The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has a rich history of alumni serving Christ throughout the world. The intent of this section is to help the Southern family stay close — to submit announcements to People and Places call 502-897-4143 or email alumni@sbts.edu.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

John W. Alford (Alumnus/Non-Grad) recently completed his 19 month term of service as interim pastor of Fairhope Christian Church in Fairhope, Ala.

Mrs. Jewell Fowler Moore (‘None) celebrated her 90th birthday on Dec. 18, 2008.  Her two daughters planned a party to celebrate her birthday.

1930s

Dr. Raymond A. Coppenger (‘36) celebrated his 99th birthday on Sept. 20th, 2008. He and the other members of the OBU (Ouachita) Faculty Quartet presented their 9th Annual Final Concert on Sept. 18.

Dr. M.O. Owens, Jr. (‘39) published a book on prayer titled, God- Do You Hear Me?

1940s

Rev. Claude B. Love, Jr. (‘42) retired after many years of active military service.

Dr. Richard G. Crowe (‘44) celebrated his 90th birthday.  Throughout his ministry, he has served 12 pastorates, 12 interims, as a missionary in Peru and Colombia, and as a dir. of missions.  His wife, Margaret, died Sept. 4, 2004.

Rev. Henry V. Langford (‘45) was recognized for his longtime service to justice and equality for all citizens of the Commonwealth.  He served as a chaplain during WWII with the US Army, and he retired as Lt. Col. US Army reserves.

Rev. Gordon A. Hunter, Jr. (‘46) and his wife, MaryLou, live in a cottage at Baptist Village, Waycross, Ga. They are both 88 years old, and he is still active in the ministry.

Dr. Herbert E. Bergstrom (‘49) retired after 35 years as Dir. of Interfaith Family Center. He is also a founding member of American Family Therapy Academy.

1950s

Rev. C. Thomas Drake (‘50) celebrated his 87th birthday on July 17, 2008.  He still attends church services every week and does a jail ministry every Wednesday despite his health problems.

Dr. Paul H. Miller (‘52) is the Pres. of Global Resource Opportunities and the chairman of the Board of Directors of HOPE Literacy, Inc.

Dr. Earl  M. Hall (‘57) celebrated 70 years of ministry on Oct. 12, 2008, and 67 years of marriage on May 28, 2008.  He is currently the assoc. pastor at Heritage BC Montgomery, Ala.

Dr. Elwood M. Heddon (‘58) retired as optometrist on Jan. 1, 2008, after 50 years.

Rev. Dr. J. Billy Graham (‘59) is the interim pastor of Red Branch BC, Carthage, N.C.

1960s

Dr. G. Byrns Coleman (‘60) has been on the faculty of Wingate Univ. since fall 1960; awarded in 1988 the Corts Award for “Excellence in teaching,” and now holds the title “the Cannon Professor of Humanities” and Professor of Religion. He currently serves as the Chair, Dept. of Religion and Philosophy.

Rev. Jack M. Beck (‘61) and his wife, Wandalee, celebrated their 60th wedding anniv., Aug. 14, 2008.

Jerry A. Songer (’61) served as president of the Georgia Baptist Convention from 2008-2009 and is now serving as interim pastor at McIntyre Baptist Church in McIntyre, Ga.

Dr. William L. Weedman (‘63) is serving as the interim dir of missions for the Capital City Baptist Assoc., Springfield, Ill. He and his wife, Judy, celebrated their 50th wedding anniv.,  Dec. 28, 2007.

Rev. Robert A. Dottley (‘65) is the President elect for the Mississippi College National “M” Club. He and his wife, Jeanette, have begun a ministry at Carriage Court Seniors Facility in Memphis, Tenn.

Dr. Paul L. Redditt (‘67) retired from teaching, May 2008.  He taught 14 years at Otterbein College, Westerville, OH, and 22 years at Georgetown College, Georgetown, Ky. where he served until Sept. 2005 as chair of the Religion Dept. He has authored 3 books, co-edited 3, and written 32 articles for scholarly journals.  He was honored as an outstanding teacher in 2001 by Georgetown College, and for Christian service in 2003. He has preached in several churches in

Ark., Ind., Ky., Ohio, and Tenn. He also taught in Germany while studying at the Eberhard-Karls Univ., Tubingen, 1969-70.

Mr. Clifton R. Richardson (‘69) retired as senior pastor of Alexandria Indiana FBC on July 25, 2007 after serving for 33 years.

1970s

Rev. Kenneth Walter Webb (‘70) celebrated 35 years as pastor of Oakwood Memorial BC

Rev. Guy H. Wilson (‘70) retired July 2008, and now resides in Opelika, Ala.

