Dr. Anthony Clay Cecil Jr.'s Obituary
Dr. Anthony Clay Cecil Jr.
A Service Celebrating the Life and Resurrection of Dr. Anthony Clay Cecil Jr. is scheduled 11 a.m. Saturday, March 25, at First United Methodist Church Nacogdoches with Dr. Dick White, Rev. Lorraine Brown and Rev. Cindy Doran officiating. A visitation at 10 a.m. in the Sanctuary will precede the service.
Rev. Cecil, the son and only child of the Rev. Anthony Clay Cecil Sr. and Wilma Maurice Whitton Cecil, was born April 12, 1943, in Beaumont, but grew up in the Chireno and Nacogdoches area. He peacefully completed his earthly journey on Feb. 27, 2023, in a Longview hospital after a brief illness.
He graduated from Nacogdoches High School in 1961 as valedictorian of his class. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Southwestern University, a divinity degree from Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, and a Ph.D. from Yale University. Anthony’s theological quest was paralleled by his desire to understand the world and absorb the vast body of human knowledge, and his formal education prepared the way for his life-long learning.
He was a third-generation Methodist minister. In 2009 he retired after serving 37 years as an ordained minister of the United Methodist Church and a member of the Texas Annual Conference. Anthony’s faith and dedication to serving God was evident to everyone who spent even a few minutes with him.
His appointments included the University of North Dakota (1972-1974); and the following United Methodist Churches: Fair Haven (Houston, 1974-1983), St. Paul’s (Houston, 1983-1985), Keltys (Lufkin, 1985-1989), St. Paul’s (Beaumont, 1989-1996), St. Paul’s (Baytown, 1996-2001), Trinity (Beaumont, 2001-2002), First (Centerville, 2002-2006), and Eylau (Texarkana, 2006-2009).
Anthony was always smiling and will be remembered for his gentle, kind, caring, joyful, outgoing spirit, his wonderful sense of humor and his love of people.
He patronized plays and other artistic gatherings at Stephen F. Austin University and he was a founding member of the Nacogdoches Christian Writers Fellowship. He traveled extensively, always seeking friendships and cultural understanding in other parts of the U.S. and the world, and offered friendship to fellow travelers here in Nacogdoches. He corresponded with many of those friends through the years. He will be missed by his many cousins and life-long friends, including those he nurtured in the many churches he served.
Interment will be in historic Oak Grove Cemetery in Nacogdoches.
Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 201 E. Hospital St., Nacogdoches, TX 75961.
A memorial guestbook may be signed and obituary viewed online at www.raderfh.com.
What’s your fondest memory of Anthony?
What’s a lesson you learned from Anthony?
Share a story where Anthony's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Anthony you’ll never forget.
How did Anthony make you smile?