Gary Weedman Obituary

Dr. Gary Edward Weedman

September 10, 1943 - March 22, 2026

Dr. Gary Weedman passed away peacefully Sunday, March 22, surrounded by family. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Janis (Morgan) Weedman; brother, Terry Weedman (Fairfield, IL); and sons, Mark (Michelle) (Knoxville, TN), Matthew (Cedar Falls, IA), Micah (Nashville, TN), Joshua (NYC, NY); and their families, including 10 grandchildren: Annalise, Emmaline, Eleanor, Audrey, Clara, Adelaide, Casper, Josephine, Margaret and Henry.

Gary Weedman was raised in Fairfield, Illinois, where he graduated high school. In 1961 he left Fairfield to pursue a career in ministry and education at Johnson Bible College (Knoxville, TN) After graduating, he served in church ministries in Illinois and Indiana while completing an M.A. in Communication from Western Illinois University and a Ph.D. in Speech Communication from Indiana University. He was also the founding minister of the Indiana Campus Christian Ministry.

In 1969, he returned to Johnson as full-time faculty member, teaching homiletics, Greek, Bible, and History. In 1976 he joined the faculty at Lincoln Christian College and Seminary (Lincoln, IL) briefly before becoming the Academic Dean. At LCC he became a leading advocate for the inclusion of liberal arts and humanities curricula in Christian higher education, and in 1987 he became Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean at Milligan College (now Milligan University in Elizabethton, TN). At Milligan, in addition to strengthening the liberal arts core curriculum for which the college was known, he developed pre-professional programs that expanded the service and education footprint of the institution. In 1998 he became the Provost at Palm Beach Atlantic University (West Palm Beach, FL). Notable achievements at PBAU included founding the Lloyd L. Gregory School of Pharmacy, the School of Nursing, and other programs.

In 2003, Weedman "retired" from higher education and served as the Executive Vice President of TCM, Int'l, based in Indianapolis, IN and Heiligenkreuz, Austria, helping to develop continuing education programs for ministry and education leaders throughout central and eastern Europe.

In 2007, Dr. Weedman left "retirement" and returned yet again to Johnson to serve as its sixth president. Under his leadership, the board of trustees approved a new model for the College's organization, a new mission statement and the transition to Johnson University. Weedman also guided the university into meaningful partnerships with schools in China, the establishment of Johnson University Florida, introduced online education to the University's curriculum, and strengthened the University's continuing education and social justice engagement with the Knoxville community. He retired as President of Johnson in 2018.

Dr. Weedman was a leader in higher education across the state of Tennessee, the country, and the globe. He was active with the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities (TICUA), serving as chairman from 2009-2011. In 2012 he was appointed by Governor Bill Haslam to the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation. He served on numerous accreditation review teams and committees for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), and he traveled extensively in Europe and Asia teaching, lecturing, and building ministry and education partnerships. Upon his retirement in 2018, Dr. Weedman was issued a declaration of recognition by the Tennessee State Legislature for his leadership and commitment to higher education in Tennessee and beyond.

Dr. Weedman was a life-time lover of the arts, particularly jazz and classical music, as well as a seasoned world traveler. At nearly every stage of his career, he developed and/or participated in travel programs that included exploring the arts and history of the world's cultures. He taught for a term in Birmingham, UK, taking his family with him to live in the UK for a short time. He was a lover of Chinese and Japanese culture and history, and had lectured extensively on European art and history. Notably, he spent significant time traveling in Soviet-block countries. He and his wife Janis were long-time patrons of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, and he himself was an accomplished trumpet player.

Gary Weedman met Janis Morgan-also a lifelong educator-while they were students at Johnson. They were married in 1963 and celebrated 63 years in December 2025. They had four sons, Mark, Matthew, Micah, and Joshua, and 10 grandchildren. "Nana and Bepaw," as they were known, hosted many summer and Christmas family gatherings, often returning to cabins in the Smoky Mountains that they had always considered home, and welcoming family to the White House on Johnson's campus.

Dr. Gary Weedman leaves a legacy of faithful leadership, thoughtful innovation, and deep devotion to education and the ministry of the church.

The Funeral Service will be held at 3 PM Saturday, March 28th at the Phillips-Welshimer Auditorium at Johnson University, 7900 Johnson Drive, Knoxville, TN 37998 with the Graveside Service to follow on campus. The family will receive guests with a reception following at the Gally Commons. Arrangements are in the care of Atchley Funeral Home, Seymour. Online condolences may be made at www.atchleyfuneralhome.com.

Memorial donations may be made to the Audria and James Rose Scholarship Fund at Johnson University.