Billy W. "Bill" Flatt was born on June 7, 1934 in Jackson County, Tennessee.  He departed this life on Friday, January 20, 2023.

Bill is the son of Benton and Cleo Flatt and the grandson of Henry F. and Delia Flatt and Hiram and Ollie Way.  He was the brother of Rose Fox, Leamon, Don, Dowell and Kenneth Flatt, Linda Anderson and Wanda Crabtree.

When he was six months old, his parents took Rose, Leamon, and Bill on a mule-drawn wagon around the Hiwassee Road in the Union Hill Community of Jackson County, Tennessee to see Paskell and Flora Dyer's new twins Louise and Ernest. Bill once said, "When I saw Louise, it was love at first sight."  They grew up[ together, attended church and school together, began dating in high school, and got engaged while Bill was on leave from the Air Force in 1954.  Ten months later, Louise went on a ship to Rotterdam, Holland; Bill met her there, and they drove back to Bremerhaven, Germany where they were married on April 5, 1955.  They lived together there for two years and came back to Tennessee with their first son, Steve.  They became the parents of Steve (Linda), Tim (Pam) and Danny (Leann), the grandparents of Dr. David, Kevin, Jonathan, Kate and Benton, and the great grandparents of Allie, Crawford and Emma Flatt.

Bill was educated at the Union Hill Elementary School, Jackson County High School, Baxter Seminary, Tennessee Tech University (B.S. degree), Harding University Graduate School of Religion (Master of Religious Education degree), and the University of Memphis, where he earned another master's degree and a doctorate in counseling and psychology.  He complete a year's internship in counseling psychology at the Southeast Mental Health Center in Memphis and a year of supervised practice in marriage and family therapy also in Memphis.  He was an Approved Supervisor of the American Association of Marital and Family Therapy.

Bill grew up in a Christian family and became a Christian early in life.  His aim was to let  Jesus live in him, to practice the Golden Rule, to love God and Neighbor, and to share the gospel with others which he was able to do for over 60 years.  In one gospel meeting he held in Spencer, Tennessee in 1961 there were 29 baptisms and 27 other responses.

Bill left home when he was 18, worked in factory in Detroit, served four years in the United State Air Force in New York, Mississippi and Bremerhaven, Germany.  After he was honorably discharged, he continued his education along with his ministry and received his doctorate when he was 39.  He served as a minister in Spencer and Brownsville, Tennessee, and in Indianapolis, Indiana.  He then moved to Memphis where he served as Registrar and Assistant to the Dean, Professor of Counseling and Dean/CEO of the Harding School of Theology.  He also served as a minister of the church in Marks, Mississippi; Earl, Arkansas; Macon, Tennessee and he and Louise began the Ross Road Church of Christ in Memphis in 1983.  After he retired in 1999 as Dean/CEO, he continued to teach part time until 2007.  He also did supply preaching for many years and held many gospel meetings individually and with his brothers, Leamon, Don and Dowell. In their first meeting at Kingwood Heights Church of Christ in Murfreesboro in 1963, there were 46 baptisms and five other responses.

While Bill was Dean/CEO of Harding School of Theology, they began the Master of Arts degree in Counseling, and were accredited by the American Association of Theological Schools.  The administration building was rebuilt from 1.4 million dollars of damages from a fire, Benson Apartments were built on campus, the Harding-Brewer Apartments were renovated, and several valuable student scholarships were endowed.  Two such scholarships have been established in his honor.

In addition to preaching he was also in private practice as a Counseling Psychologist and Marriage and Family Therapist and authored 10 books and 150 articles which were published.  After he moved back to Cookeville, he continued to do supply preaching and taught a regular class at Jefferson Avenue Church of Christ where he and Louise were members.  Many people continued to call him for consultation over the phone, which he was glad to do.

He was a member of the American Psychological Association, the  American Association of Marital and Family Therapy, and was a charter member of the Tennessee Association of Martial and Family Therapy.  He helped write and pass the certification law for marriage and family therapy and professional counselors in the State of Tennessee , and served on the first state board.  This law was soon changed to the current licensure law.

Bill was named a Fellow of the American Association of Martial and Family Therapy.  He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Harding University, the Alumnus of the Year Award and a Leadership Council Award from the Harding School of Theology, and a Counselor of Preachers Award from the Preachers Club of Freed Hardeman University.

God, family and work were key words in the life of Bill Flatt.  He worked hard, provided well for his family and loved deeply.  He especially loved his life as a husband to Louise, as a father to Steve, Tim and Danny and as a grandfather to David, Kevin Jonathan, Kate and Benton , and as a great grandfather to Allie Crawford and Emma, and as a friend to many.

Bill lived a good life.  He did what he could and then went home to be with his Father in heaven.  He will be buried with many of his relatives and friends at the Union Hill - Flatt Cemetery, cemetery that he wrote a history of recently.  When you visit there, you will see this inscription on the memorial stone of Bill and Louise - Gone Home. 

Visitation will be on Monday,  January 23, 2023, 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm  at Anderson Upper Cumberland Funeral Home.  Funeral services will be at 2:30 pm on Monday, January 23, 2023 in the chapel with Bro. Bruce McLarty and Bro. Jimmy Anderson officiating.  Burial will follow in Union Hill - Flatt Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the Flatt Ministry of Counseling Endowment at Harding School of Theology or Union Hill - Flatt Cemetery.  Contact the funeral home to make a memorial donation.

Anderson Upper Cumberland Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.  931-268-1550