THE FULL BIOGRAPHY
Sheldon Livesay
A life of faith, service, and community in Northeast Tennessee.
From his Rogersville childhood and early business career to the founding of Of One Accord Ministry, Sheldon’s story reflects a long commitment to his neighbors, his church, and the region he calls home.
Milestones
1949
Born in Rogersville
1967
Graduated from high school
1988
Founded Of One Accord Ministry
1996
Began full-time ministry leadership
2025
Carson-Newman Servant Leadership Award
Early Life & Education
Sheldon Livesay was born July 27, 1949, in Rogersville, Tennessee, to Jack H. Livesay and Mossie Rhea Livesay. He attended Rogersville schools and grew up active in community programs.
He became an Eagle Scout and received the God and Country Award. He also participated in 4-H and 4-H All Stars. After graduating from high school in 1967, he attended Carson-Newman College.
At Carson-Newman, Sheldon earned a degree in business management, joined a business fraternity, and lettered in soccer. His team earned recognition across the Southeast.
Historic Livesay family photograph
Business & Community Roots
Sheldon joined Kmart’s management training program in 1971. In 1977, he moved to Columbia, South Carolina, where he worked as an editor for a state publishing company. After its owner died in a traffic accident and the company closed, he returned to Rogersville in 1980.
Back home, Sheldon joined the family business, Rogersville Milling Company, which produced flour and cornmeal. He became general manager and remained with the mill until it closed in 1996.
While working at the mill, Sheldon purchased Rogersville’s historic Hale Springs Inn, described in the supplied biography as Tennessee’s oldest working inn. Construction of a nearby nuclear power plant initially kept the inn full. When TVA halted its nuclear projects, he sold the property to Carl Netherland-Brown, a descendant of its original builder, then leased and operated it through 1986.
The inn gained statewide recognition during those years, and the experience gave Sheldon a deeper knowledge of his community’s history.
Founding Of One Accord Ministry
In 1988, Sheldon founded Of One Accord Ministry as a part-time effort. He and his family began distributing emergency food to neighbors in need from a bedroom in their Rogersville home. Others who shared their desire to serve joined the work.
The ministry incorporated in 1990. When the milling business closed in 1996, Sheldon stepped out in faith to serve as its full-time director.
The ministry grew through cooperation with churches, schools, clubs, businesses, agencies, and individual volunteers across Hawkins and Hancock Counties.
Ministry Impact & Global Missions
The biography provided for this page describes a period when Of One Accord Ministry served Hawkins and Hancock Counties from eight facilities: three with thrift stores, three with emergency food pantries, one with a free medical clinic, and a 22,000-square-foot headquarters with a public meeting room, classrooms, and three additional meeting rooms that were in use most nights of the week.
For that period, it reports approximately 100,000 people served each year with the help of about 400 volunteers and 40 full- or part-time staff. It records 70,000 volunteer hours and an estimated $6 million to $8 million in goods and services distributed to the community at no charge.
The account also states that two cents of each donated dollar went to administrative expenses and 98 cents supported people in need.
Of One Accord was featured six times on Kingtime (WLFG) and, according to the supplied account, appeared regularly on Appalachian Christian Network (ACN.Media). The account also records tributes to the ministry entered into the Congressional Record by Representatives Bill Jenkins, David Davis, and Phil Roe.
Of One Accord has been featured six times on the television program Kingtime and, according to the supplied account, has appeared regularly on Appalachian Christian Network (ACN.Media). The biography also reports congressional tributes from Representatives Bill Jenkins, David Davis, and Phil Roe.
Awards & Recognition
Over the years, Sheldon and Of One Accord Ministry have received recognition for community service, faith leadership, and work against hunger. The supplied biography records the following honors.
Early recognition
Kingsport Times News honored Sheldon for outstanding contribution to the Tri-Cities. He also received recognition from the Holston Valley Baptist Association and the Hawkins County Chamber of Commerce, and another Kingsport Times News recognition at Christmas in 2005.
State recognition
Gov. Sundquist recognized him as a Special Friend to the Department of Human Services for work in Hawkins County; he also received a state proclamation from Senator Mike Williams.
2006
Character Counts regional award for service in Hawkins County through Tusculum College.
2008
Recognition for Christian leadership through Milligan College.
2009
Valued Partner recognition on behalf of Of One Accord from the First Tennessee Development District.
2010
Distinguished Service Award through the Hawkins County Juvenile Court System and Hall of Fame recognition through Signature Health Care of Hawkins County.
2011
Inducted into the Golden Key honor society through East Tennessee State University.
2013
Valued Partner recognition through the Tennessee Rural Health Association.
2021
Food Lion Feeds Lion Heart Award, recognizing him as an outstanding ministry leader across states served by Food Lion. Read the announcement ↗
2025
Servant Leadership Award from Carson-Newman University. Read the announcement ↗
Community Leadership & Service
Sheldon has worked closely with churches, schools, clubs, and public agencies to encourage cooperation in Hawkins County. His past leadership included serving as president of the Rogersville Historic Zoning Commission and the Department of Human Services’ Families First Council of Hawkins County.
He has served on the boards of the East Tennessee Tourism Council, the Jubilee Kitchen Project, and the Boys and Girls Club. He spent ten years on the board of Second Harvest Food Bank, later serving as its president and then joining its advisory council. He also served on the Jubilee Project board and rotated off as chairman.
The supplied biography lists additional roles with the Clinch-Powell RC&D Council, Hawkins County Chamber of Commerce, Rogersville Main Street Program, and Foundation Forward. It identifies him as a past vice president of Clinch-Powell RC&D and a vice president of the Chamber. Sheldon also developed Planned Giving of Hawkins County and served as its chairman.
The biography also identifies Sheldon as a member of the Lions and a Paul Harris Fellow in the Rogersville Rotary Club.
Faith, Family & Personal Life
From 1980 through 1988, Sheldon was active with the Gideons, speaking at more than 30 churches each year. He has long worked with local pastors and the Pastor’s Prayer Movement.
The biography identifies him as area coordinator for East Tennessee’s National Day of Prayer efforts across 33 counties and East Tennessee coordinator for the Tennessee Prayer Coalition. For 20 years, he served as prayer coordinator for the Holston Valley Baptist Association, which includes 54 Baptist churches.
Sheldon is an ordained minister and has served as a chaplain for Ballad Hospitals. He remains connected to his home church, and he has also enjoyed running.
His wife, Linda, is described in the supplied biography as a Christian counselor and a close partner in his work. Their son Jonathan graduated from Dallas Baptist Theological Seminary, and another son graduated from Pepperdine Law School.
Sheldon and Linda Livesay
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