Bishop William Keith Lane

December 26, 1923 - September 25, 2019

ObituarySoldier, Husband, Preacher, Father, Pastor Bishop William Keith Lane, Sr., D.D., began his life’s journey in Knoxville, Tennessee in 1923 on December 26th. Born to George and Bertha Lane, he shared his childhood years with siblings, Jane, George, Jr., Charles, Mary Helen, Virgil, and Ambrose. His father was an itinerant Preacher who had worked in the coal mines of West Virginia. His mother served as a school teacher in the public schools of Knoxville. The family owned land in Knoxville where he and his brothers learned to hunt to provide food for the family. They raised livestock and milked cows owned by neighbors. They grew vegetables, canned fruits, and vegetables all of which contributed to Bishop’s longevity. He loved fishing and hunting small game not knowing these skills would land him a specialized position in the United States Army. He was drafted in 1941 as a seventeen year old Private, and promoted to Private 2nd Class, Private 1st Class, and finally to Skilled Rifle Sharpshooter Specialist during World War II. Bishop also drove a 2 1/2 ton military vehicle hauling food, supplies, and ammunition, equipment, and army personnel at night under blackout regulations. He fought in seven theatres of war-England, France, Germany, Holland, Korea, Panama, and the Philippine Islands. Thirty-seven days were spent crossing the Pacific Ocean on a warship in preparation to attack Japanese forces for bombing Pearl Harbor. The mission was aborted with the dropping of Atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. “Soldier Keith Lane” received his Honorary Discharge on January 5, 1946. He contemplated re-enlisting as Commander Lieutenant, but God had ‘another’ position on ‘another’ battlefield he would serve in! He returned home making plans to move north to Chicago with his older brother and leave the “Jim Crow” south behind-but God had other plans! He would be taken in, smitten by another type of Soldier-his future wife, Marion Keene from Detroit, Michigan. She just happened to be a student at Knoxville College who also sung in the choir at Knoxville’s Patton Street Church of God. Her initial inspection him was that he was not ready to lead her as a suitable husband. She said to him, “Books and men don’t mix with me!” To this end, he would have to enter a “spiritual” boot camp to straighten out his life advancing from a military soldier to a Christian Soldier. She was his “Battle Hymn of the Republic!” He finally passed not only her inspection but the interrogations of Bishop J. L. Rucker, Bishop T. D. McGhee, and her parents, Deacon Connie L. Keene, Sr., and Ida Lydia Keene. His in-laws; Francis (Carl), Connie, Jr. (Emma), and Esther (La Von) would become his Northern family. Keith and Marion married December 26, 1948 and later raised four children, Rhoda, William, Jr. (Cheryl), Marcia Elizabeth, and Brian Keith (Olivia Gail). He was the Proud Grandfather of Jesse, Jr., Kiersten (Jeremy), Alexis (Kendell), Whitney,Adera (Eric), and Benjamin. Bishop Lane lived to enjoy his Great-Grandchildren: Karley, Kennedy, Elyse, and Jonah. Bishop and Sis Lane’s seventy years (70) of marriage included a host of nephews, nieces, and cousins, (the Ragland’s, Keene’s, and Allen families of the North, and the Lane families of the East, West, and South including Denise Strong (Reginald) and Dennis Williams (Michellene) whom his mother Bertha Lane raised. Bishop was devastated from the sudden passing of his youngest daughter Marcia in 1997, but those tears are now turned into joy as they are now reunited in Glory! King Solomon (Proverbs 13:22) proclaimed: “A righteous man leaves an inheritance with his children’s children.” Bishop became a part of the Eastside Church of God and served in the ministry under the late Bishop T.D. McGhee and the late Bishop M.J. Watkins, Sr. who allowed him to establish and perfect his ministry at their respective churches. The Lord called Bishop Lane into the ministry on March 21, 1950. Realizing that the hand of the Lord was upon him, he entered Detroit Bible College in 1949 and maintained a “B” average in his studies throughout the school years to 1952. He was active in his local area, and in the Church of God. Bishop Lane was ordained an Elder in August of 1955 at the National Convention in Nashville, Tennessee. Upon the demise of Bishop T.D. McGhee, Bishop Lane was called to the Pastorate of the Eastside Church of God in 1966, where he rendered a faithful pastoral ministry. In 1968, he was elected to the National Executive Board of Bishops and Elders. He also served as the Northern District Overseer and Assistant General Overseer of the Churches of God. In August of 1982, he was consecrated and elevated to the Office of Bishop. On May 12, 1990, an Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree was bestowed upon him from the Faith Evangelistic Christian Schools. As a husband and father, he worked at Budd Wheel, often working two and three shifts to finance their home and provide for his family. He would later join the U.S Postal Service working closer to home. Bishop and Sis. Lane put their children through college, and served tirelessly for the church on the local, district, and national levels. They both served faithfully for forty years until he retired as Pastor in July of 2006. Eastside became the Lane’s extended family!! Many, Many church picnics, dinners, anniversaries, revivals, convocations, choir concerts, weddings, christenings, and homegoing celebrations would follow. Bishop Lane has certainly lived the life King David boasted about: “I was once young, now I am old, yet I have never seen the Righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.”He preached his final sermon on Sunday, September 30, 2018 at the Northwest Church of God. His text: “The Foundation” taken from Psalm 11:1-7. Bishop Lane was blessed to have outlived most of his family, friends, military and ministry comrades of his generation, and Is Now in the presence of his Eternal Commander in Chief - Christ Jesus! Because You - Bishop, have set your love upon Me, and walked righteously before Me, I will deliver you and set you on high, for you have known and declared My name. I have rewarded you with a long satisfying life upon the Earth, and now will show you your everlasting salvation offered through My Son-Jesus Christ! [Psalm 91]“Well Done Thy Good and Faithful Servant!”(1923-2019)