Mr. William L. “Bill” Lawman (‘71) retired from Music Dir. at Spring Valley BC, Huntington, W.Va. and the Wayne County School System.

Mr. John Mathews (‘71) is starting his 4th year as community support worker for the Community Out-Patient Adolescent Psychology Care Group. His wife, Gaylia, is starting her 4th year as a music teacher. They have 2 children and 3 grandchildren.

Dr. C. Michael Hawn (‘72) was named a Fellow for The Hymn Society in the U.S. and Canada at its annual conference in Berkeley, CA.

Mr. Robert A. “Rob” Badgett, Jr. (‘75) is the author of Character Connections. He is a National Board Certified school counselor in Blythewood, S.C., and he serves as the part-time Min. of Music at Greenlawn BC, Columbia, S.C.

Dr. Don M. Aycock (‘76), pastor of Liberty BC, is the editor of Invitation: Billy Graham and the Lives God Touched which was published in Sept.

Rev. Donald M. Randolph (‘77) celebrated his 85th birthday this April and 66 years of marriage to his wife, Grace.

Dr. James G. “Jim” Clontz (‘78) has been named to the Board of Directors for the Isaiah House- a two campus ministry in central Kentucky for drug and alcohol rehab.

Dr. John B. Copeland, III (‘79) is the Exec. Dir. / Dean of the Fairbanks, Atlanta campus for Wayland Baptist Univ. He and his wife, Jill celebrated 30 years of marriage Aug. 2008.

1980s

Rev. Cecil H. “Topper” Reid (‘81) is the dir. of Church Development for Myrick Gurosky & Assoc., Birmingham, Ala.

Dr. Stephen P. DeOrnellas (‘82) was awarded the Doctor of Ministry degree from Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, May 26, 2007. He and his wife, Betty, live in Union Level, Va. He is pastor of Ebenezer BC.

Rev. David E. “Dave” McFarland (‘82) is the senior pastor of FBC McKees-Rocks, Pa.,     Jan. 1, 2008.

Chap. (Colonel) David E. Bates (‘83) and his wife, Jane, retired from the U.S. Army on June 30, 2008, after 30 years of service. They currently plan to settle in Va. or N.C.

Dr. Rick Sparks (‘83) is professor of mass communication at North Greenville Univ., S.C. as of Aug. 13, 2008.

Mr. Byrnise P. Monteclaro (‘86) is business manager of Bright Hope International, an international Christian relief and development ministry based in Hoffman Estates, Ill.

1990s

Chap. Hershel “Don” Yancey (‘92) is the pastor of Bethel Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) in Olive Branch, Miss., Aug. 3, 2008.

Rev. Christopher Wayne “Chris” Short (‘95) is the Ky. area team leader for Marketplace Chaplains USA

2000s

Dr. Joel Breidenbaugh (‘00) is the senior pastor of FBC Sweetwater in Longwood, Fla. He was recently published in Popular Encyclopedia of Apologetics. He and his wife, Annthea (‘02), now have four children: Hannah, John Mark, Alethea, and Lukas.

Rev. John D. Girdley (‘01) has been named to the Florida Baptist Convention’s state board of missions for a 3 year term.

Aaron J. Werner (’02) was appointed as dean of chapel and assistant professor of religion at Shorter College in Rome, Ga.

Dr. Brett W. Burleson (‘03) is the Spiritual Formation Pastor at The Chapel at Crosspoint in Buffalo, N.Y.

Rev. Jason Timothy Morrison (‘03) is the pastor of Westwood BC, Murfreesboro, Tenn. after serving as pastor of Little River BC, Honea Path, S.C.

Dr. William “Mike” Smith (‘03) is the Dir of Minister/Church Relations for The Southern Baptists of Texas convention

Nathan E. Ward (’03) has been called as worship pastor at First Baptist Church, Daytona Beach, Fla.

Mr. Brooke M. Taylor (‘04) is the Pastor of Bethel BC in Independence, Mo., after serving 7 years as the assist. pastor of New Village Church in Long Island, N.Y. He began serving on Aug. 1, 2008 with his wife, Marlena, and their three daughters (Miranda, Maren, and Audrey)

Dennis L. McDaniel (’04) was hired in January 2009 by Four Courts at Cherokee Park Long Term Care facility as Chaplain/Director of Spirituality.

Mr. Matt Riley (‘06) resigned as pastor of FBC Flatwoods, Ky. to serve full-time  as a U.S. Army Chaplain; served in Iraq April 2008-April 2009.

