson.

Yes, Harold Long had a wonderful life. But more importantly, he made a wonderful life for his family and for all the people he met.

MIDDLE TENNESSEE
FRIDAY NIGHT SINGINGS
SPONSORED BY AREA CHURCHES OF CHRIST