Rev. Gary Michael Cornelius

Rev. Gary Michael Cornelius, age 74, made it to his heavenly home on Sunday, May 4, 2025, following an extended illness. He passed away peacefully at his home with his loving wife of 50 years and his family by his side. Gary was a lifelong follower of Jesus and lived his life in such a way that reflected his devotion to Christ. He retired after 40 years from Pineville Community Hospital where he worked as a medical technologist in the laboratory. He was a gifted teacher and spent many years teaching microbiology at Southeast Community College and Lincoln Memorial University, but most importantly he was a passionate teacher of the Bible. He was a faithful member of Laurel Hill Pentecostal Church for 50 years. He served there as youth pastor, adult Sunday school teacher, assistant pastor, and then in 2020 became Senior Pastor, serving until 2024 when he was no longer able to due to his health.

Gary was a bookworm and an avid lifelong learner. He was known by family and friends to be a writer of poems and songs. He has given many loved one’s personal poems throughout the years. He obtained his Bachelor of Science from Cumberland College, then attended Medical Technician School at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. Later in life, he pursued and obtained a Master’s Degree in Theology from Emanuel Baptist University. As much as he loved reading and learning, nothing thrilled him more than the Word of God. He lived to study the Bible and teach it to others. His hunger for the Word was evident to all who knew him. He was the quietest of the three Cornelius boys, but he allowed God to use him in spite of his quiet nature.

Gary was born in Pineville, Kentucky on March 22, 1951, to the late Cecil Creed Cornelius and Christine Brock Cornelius.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Norman Lyle Cornelius and Russel Dale Cornelius, and nephew, Brandon Dale Cornelius.

Gary is survived by his wife, Debbie Sue Cornelius; daughter, Bethany Ann Johnson and husband, Wendell Johnson; and his beloved grandchildren, Emily Grace Wolthoff and her husband, William Wolthoff, and Wendell “Ethan” Johnson, affectionately known as Boog, all of Lancaster, Kentucky. Others left to mourn his passing include his sisters-in-law, Deloris Wilder Cornelius and Sylvia Warren Cornelius; his wife’s three sisters, Sheila Ledford, Ruby Hohn, and Karen Craig; and a host of other family including his three nieces, Christie (Arvil) Willis, Natasha (Brian) Good and Britt, and Matti (Garrard) Coffey; and a very special aunt, Mary Jean Rose of Danville, Kentucky.

The family would like to thank the Hospice of the Bluegrass for their service, and gratitude to a special caregiver, Bethany “Hope” Thompson.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at the Arnett & Steele Funeral Home. Officiating will be Rev. Wendell Johnson of Lancaster First Assembly of God of Lancaster, Kentucky and Rev. Nathan Ledford of House of Refuge of Girdler, Kentucky. Special music will be provided by Ethan Johnson, Angie Saylor, Gerald Baker, and Denise Johnson. Burial will follow at the Barbourville Cemetery in Barbourville, Kentucky. Pallbearers will include Ethan Johnson, Will Wolthoff, Levi Ledford, Robin Saylor, Tim Rose, and Tim Cornelius.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday from 12:00 PM until the funeral hour at the Arnett & Steele Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Pineville, which is honored to serve the Cornelius Family. We invite you to sign and view the online registry.