William Marion Honeycutt III

William Marion Honeycutt (Rev. Billy), age 72, of Rutherfordton, NC, died Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at Hospice House of the Carolina Foothills.  He is survived by his wife, Terry and children John and Beth.

Billy was the second child of the late William Marion Honeycutt, Jr. and Juanita Humphries Honeycutt.  His twin sister Beverly is older by 20 minutes; Lee is their younger brother.  A native of Gaffney, SC, Billy spent summers at his grandmother’s farm and was educated in the public school system.  Billy’s deep faith was nurtured through involvement at Cherokee Avenue Baptist Church.  In his later teens he sensed a call to ministry, and prepared himself for that vocation with degrees from Gardner-Webb College and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.  Ministry settings included hospital chaplain residency, church youth staff ministry, Pastor of Mountain Creek Baptist Church and Director of Missions of Green River Baptist Association.  In semi-retirement, he served as chaplain at Baptist Retirement Home in Asheville and interim pastor of First Baptist Church, Forest City.  Full retirement was in October 2020.

In spite of increasingly demanding health issues for the past 15 years, Billy continued to minister through involvement in community service, was active in First Baptist Church, Rutherfordton, and was deeply committed to his family.

In the summer of 1995, Billy met with a group of local citizens who shared a concern about housing needs in Rutherford County.  These conversations resulted in the birth of Rutherford Housing Partnership, an organization that addresses housing issues for those who live on limited incomes.  An incredible, delightful, helpful and joyful group that formed in conjunction with RHP is the Women Roofers.  Over their twenty-plus years of volunteer work, they have roofed over 160 houses.  Their service has been recognized nationally.

While in seminary, Billy Honeycutt and Terry Chandler of Asheville, met and were married August 2, 1975.  To them was born Sarah Elizabeth Honeycutt who is married to Brian Graves.  They live in Mars Hill, with their children Jonathan, Matthew and Phoebe.  Billy and Terry’s second child is John Stuart Honeycutt who is married to Jenna Doyle.  They live in Salem, VA, with their children Anna Claire and Ellie.  Twin sister Beverly Bell lives with her husband Richard in Spartanburg, SC.  His brother Lee Honeycutt and wife Sharon live in Columbia, SC.  An extended family and friends remember him with love.

A worship service of faith in God will be held Sunday, May 21, 2023, 3:00 pm, at First Baptist Church, Rutherfordton, with Rev. Dr. Joe Yelton and Rev. Dr. D. Larry Gregg officiating.  The service will be live-streamed on the church website and on the church’s YouTube page.  The family will receive friends after the service in the church sanctuary.  Billy requested that a private burial service be held, with Rev. Tim Marsh officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts be made to Rutherford Housing Partnership, PO Box 1525, Rutherfordton, NC, 28139, or to First Baptist Church, PO Box 839, Rutherfordton, NC, 28139.  McMahan’s Funeral Home & Crematory in charge of arrangements.

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