Remembering Dr. Oliver McMahan (1954-2024)
On Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at the age of 69, Oliver “Dr. Mac” Lewis McMahan died peacefully at his home in Cleveland, Tennessee.
Oliver was born on November 15, 1954 in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was the son of Lewis Richard McMahan and Fiavaai “Fia” (Afalava) McMahan. He lived in Hawaii, where his parents were serving as missionaries, until he was ten years old. After leaving Hawaii, the family relocated to California to pastor churches in Salida and Modesto. Following high school, Oliver received a football scholarship to Cal Poly State University. During pre-season training for an upcoming All-Star game, he began to feel a heaviness of spirit and after much prayer, he decided to enroll in West Coast Bible College, instead, where he answered the call to ministry. It was here, also, he met the love of his life, Martha Hatcher. They were married in May of 1975.
Continuing his education, Oliver received his BA from West Coast Bible College in 1975. He then attended the Mennonite Seminary in Fresno for a year while pastoring the Traver Church of God. The following year he transferred to Brite Divinity School, Texas Christian University, where he earned his M.Div in 1978. In 1984, he received his D.Min also, from Brite Divinity School, TCU. In 1997, he received his Ph.D from Georgia State University.
Dr. McMahan held positions of Associate Professor of Bible and Dean of Students at Northwest Bible College in Minot, North Dakota and Dean and Professor at Jimmy Swaggert Seminary and Bible College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Dr. McMahan was honored to serve on the Executive Council of the Church of God International from 1994-1996 and 2006-2010. He served his church in many capacities, with over 25 years as pastor, associate, evangelist and Bible Convention and Camp-meeting speaker. He was also a published author of multiple books; chapters in textbooks for clinicians; and articles in many research publications including the Journal of Psychology and Theology.
At the time of his death, Dr. McMahan was serving as Head Pastor of Cross Pointe Church of God in Cleveland, Tennessee and serving as the V.P. for Institutional Effectiveness and Accreditation at the Pentecostal Theological Seminary. He was also providing counseling at Health Management Services in Cleveland.
During these years of education and ministry, Oliver and Martha were blessed with three children. Their first born, Sarah Elizabeth, died at the age of six months. God gifted them with two more children, Jonathan and Holly, to complete their family and now, they have six grandchildren and three great grands (and two on the way). Oliver loved his family whole heartedly and always sought the best for them.
Dr. Mac, as he was affectionately known by many, was preceded in death by his parents, Lewis McMahan and Fia McMahan, his brother, Grady Garna McMahan and his daughter, Sarah Elizabeth McMahan.
He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Martha McMahan; son, Jonathan Eric McMahan; daughter, Holly Beth (Ben) Salicco and grandchildren Haley (Cory) Houk; Sarah (Lucien) Allison; Olivia McMahan; Sophia Salicco; Josiah Salicco; Emma McMahan; and three great grandchildren, Scarlett Houk, Charlee Houk and Ellijay Allison.
The family will receive friends on Friday, March 29th, 2024 from 4- 7pm at Poole Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cleveland, 3000 Ralph Buckner Blvd NE Cleveland, TN 37311.
Dr. McMahan will lie in state at the Dixon Chapel from 10 am- until the service hour at 11:00 am with Dr. Michael Baker officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Olive Cemetery 126 White Oak Rd Cleveland, TN 37312.
Condolences may be shared at pfhcleveland.com
Arrangements are entrusted to Poole Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cleveland.
REMEMBERING: Bishop John F. Corcoran
John Corcoran Obituary
John Francis Corcoran: Bishop, Pastor, LCDC III Counselor (June 26, 1947 – March 17, 2023)
John Francis Corcoran was called home to Jesus on March 17, 2023, after a lengthy and well fought battle with cancer.
John was born in Waterbury Connecticut on June 26, 1947, to John and Eugenia Corcoran, the eldest of their six children.
After high school, John joined the Air Force serving two tours in Viet Nam at Ben Hoa, as well as Greece and Germany. He retired as Master Sargent after 23 years, his last post was Wright Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio. During his career in the Air Force John had assignments as a recruitment officer and a Supply Officer, which took him overseas. John had a strong faith and was called to the ministry serving as Church of God Ministry to the Military from 1978 to 1985 leading a church in Greece. John earned many medals and awards during his service. John became a Church of God ordained Bishop in 1988, and served in many pastoral assignments, his last at Rejoicing Life Church of God in Miamisburg, Ohio where he served a diverse congregation for over 30 years before retiring. John had a love of learning earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Biblical Studies and Pastoral Ministries in 1986 from Lee University. He went on to continue his education obtaining a Master’s Degree in 2002 in Counseling from the Church of God Theological Seminary, and was in process of concluding his dissertation for the doctorate degree when he fell ill. John had a very active and full life.
He had a love of God and people and poured himself into serving others within the community. He served at Kettering Behavioral Center working as a Psycho-educational Group Leader and Adult Behavioral Care, Chaplain and Firefighter for Xenia Township’s Fire Department, served also with Scioto County Sheriff and Miamisburg Police Departments as Chaplain, and a Crisis Team Management Leader. His biggest love, outside of pastoring, was teaching Chaplain classes to the many churches in the Midwest area.
He is survived by his devoted and beloved wife Lois, sons James (Lisa) and Doug, daughter Joan (Ryan)Bloomingdale, grandchildren Jonathon Hudson, Julia Schmidt (Brian), Kaitlyn Martinez (Victor), Alexandria Corcoran, Elizabeth Robertson, Justin Corcoran, Kieron, Jaxson and Weston Corcoran, great grandchildren Lilliana and Lucca Martinez and Hazel Schmidt, sisters and brothers Cathy, Jamie, Patricia, Maureen, and Bobby of Connecticut. Maureen’s husband, Art, and John were very close friends.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Julie Ann, his daughter Elizabeth, sister Mary Jean, and parents John and Eugenia Corcoran.
John was a great man, a faithful servant of God and a man of many talents. He has left a huge hole in our hearts and lives, but we rejoice in his graduation and in the echo of his favorite verse from Philippians 4:8: “Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of a good report: if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
Military Honors will be held by the Combined Honor Guard along with a Celebration of Life beginning at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 6, 2023, at the Grace Baptist Church, 851 S. Elm St., West Carrollton with Pastor Randy Ballard and Pastor Doug Criswell officiating. The family will receive friends from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (1 hour prior to service) on Saturday at the church.
Inurnment will take place at the Sarasota National Cemetery in Sarasota, FL.
Please share your condolences at www.swartfuneralhome.com. Sympathy, Love, and Thinking of You cards may be sent to The Family of Pastor John F. Corcoran, C/O Swart Funeral Home, 207 E. Central Ave., West Carrollton, Ohio 45449
Remembering Mark Alan Ladd (1967-2015)
