Walter Clarke Gum, D. D.

Forest Lawn Cemetery
Location: K Block 1, Lot 25, Space SW
(July 4, 1897 – May 31, 1969)

Walter Clarke Gum, D.D., served as superintendent of the Norfolk Methodist District.  He later served as Bishop of the Methodist Churches of Kentucky and Richmond.
Bishop Gum was born in Monterey, Highland County.  After receiving his education at Randolph-Macon College and Emory University, he was ordained in 1919.  His doctor of divinity was conferred on him by Randolph-Macon College in 1940. 

Bishop Gum served as pastor of several churches throughout the Virginia Conference including the Monumental United Methodist Church, Portsmouth, and the First Methodist and Ghent Methodist Churches, Norfolk. He served as pastor of the Park Place United Methodist Church from 1956 until 1960 when he was elected a bishop of the Southeastern Jurisdictional District of the Methodist Church. At that time he was assigned to the Methodist Bishopric of Kentucky in Lexington.  He transferred to the Methodist Bishopric of Richmond four years later, where he served until his retirement in July 1968.

He was married to Mary Lucille Hendrick, of Lawrenceville, VA.

References:

Community Builders of Norfolk,  Norfolk, VA., 1942, p. 66. (source of photograph)
The Virginian Pilot, “Bishop Gum Dies In Norfolk Hospital,” June 1, 1969, p. B1-B2.

Biographical information provided by Norfolk Bureau of Cemeteries. Profile written by Michael Frost, Norfolk Society for Cemetery Conservation volunteer.

Visitor Information

Visitor Hours: Sunrise to Sunset

Office hours: Monday to Sunday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Free parking inside cemetery.

Admission Cost: Free

Address: 8100 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA 23505

Official web site for more information: www.norfolk.gov/cemeteries

Norfolk Society for Cemetery Conservation Web Site: www.norfolksocietyforcemeteryconservation.org