Once again, the mysterious angel of death has visited our church and has taken from our midst our dearly beloved pastor, Elder Leuty Nelson McDermott, a true servant of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and a great preacher, “rightly dividing the word of truth.”  

Elder Leuty McDermott, a native of Athens, Tennessee, was educated in the McMinn County School System. He resided in Riceville, Tennessee, and has three daughters from the marriage to his late wife, LaLia Jean McDermott.  He started his career as a chef for Morrison Cafeteria while working at the Magnavox Plant in Knoxville.  For 19 years Elder McDermott continued his career as chef for Morrison Cafeteria at Tennessee Wesleyan College, Athens, Tennessee.  Desiring to become self-employed, Elder McDermott started to work for Clydus Porter, assisting in finishing  concrete.  Realizing it takes prayer, passion, and persistence in order to make self-employment happen, he became gainfully employed for 7 years with Harold Cousin Construction in Oak Ridge.  After mastering the trade, Elder McDermott’s dream came true.  In 1984 he branched out on his own as a concrete finisher and continued to work in this capacity until the day before entering the hospital for surgery on November 19, 2020.

The year of 1971 marked a significant turning point in Elder McDermott’s life.  He saw the need for a Savior and surrendered his life to the Lord.  In 1982, while serving in the United Methodist reformation, he received his calling to the ministry.  His pastorship with the United Methodist included three years at Mount Tabour in Bakewell, Tennessee; three years at Burkett’s Chapel in Decatur, Tennessee; and five years at Cook Memorial in Athens, Tennessee.  

Elder McDermott was introduced to The Church of God Sanctified in the late 1980’s by Deacon Thomas Gentry of Franklin, Tennessee, and Elder Gilford Hill of Cleveland, Tennessee.  After considerable guidance and counseling with the Late Bishop Henry Clay Nesbitt, he was recommended to start a church in Athens, Tennessee.  In 1989, Elder McDermott founded The Church of God Sanctified at Athens where the congregation began meeting in homes.  In August of 1990, with the aid of the National Body, the congregation was able to purchase a structure for worship services at 413 Chester Street, Athens, Tennessee.  Elder McDermott pastored the church at Athens full time until 2001 when he was asked to assist the church at Madisonville, which was without a pastor.  On October 13, 2002, The Church of God at Madisonville accepted Elder McDermott as its pastor.  Elder McDermott continued pastoring the church at Athens, holding morning service on the first and third Sundays of each month and evening service on the second and fourth Sundays.  Morning services at Madisonville were held on the second and fourth Sundays of each month and evening services on the first and third Sunday.  While serving the two churches, Elder McDermott always supplied the churches with a minister for morning service on the Sundays he was not scheduled to be there. 

An administrative decision was made in August 2003 for Elder McDermott to refrain from the pastorship of one of the churches. To comply with the Board’s decision, on January 4, 2004, Elder McDermott announced his decision to accept a full-time position as pastor at The Church of God Sanctified, Madisonville.  Although he was ever willing to serve, Elder McDermott never sought a place of prominence.  A loyal servant of God, he served his church with heart and spirit.  With genuine humility, he followed the example of the Lord, making him willing to do the humblest tasks as well as important ones, doing both well, yet not seeking recognition for the same.  He labored tirelessly for the church at 328 Houston Street that he loved so dearly.  It was with sincere regret that Elder McDermott’s failing health caused him to remain away from our church for some time before his death, but he had made such a lasting impression upon our church that we never ceased to consider him our pastor, and his interest in our church never diminished.  We never ceased to miss him in our services. He took his sickness well, never complaining, but waited patiently, happily, and in good nature on the orders from his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, whom he served so devotedly.  He rested in the words of Isaiah 53:5, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”  Elder McDermott had no fear for he knew that healing was on its way–that healing he so often made reference to where God was going to wipe all tears from their eyes: and there was going to be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither was there going to be any more pain.  So, on Wednesday evening, September 29, 2021, Elder McDermott received his healing.  His spirit-filled soul took its flight across death’s stream, where at this moment he rests from his labor; but his memory will ever live in the hearts and minds of those who knew him.

Elder McDermott accepted the invitation of the psalmist: “O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.” (Psalm 34:3) He knew that faith, belief, and love did not buffer or barricade one’s life from trouble and hardship.  Therefore, he praised his God during the good times as well as during the difficult times, and encouraged the church to do the same.  He knew that his God was bigger and stronger than his obstacles and Most High over everything.  So, on his bed of affliction, he recalled the words of the psalmist in Psalm 150:6. “Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord,” and that he did!  “In everything give thanks.  I’m gonna get my shout out now,” he would say.  With his wit, it was amusing to hear him say, “I’m thankful I had beans and potatoes for dinner yesterday, and potatoes and beans for dinner today, and beans and potatoes for tomorrow.”  He really knew how to make a point.  He had the confidence that he was loved, he was protected, he was secure, he was whole, and he was valuable because God was his heavenly father. 

