Rev. Joe Thomas Naylor passed from this life on September 23, 2025. He was born to Carl and Dana Naylor of Clarendon, Texas, January 28, 1935. Visitation for Rev. Naylor will be from 12-2 p.m. Friday, September 26, 2025 at Southside Baptist Church. Funeral Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday, September 26, 2025 at the church with Rev. James Adair, Rev. Loren Stephens, Rev. Charles Halliburton and Rev. Lynn King officiating. Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery. Dyersburg Funeral Home will be entrusted with all the services.

He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Nadene Marie Formway Naylor. They were married, August 17, 1956. He is also survived by his son, Thomas Deen, wife, Cathy of Nashville; daughters Teresa Jo and husband, Bradley Archer; Tina Marie and husband, Barry Greenlee all of Dyersburg. He was blessed with 7 grandchildren, Melissa Morris, Lindsey Naylor, Matthew Naylor, Dana Hampton, Lisa Archer, Sara Hamm, and Mollie Sanderson. Rev. Naylor is also survived by 10 great-grandchildren, Luke and Ben Morris; Claudia Naylor Brown; Bennett and Emerson Hamm; Gideon, Reghan, and Elizabeth Hampton; and Jackson and Callie Sanderson.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his three brothers, Rev. J.R. Naylor, Rev. Wayne Naylor, Calvin Naylor, and one sister, Mrs. Betty Vick. Also preceding him in death is one granddaughter, Olivia Greenlee.

Rev. Naylor was involved in ministry most of his life. He pastored Willow Springs Baptist Church, Alvarado,Texas, while he attended Southwestern Seminary.

He then moved to Tennessee where he pastored Harmony Baptist Church of Brownsville, Parkburg Baptist Church of Pinson, and Southside Baptist Church of Dyersburg. He then was called to the 40 churches in Dyer, Lauderdale, and Haywood Counties to be the Director of Missions, a position he held for 20 years.  The Tennessee Baptist Convention awarded him the Director of Missions of the Year and the Barnabas Award for his years of encouragement and mentoring to pastors.

Rev. Naylor received his education from Texas schools: Wayland Baptist University with a Bachelor of Science and Southwestern Theological Baptist with a Master of Divinity Degree. He was ordained to the gospel ministry by the First Baptist Church of Clarendon, Texas, in 1958.

He contracted polio while playing football in 1949 leaving his right leg impaired for the remainder of his life. During his ministry, he was able to give counsel to people with other infirmities.

He had to work hard to support his family during college and seminary by owning a television repair shop and by repairing radios, appliances, and televisions.

Honored to serve as pallbearers will be Kyle Morris, Andrew Hampton, Zach Hamm, Cullen Sanderson, Thomas Hall, and Jimmy Atchison.