Eugene Hibbard Tennis

Biography

Mr. Eugene H. Tennis, 80, of Dawsonville, GA., passed away peacefully at his residence on Wednesday, October 15, 2014.

Eugene Hibbard Tennis, AB, M. Div., retired minister of the Presbyterian Church USA and former vice president of Marts & Lundy, Inc., was born in Crookston, Minnesota on April 8, 1934 to Dorothy Pollock Hibbard and Wesley Raymond Tennis. He is survived by his wife, Gay Hargis Tennis of Dawsonville, GA, his son Scott and his wife Leslie, of Navarre, FL, and his son Mark and granddaughters Katie, Samantha, Kerri Anne and grandson Wesley Eugene of Atlanta. In addition, the extended families of Kyle and Carol Price of Ballwin, MO and their daughters Christine and Julia; Jim and Christina Price of Atlanta and their daughters Katie and Nicole; and John and Christine Price of Lithia, FL and their children Melissa and Bill; and sister-in-law Carolyn Collmer and her husband Ray of Liberty, S.C. who were all a cherished part of his life.

He received his AB from Macalester College, St. Paul, MN and the M. Div. degree from Union Theological Seminary, NYC, NY. He was ordained in June 1958 in the United Presbyterian Church. His ministry began at the First Presbyterian Church in Hector, NY from 1958 to 1961; he then became the Associate Pastor of Third Presbyterian Church in Rochester, NY until 1965, when he joined the denominational capital campaign of the Presbyterian Church through 1967 in New Jersey and New York. He worked with the firm of Marts & Lundy, Inc., counsel to the Presbyterian Church. He then joined the Rochester Area Council of Churches as Associate Executive Director, responsible for their financial development. Because of his earlier involvement in Rochester during a time of civil unrest, he joined the city government of the city in 1969 and served for four years, finishing his service as the city's Commissioner of Community Services.

In 1974 he became the Director of Development at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA, and served there until 1977 when he became the Executive Director of Financial Development for the National Council of Churches in New York City. In 1979 Marts & Lundy invited him to join the firm. He accepted and began a twenty-year odyssey of counseling clients in assisting individuals, corporations and foundations in philanthropy. He was appointed Atlanta Regional Manager in 1984 and vice president of the firm in 1995, retiring in 2000 to enjoy traveling with Gay and spending time at their lake home on Lake Lanier and their cabin in Minnesota.

A memorial service to celebrate Eugene's life will be held Wednesday November 26, 2014 at 2:30 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Gainesville.

In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made to First Presbyterian Church, 800 S Enota Dr. NE, Gainesville, GA 30501 the Tennis Fund.

Those wishing to leave online condolences may do so at littledavenport.com

Little & Davenport Funeral Home, 355 Dawsonville Hwy, Gainesville, GA 30501 is in charge of arrangements.

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