Elder McDermott has been a bulwark of strength to the church family.  He stood firm on his beliefs and preached and taught the unadulterated Word of God.  It was his heart’s desire to win souls to Christ.  He had a great love for and devotion to God, the Church, and the community.  Evidence of his diligence can be seen through the accomplishments made during his leadership.  Evening worship was fully reinstated.  An addition to the previous structure of the church was erected, which included a pastor’s study, clerk’s office, fellowship hall, kitchen, and restrooms.  In the sanctuary, hardwood floors replaced the carpet; the lighting system was replaced with recessed ceiling lights; a wood ceiling replaced the sheetrock ceiling; the window seals were updated; a marquee was built by him and his friend in the ministry, Elder Ricky Cade of Knoxville; and two flag poles were installed for the church flag and the United States flag.   He will be sorely missed for his power to encourage others in the work of the Lord.  Often when people would be disheartened by lack of interest, or passing failure, Elder McDermott would remind them that God never demands success—only faithfulness to His cause.  How often in his prayers for the church family, he would call us–one by one–by name, and pray so fervently for our needs that his prayers would do more good for his hearers than many a sermon, to say nothing of the Divine power set in motion on our behalf.

To each of his members he was the Christlike example and the confidence-inspiring, always-encouraging, always-loving counselor and minister to our needs. What love he had for his church family and mankind.  How good God is to His children to give us such shining personalities as Elder McDermott was.

Elder McDermott adhered to the words of Apostle Paul in II Timothy 4:2, “Preach the word: be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”  He stood on the Word of God.  He preached it when we liked it and when we didn’t like it.  When the church would get quiet during his message, he would say, “I’m not talking ‘bout y’all; I’m talking about them over there.”  He reproved and rebuked, but ever in a spirit of love.  He had a way with words that would nudge you away from your wrong doing and motivate you to want to be more Christlike.   He faithfully preached the Word of God regardless of the size of his audience and sought ever to preach the whole counsel of God which necessitated many hours of Bible study and memorization.  He studied God’s Word as instructed in II Timothy 2:15 and was ever ready, willing, and bold enough to speak it when the opportunity presented itself.  Like the Apostle Paul in Romans 1:16, he was “not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth . . .”  He was determined that nothing would be able to separate him from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

He was our pastor, our shepherd, and our counselor. He had a knack for drawing children and youth, as well as adults, to him.  His selfless spirit and kindheartedness won him many friends.  He loved God; therefore, he loved others, especially the congregation at 328 Houston Street.  No one was too small or too mighty for him to love and serve.  He cared for the sick and the sorrowing, and in the community, they were never neglected.  Those in trouble knew him as a friend who was always to be counted on, and he was always alert to be wherever he was most needed in these capacities.

He was a missionary; his crowning virtue was his faithfulness in testimony.  His life was an example to his church members, his fellow ministers, and all who knew him.  He considered himself expendable for his people and the cause of Christ.

Elder McDermott extended his ministry in Madisonville, reaching out to the inmates of the Monroe County Jail.  There he shared the Word of God with inmates, introducing them to Jesus and providing them with the opportunity to surrender to the will of God before or after their release.  In addition, the inmates were showered with the sharing of testimonies, the utterance of prayers, the reading of the scriptures, and the singing of hymns and spiritual songs.  These acts of worship encouraged their hearts and enlarged their awareness that God is a loving and forgiving God who is willing to save to the utmost.  Elder McDermott left the inmates with the assurance that upon their release, they had a place of worship at The Church of God Sanctified, 328 Houston Street, Madisonville.  He placed emphasis on the fact that the church at 328 Houston Street stood ready to assist and accept them with love and open arms. 

Elder McDermott worked in love, wisdom, humility, courage, patience, joy,  and self-denial.  He did not conform to the pattern of this world, but he was transformed by the renewing of his mind. (Romans 12:2) He was a changed man.  He knew that the angels in heaven had signed his name.  He had a new walk, a new talk, a new song, a new shout!  Only God could have enabled him to serve as he served.  He stood up loud and proud as a believer in Jesus and made the most of the moment he was made for!  If he had a creed or motto other than to love and to serve his Lord and Savior, it must have been something like this: