Coleman Overby, one of the truly great preachers of this century, was born to Mr. and Mrs. W.S. Overby near Murray, Kentucky on January 30; 1889. His mother died soon after he was born and his father remarried. He learned the Truth in early life and became obedient to it. His obedience to the gospel led to troubles in his Baptist home, and the step-mother did not get along with the children very well anyway, and he left home for about a year. Christian friends helped him in this time and he was always grateful for their kindness.
He soon decided he wanted to be a preacher and began that work at the age of seventeen. He was able to baptize all four of his brothers, his one sister, and many other friends and relatives in the area. In his late seventies, his father gave up the doctrines of men and became obedient to the one faith. His step brother became a Baptist preacher, preaching in Detroit, Michigan for many years. Throughout life he returned to Murray, again and again and was able to convert many of his relatives and acquaintances. He also had a step-sister who was a Baptist.
On Thanksgiving Day, 1911 he was married to Miss Susan Beatrice Hargrove b. Mar-2-1893 Though her father was a Primitive (Hardshell) Baptist preacher, he had converted her before they were married. Four daughters were born to them: Rachel Leah b.1912 d.Jan-1-1933; Teresa Naomi b.Sep-17-1914 d. Jan-7-1998 (Mrs. Perry Boyd Cotham); Laurel b. 1916; and Frances Coleman, (Mrs. Robert Richard Snider).
As a child, Brother Overby had attended the available schools, but felt the need for more training in his preaching work. Having learned of the school at Cordell, Oklahoma, he went there and studied for two years. During this time he also lived for a time in Henryetta in the Eastern part of Oklahoma, and here his second daughter was born. Here he also preached for the church.
After two years of study at Cordell he left Oklahoma and returned to Murray in Kentucky. For a time he lived on a farm but soon built a house in Murray and made his home there. (This house still stands.) He immediately became busy preaching and debating. Many of his meetings were held under a tent. In August, 1922 he began work as "county evangelist" in Calloway County where he had been reared. (Many churches used this arrangement for evangelization. It was an arrangement where several churches in an area would agree to support a man and keep him busy preaching in destitute places.)
In the late years of the last century and the early years of this one, the church was in constant turmoil, brought on by those in the church who were pushing to have the church use instrumental music and the missionary society. At the first they almost swept the whole church away in their digression, but in most places there were a few who would not "bow the knee to Baal." The "digressives" as the loyal brethren usually called them, took not only many of the preachers, but most of the meeting houses. Because these buildings had often been paid for by those who did not accept the digressive position, feelings were often bitter when loyal brethren were ousted from property they had paid for. This happened in Kentucky - Tennessee - Texas - everywhere there were New Testament churches. Those pushing for these innovations liked to call themselves "progressives" and those who opposed them "non-progressives," or "non'progs." The "non-progs" usually called the others "digressives," refusing to accept the idea that their innovations were really "`progress." (Time has vindicated them, for the non-instrumental group has grown much more than the others. All over Calloway County, Kentucky there are strong churches of Christ, and very few "Christian churches," or Disciples.)
Coleman Overby grew up in a time when preachers had to make a fight to save even a remnant in most of the churches. The digressives would usually work in every possible underhanded way to gain control of a church, they seldom were willing to lay the case before the people in open, honest debate. Sometimes one could be found who was willing to try his case in the crucible of public discussion, and brother Overby was able to meet at least two such men: J.H. Walker in Murray in 1923 and in 1927 he met Frank S. Perry on the same subject at Valley Point near Milan, Tennessee. Following the debate with Walker The Church in Murray began to grow, and today is a very strong church. Perry Cotham, who grew up in that same County and married Brother Overby's second daughter, Teresa, remembers having attended that debate, the first debate he ever attended. The division in Murray took place in 1899, leaving only a few there who were determined to worship "as it is written," meeting at various places where ever they could, and perhaps not meeting all the time. In 1909 James A. Harding, and his son, Leon, as song leader, held a meeting there, and another one in 1910. He re-established The Church with thirteen members. They began to grow and in a few years were able to build at South Sixth and Maple Sts. Later they had to have more room and built on Popular Street. Such things happened all over the brotherhood. David Lipscomb and others on the Gospel Advocate fought these innovations, and were largely responsible for saving anything from the digression. Lipscomb would say: "When the organ is put into the worship it ceases to be a church of Christ." The Lord's church in Murray and surrounding country has grown across the years, the digressives have not.
Many of our brethren today do not know of the terrible times through which the Church passed in those years. Because they do not know, they often badly misrepresent our brethren of those times. Many today who oppose debates do so through complete ignorance of the very effective work done in that period. Such brethren should be treated with kindness, of course, and completely ignored, at least on that point.
He held many debates, usually with the Baptists, and once his father-in-law, who was a Primitive Baptist preacher, moderated for his opponent. He said he would not do that again. (He was never able to convert his in-laws.) In all his debates he made the Bible stand out as the sole authority as he met such men as A. U. Nunnery, and Freed Taylor. From that time, the church in Western Kentucky grew and prospered.
In 1923 he moved from Murray to Lexington, Tennessee where he worked with the church about two years when he moved to Union City, Tennessee, then to Jackson were he worked with the Central church.
In the mid-twenties, with Cecil Douthitt, he was involved in the publication of the Primitive Christian, first a monthly, then bi-monthly, and finally a weekly. This paper did much good in West Tennessee and surrounding area. In 1929 he began serving as editor of it. It continued until he moved to Oklahoma.
While living in Jackson his oldest daughter, Rachel, contracted tuberculosis and he decided to "move West" to help her. In September 1932 he moved to Muskogee, Oklahoma, but she only lived until the following January. Her body was returned to Murray.
In Muskogee he began one of the most useful works of his life, the publication of Bible study materials, first using a mimeograph. Bible Women was the first book printed. He also produced Sermon Outlines, Scriptural Surveys, Book Of Acts, and others. In March, 1937 he moved to Dallas, Texas to work with the Sears and Summit St. church (now Skillman Avenue). He continued to produce teaching materials, and in a few years gave up local work to devote more time to such writing. He did preach for a short time for the church meeting on the campus of Boles Home at Quinlan. Later he accepted an invitation of the Pearl and Bryan Street Church to work with them. This is the oldest church of any kind in Dallas, and now meets on Garland Road (Nov., 1985, Known as "Highland Oaks"). He worked for this church for seven and a half years, and helped establish a number of other congregations in the city, including the Cockrell Hill church. He also did a Sunday morning radio program from WRR and helped Olan Hicks in the beginning of the Christian Chronicle. He was always interested in mission work and gave much help to the work of Eldred Echols in South Africa. Perhaps one of the most far-reaching things he did was the establishment of the annual Teacher Training Course still held each Spring in Dallas. He pushed the Bible school, for he felt that it was the key to church growth. He helped others publish teaching materials including Mary Oler and Mrs. Hulen Jackson. Much of his work is still in print and can be ordered from his daughter, Mrs. Robert Snider, 3408 Lynnwood Ct., Arlington, TX 76013.
At the midweek service, September 27, 1950, at the Pearl and Bryan St. church he read and commented on a portion of the 19th Psalm and made some remarks about Brother Echols and his work in Africa. The next morning Sep 28,1950 with T.J. Moon,a gospel preacher, and Robert Snider, his son-in-law, and Bro. Overby went to Lake Texoma for some fishing. While out in a boat he was stricken with a heart attack, and though they got him to medical help as quickly as possible,it was too late. At the comparatively early age of sixty-one, his great work was finished, the course was completed. Services were conducted by Hulen Jackson, Foy L. Smith, and E.R. Harper at the Pearl and Bryan St. meeting house. It was estimated that two hundred gospel preachers attended the funeral and about a thousand others. Again the 19th Psalm was read. Following the Dallas service the body was returned to Murray, Kentucky where on Sunday afternoon Boone L. Douthitt, another life-long friend, conducted the final service, including the 19th Psalm, and they laid the body in the earth there. Here in Calloway County he had grown up, obeyed the gospel, preached his first sermon, did some of his greatest work, and held his last meeting.
His companion continued until April 8, 1965, when she too, went the way of all the earth. After his death she had kept his books in print, mailing them from the home to the many people who ordered them. Her body too, was returned to Murray, and there they sleep side by side awaiting the sounding of the last trumpet.
Following his death Frank J. Dunn wrote: "It is my conviction that there had never been a man in Dallas more highly esteemed, or his passing more deeply mourned by the church than brother Overby. He was one of the finest, fairest, truest, purest, and most capable men I have ever known. Brother Overby was a true friend and closer than a brother to every gospel preacher who knew him." A. O. Colley said of him: "He was a good and safe teacher and one that always wanted to see things done right and in harmony with the Lord's will. He was a strong man among us in defending the truth when it was assailed by denomination teachers. When the 'Christian Church' thought they were taking things over in West Kentucky and Tennessee, Brother Overby was one who stood firm for the truth which drew him into some good debates with them and truth always triumphed, and error suffered defeat. We will never be able to tell how much good he did for primitive Christianity in those days. He had been on the firing line ever since he began preaching in Kentucky. He has also stood firm for New Testament principles since he has been in Dallas, We never had to ask him the second time to find out his position on thing that involved the truth."
Brother Overby was well and favorably known throughout the brotherhood. For his purity of life, deep devotion to the Lord and His word, and his great ability as a preacher he was highly respected. It is a wonderful thing to contemplate the gathering of the saints of all the ages.
