Reverend M. Bearden

Rev. James M. Bearden, age 77, passed away October 28, 2018 in Olathe, KS.
James was born in McComb, MS, and is the son of the late Nazarene pastor Rev. James O. Bearden, and his wife, Vena Bearden. James attended University of Southern Mississippi at Hattiesburg, MS. After his conversion and call to preach, he transferred to Trevecca Nazarene University graduating in 1964 with a Bachelors of Arts in Religion.

He was conferred the Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree by Trevecca Nazarene University in 1991.
He was married to Nancy Rushing for 31 years, and had three children: Jamie Sue Myrtle of Olathe ,KS, Paul Richard Bearden of Lexington, SC, and Julie Anne Poole of Atlanta, GA. Following Nancy's death, he married Charlotte Maxwell, also born in Mississippi, with two children: Cathy Wiens of Olathe, KS and Chris Maxwell of Harrisonville, MO. They have been married for 22 years, and together they have ten grandchildren.

James pastored Nazarene churches in Mannington, WV, Charleston, WV, Ashland, KY, Arlington, VA, and Oskaloosa, IA. He was appointed as District Superintendent to South Carolina in 1986, where he served just over twenty years.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, October 31 at 3:00pm at College Church of the Nazarene, Garrett Chapel, 2020 E. Sheridan, Olathe, KS with visitation an hour prior to the service time. A second service will be held on Saturday, November 3 at 11:00 am at Hermitage Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 535 Shute Lane, Old Hickory, TN with visitation an hour prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Pensions and Benefits Fund ( for Pastors in need). Please make checks payable to Church of the Nazarene. In the memo line, please include Pensions and Benefits, in memory of Dr. James M. Bearden. Mail to Church of the Nazarene, Pensions and Benefits, 17001 Prairie Star Parkway, Lenexa, KS 66220.