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Father Louis W. Cheatham

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Father Louis W. Cheatham, age 94, a retired priest of the Diocese of Greensburg who was the oldest priest of the diocese, died on Tuesday, December 16, 2014, at Mount Macrina Manor, Uniontown, Pa.

A native of South Carolina who was raised in Baltimore, Maryland, Father Cheatham was a priest for 69 years and served for more than 50 years in the Diocese of Greensburg, including 16 years as Pastor of Saint Peter Parish, Brownsville.

‘Father Lou was a priest’s priest,’ said Father James F. Petrovsky, senior priest active at Saint Francis of Assisi Parish, western Fayette County. ‘He loved the priesthood and loved and cared about the people he served. The people of Saint Peter Parish were so close to his heart. He loved returning there,’ said Father Petrovsky, who frequently golfed with Father Cheatham.

Father Cheatham was born on Saturday, December 27, 1919 in Edgefield,South Carolina a son of the late Louis W. Cheatham and Margaretta (Wellmore) Cheatham.

The family moved to Baltimore, Maryland when was three, and their home parish was Corpus Christi.

He attended Catholic primary and secondary schools in the Baltimore area and earned undergraduate degrees at Saint Charles Preparatory College in Catonsville, Maryland and Saint Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Sacred Theology from Saint Mary’s in 1945.

Father Cheatham was ordained to the priesthood on Saturday, March 17, 1945 by the late Archbishop Michael J. Curley of Baltimore at the Basilica of the Assumption Cathedral, Baltimore, Maryland.

Father Cheatham served for 13 years in the Archdiocese of Washington before accepting a six-year appointment in Verdun, near Montreal, Canada.

He began priestly ministry in the Diocese of Greensburg on Saturday, January 25, 1964 and was incardinated here in 1971

In the Diocese of Greensburg, Father Cheatham served as parochial vicar of Saint Joseph Parish in New Kensington (1964-72). He served as pastor of Saint Patrick Parish, Brady’s Bend, and its former chapel in Sugar Creek (1972-76); SS. Simon and Jude Parish, Blairsville (1976-79); Saint Peter Parish, Brownsville, and its former chapel in Newell from 1979 until his retirement in June 1995.

He spent most of his retirement years living in Neumann House, the diocese’s residence for retired priests at the Bishop William G. Connare Center, near Greensburg.

In an article in the diocesan newspaper, The Catholic Accent, marking his 90th birthday, Father Cheatham said the highlights of his priesthood included working with students, visiting the sick in hospitals, conducting eight or nine baptisms after Mass, forming youth groups and serving as pastor of the oldest parish in the diocese, Saint Peter Parish, Brownsville.

During Father Cheatham’s pastorate at St. Peter, the church was listed on the National Register for Historical Places (1980), and the parish marked the 240th anniversary of the first Mass celebrated in the Brownsville area and the 150th anniversary of the church building.

Following retirement, he continued to celebrate Masses around the diocese, assisting at more than 50 different diocesan parishes.

He was priest director for the Diocesan Expansion Day appeal in 1974 and served as liaison for retired priests.

In addition to English, Father Cheatham spoke Latin, German and French.

A viewing will be held Thursday, December 18, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the BISHOP WILLIAM G. CONNARE CENTER, and a Mass will be celebrated in Saint Joseph Chapel at the Connare Center at 4 p.m. with Father John T. Euker as Celebrant and Homilist.

A viewing will be held Thursday, December 18, from 7 to 9 p.m. at THE HISTORIC CHURCH OF SAINT PETER, 118 Church Street, Brownsville, Pa.

The Funeral Mass will be Friday, December 19, at 10 a.m. at The Historic Church of Saint Peter Church, Brownsville, with Bishop Lawrence E. Brandt as Celebrant and Homilist.

Interment will follow in the Historic Saint Peter Cemetery on the parish grounds.

Arrangements are by the SKIRPAN FUNERAL HOME, 135 Park Street, Brownsville, PA 15417.

www.skirpanfuneral home.com

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