Gene Houston Little ’52

Gene Houston Little ’52, 80, died July 8 in Richmond, Va. A retired United Methodist minister for 40 years, he is survived by his wife of 59 years, Carolyn Allen Little, 5925 Bliley Rd., Richmond, VA 23225-2476; two children, Marsha and Larry (Allyson); and three grandchildren, Joshua, Jared, and Tyler. Though an only child, he considered Carolyn Little Miller to be his true sister. He was preceded in death by his parents, Coy Houston Little and Mabel Hartsell Little, and cousin, C.G. Little. Little graduated from Davidson and Duke Divinity School. He served as a Methodist minister in the Western N.C. Conference, holding pastorates in Huntersville, Highlands, Thomasville, Rural Hall, Winston-Salem, Pilot Mountain, Charlotte, Greensboro, and Kannapolis, and as district superintendent in the Asheville, Statesville, and Marion districts. Little served on many boards of the Western N.C. Conference, including the Children’s Home, the Givens Estate Retirement Home, and the WNC Board of Ministry. He was elected to Jurisdictional and General Conference of the United Methodist Church. In 1991, he retired to Richmond, Va., and attended Reveille United Methodist Church. He enjoyed sharing humorous stories with local civic groups, churches, and of course family. He also enjoyed his part-time employment with the University of Richmond.