Dr. David M. Hilliard Jr., age 78, died peacefully on July 26, 2012.

Dr. Hilliard was born in Memphis, Tennessee, son of the late Moss and Iris Hilliard. Dr. Hilliard received his B.A. Degree from Lambuth College, and his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Vanderbilt University. Dr. Hilliard was an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church-Memphis Conference for 40 years and during that time served as pastor of South Fulton, Ky. circuit, Concord UMC in Paducah, Ky., First UMC in Dyer, Tenn., Oakhaven UMC in Memphis, Tenn., Trinity UMC in Memphis, Tenn., Emmanuel UMC in Memphis, Tenn. and as District Superintendent of the Paducah District until his retirement from active ministry in 1999. In addition to his ministerial appointments, Dr. Hilliard also chaired the Memphis Conference Board on Ordained Ministry for four years. He was elected as a representative to the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference of the United Methodist Church on four occasions and representative to the General Conference on three occasions, leading the clerical delegation for the Memphis Conference for one of the General Conferences.

After “retirement,” Dr. Hilliard worked in a Church Health Center/Hope and Healing Ministry in Memphis, Tenn., and then served as Interim President of Memphis Theological Seminary for nearly three years. He later served as Minister of Christian Development at Emmanuel UMC in Memphis, Tenn., and finally as Associate Minister at Forest Hills UMC in Nashville, Tenn.

Evangelism always occupied a place of high priority for Dr. Hilliard. He conducted over 300 revivals and preaching missions during his lifetime in churches large and small. Dr. Hilliard was also an avid runner. He regularly competed in 5K and 10K races around the Memphis area and ran in several marathons, including Memphis, Jackson, New York and Boston (twice). He once even competed in a 40 mile ultra-marathon race in War Trace, Tenn.

He is survived by his wife of almost 55 years, Patsy Ruth (Hearon) Hilliard; his children, Mark Hilliard (Betsy) of Atlanta, Ga., Jennie Stockard (Jeff) of Brentwood, Tenn., Holly Hilliard of Columbia, Tenn. and Hank Hilliard (Amy) of Franklin, Tenn.; and his grandchildren, Alyssa and Samuel Stockard, Tanner, Kendall, Connor and Will Hilliard

Visitation will be Sunday, July 29 from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at Memorial Park Funeral Home, 5668 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN 38119. Funeral service will be Monday, July 30 at 2 p.m. with an additional visitation to be held one hour prior to the service, both at Emmanuel United Methodist Church, 2404 Kirby Road, Memphis, TN 38119. A separate memorial service will be held in Brentwood, Tenn., on Tuesday, July 31, at 7 p.m. at Forest Hills UMC, 1250 Old Hickory Blvd., with visitation beginning at 6 p.m.

Donations may be sent to either Memphis Theological Seminary, 168 East Parkway, South, Memphis, TN 38104 or Emmanuel United Methodist Church, 2404 Kirby Road, Memphis, TN 38119.