Lindsey Davis Warren
1950-2009
Dr. Lindsey D. Warren: A Life of Faith, Scholarship, and Leadership
Lindsey Davis Warren was born on August 24, 1950, in Fort Worth, Texas, to Thomas B. and Faye Cecilia Brauer Warren. He was raised in a home deeply devoted to Christian faith, service, and education. His father, Thomas B. Warren, was a prominent gospel preacher, educator, and Christian apologist whose disciplined approach to Scripture, logic, and critical thinking strongly influenced his son. Yet Lindsey Warren did far more than follow a path prepared by his father. He developed his own distinctive ministry, scholarly expertise, and style of leadership, earning the respect and affection of students, congregations, and fellow ministers.
Warren first attended Freed-Hardeman College, where his leadership abilities quickly became evident. In addition to playing baseball, he was active in the Preachers’ Club, the Alpha Tau social club, and the Civitan organization, serving as its president in 1970. He was elected freshman class president and received several honors from his fellow students, including Class Favorite, Class Personality, and Mr. FHC. These distinctions reflected qualities that would characterize his entire life: personal warmth, an engaging presence, a gift for communication, and a natural ability to inspire others.
After his time at Freed-Hardeman, Warren earned his undergraduate degree from Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas. He then completed a Master of Arts in Christian Doctrine and Apologetics at Harding University Graduate School of Religion, now Harding School of Theology, in Memphis, Tennessee. His education united two central commitments of his life—the thoughtful defense of Christian truth and the clear, persuasive communication of that truth. He later earned a Ph.D. in Communication from the University of Oklahoma, an accomplishment that established his scholarly expertise and made him a devoted Oklahoma Sooners fan for life.
On May 26, 1973, Lindsey married Susan Gayle Poteet in Steele, Missouri. Their marriage of more than thirty-six years provided a foundation of companionship and support throughout his ministry and academic career. They were blessed with a son, Thomas Bart Warren, and later with twin grandsons, Loukas and Titus.
Dr. Warren devoted seventeen years to preaching for the Northeast church of Christ in Moore, Oklahoma. His work there extended beyond the pulpit. He participated actively in campus ministry and the preparation of young preachers, helping others develop the knowledge, confidence, and communication skills necessary for effective service. He also served as a campus minister at the University of Tennessee at Martin and at Freed-Hardeman, demonstrating a particular concern for young adults during formative periods of their lives.
Throughout his ministry, Warren became a respected lecturer on biblical, ethical, and practical subjects. He spoke at lectureships conducted by Freed-Hardeman University, Tennessee Bible College, the Memphis School of Preaching, the East Tennessee School of Preaching, Garfield Heights church of Christ in Indianapolis, Indiana, Getwell in Memphis, Tennessee, and Shenandoah in San Antonio, Texas. His subjects ranged from prayer, purity, family relationships, and love for one’s neighbor to the importance of truth, principle, and a good name. Among his memorable presentations were “Jehu: A King Governed by Policy, Not Principle,” “Prayer and Controversy,” “The Value of a Good Name,” and “Walking with God in Purity.” He also edited the workbook Heading in the Direction of Heaven, bringing together the work of several contributors for the spiritual benefit of others.
In 2000, Dr. Warren returned to Freed-Hardeman University as a professor of speech and communications. This role brought together the principal strands of his life: Christian faith, preaching, education, and the art of effective communication. He understood that truth must not only be known but also expressed with clarity, conviction, and compassion. His experience as a preacher enriched his teaching, while his advanced study of communication strengthened his ability to prepare students for leadership and service.
The influence of Thomas B. Warren remained an important part of Lindsey’s intellectual and spiritual heritage. From his father he inherited a profound respect for truth, careful reasoning, and the responsibility to defend the Christian faith. Lindsey, however, made that inheritance distinctly his own. His accomplishments were not merely an extension of his father’s reputation. Through decades of congregational ministry, campus work, scholarship, teaching, writing, and public speaking, he established an enduring record of excellence in his own right. His approachable personality and communication gifts complemented the rigorous intellectual tradition in which he had been raised, enabling him to reach people both personally and persuasively.
Dr. Lindsey Davis Warren died on September 24, 2009, in Corinth, Mississippi, at the age of fifty-nine. He was survived by his wife, Susan; their son, Thomas Bart Warren and his wife, Laura; his sisters, Karen Waters and Jan Coleman McCoy; his twin grandsons, Loukas and Titus; and a host of friends, students, and fellow Christians.
Dr. Warren’s life was marked by faithful service, intellectual achievement, and gracious leadership. He honored the powerful example of his parents—especially the scholarly and ministerial legacy of his father—without being confined by it. Through his own abilities and devotion, he became an accomplished preacher, educator, mentor, and Christian leader whose influence continues through the people he taught, encouraged, and prepared to serve.
-Scott Harp, 08.15.2026
Webeditor's note: It was never my privilege to know Dr. Warren personally, though I knew his reputation in leadership in the church. When my children were attending Freed-Hardeman University they had the blessing of sitting in his lectures. They loved his classes, and have time and again related how he will always stand out to them as a highlight during their time at F-HU. It was also my privilege while they were in school to meet Lindsey's son, Bart. He is a great gospel preacher, writer, and educator, in his own right. At this writing he serves as minister of the South Green St. church of Christ in Glasgow, Kentucky.
Lindsey & Susan Warren
Directions To Grave
The Warren family plot is located in SE Missouri in the little town of Steele. The cemetery is right next to the interstate, but there is no exit there. So, heading north out of Arkansas on I-55 take Exit 473 on Hwy. E. Turn right, and then left E. Outer Rd. that runs along side of the interstate. Cross Hwy 547, and stay on the E. Outer Rd. You should see the Mt. Zion Cemetery at this point. Enter the cemetery, and make your way up the center. The best way I found it was to head to the office and from there look back in the direction of the entrance. There is a divit between a new section and the section you entered on. Make your way up the divot area and continue looking to your left and you will come to the Poteet family plot where the Warrens are buried. If you have GPS, the location below is the exact location of the graves.
GPS Location
36°04'28.1"N 89°48'46.0"W
or D.d. 36.074469,-89.812772
POTEET
William Hobart - May 12, 1918 - May 18, 2002
Melba Wells - April 11, 1922 - January 25, 2021
Married November 6, 1944
Parents of Susan Poteet Warren
Scott D. Harp at the graves of Lindsey & Susan Warren
WARREN
Lindsey Davis, PHD - August 24, 1950 - September 24, 2009
Susan Poteet - August 26, 1951 - March 13, 2011
Married - May 26, 1973
Grave Photos Taken 05.08.2025
Webpage Produced 08.15.2026
Courtesy Of Scott Harp
www.TheRestorationMovement.com
Special Recognition: The graves of Lindsey and Susan Warren were the last of a series of graves of gospel preachers of the past that I had the privilege of visiting during a trip to Missouri in early May, 2025. I had the blessing of preaching a series of gospel meetings for the South Hwy. 5 church of Christ in Lebanon, Missouri. Sometimes driving 150 to 200 miles a day, I was able to visit the graves around 25 restoration preachers on the trip. It was a joy to complete my trip by visiting Mt. Zion Cemetery in the little town of Stele, Mo, just before crossing back into Tennessee as I headed home.