Chap. (Capt.) Bryan T. Wright’s (‘06) unit is back stateside after 9 months in Iraq.  All soldiers are now home! He has been assigned to 101st Airborne Division, 3rd BCT, Fort Campbell, Ky.

Mr. Sam Hinkson (‘07) is the senior pastor of Gilead BC in Glendale, Ky., May 2008.

Mr. Matthew Savage (‘07) is the pastor of Growth and Connection at The Journey, a North American Mission Board church plant in Seattle.

Mr. Donald “Luke” Tolar (‘07) is the associate pastor of music/worship at Wynne BC, Wynne, Ark. He and his wife, Melissa, (‘06) welcomed their first child in March.

Dr. Kam See Cheung Fung (‘08) a native of Hong Kong, is a professor at Singapore Bible College.

BIRTHS

1980s

Cecil H. Reid Jr. (’81) and his wife, Diane, are the proud grandparents of Reese Davis, age two, Reagan Davis, age six months, and Reid Wilson, age five months.

1990s

Dr. Tim (‘96) and Angela (‘98) McKnight announce the birth of their daughter, MaryAnna Faith, born Mar. 7, 2008.

Mr. Miles Creasman (‘97) and his wife, Katy, (‘97) announce the birth of their third child, Leah Kate, born Sept. 21, 2006. She is the sister to Jess, Dec. 1, 2000 and Will, Oct. 8, 2002.

2000s

Mr. Robert “Bobby” G. McDonald, III (‘00) and his wife, Marlo, announce the birth of their daughter, Anna Peace, born Feb. 5, 2008.  Anna joins Andy (7) and Abby (5). Bobby is the Vice-Pres. of Palmetto Family Council in SC.

Dennis L. McDaniel (’04) and his wife, Megan, celebrated the birth of their fourth daughter, Lillian Esther on Oct. 28, 2008.

Mr. Jay Anderson (‘03) and his wife, Kristie, announce the birth of their son, Deacon Isaiah, born August 17, 2008. He joins big sister, Noel Grace, who is 2 years old.

Mr. Collin Garbarino (‘05) and his wife, Sarah, announce the birth of their son, Russell Smith, born Aug 27, 2008.

Mr. Matt Arden (‘06) and his wife, Tara, announce the birth of their second daughter, Tori Michelle, born January 24.  Matt is an Assoc. Pastor in California and Tori is a stay-at-home mom.

DEATHS

Rev. John T. Davis, Jr. died Jan. 29, 2008.

Mr. William L. Walsh died June 12, 2008 after a happy marriage of 65 years to his wife, Grace.

Mrs. Lawrence Bradley, Jr. (Evelyne) died Aug. 20, 2007.

Rev. Allen F. Cantrell died Feb. 22, 2008.

Dr. Faye Leach died Sept. 25, 2008. She and her husband, Chuck, operated schools and other educational enterprises.

Rev. Robert D. Tolliver died June 2003.

Arnold L. Mount (Alumnus/Non-Grad) passed away in Rome, Ga., on June 19, 2006.

1940s

Rev. H. Gordon Edwards (‘43) died Oct. 11, 2008. He spent all of his years of ministry in Texas after he graduated. He served as pastor of several churches in the Texas area.

Dr. Thomas Milton Hamby (‘44) died Sept. 23, 2008.  He served as pastor of several churches, and was the President of Alabama Baptist Pastor’s Conference and of the Alabama Chapter of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Alumni.

Dr. Edward E. Laux (‘44) died Oct. 11, 2008. He served with the Baptist General Convention of Texas for 23 years.

Dr. Walter E. Sanders, Sr. (‘44) died May 10, 2008. He served in numerous leadership roles throughout his ministry. He pastored churches in S.C., Ky, Ga., and N.C.  He also served as Chaplain of the Baptist Hospital, Winston-Salem, N.C. and as the Dir. of Pastoral Care for Dorothea Dix Hospital, Raleigh. He would have been 91 on May 22.

Rev. Harry W. Mattingly’s (‘47) wife, Mary, died Mar. 12, 2008.

Rev. Sherman W. Swan (‘49) died July 9, 2008, and his wife Dorothy died June 2007.

Dr. E. Lowell Adams (‘49) died Jan. 31, 2008 in Southaven, MS from complications of heart disease. He and his late wife, Jeanne, resided in Memphis, Tenn. until their deaths. He was Pastor Emeritus at Gracewood BC in Southaven, and was pastor of Graceland BC in Memphis from 1954-1983.  He had pastored churches in Ind., Ky., and Mo. as well.

Dr. I.W. Bowen, III (‘49) died Oct. 5, 2008. He served for 28 years as Head of the Department of Religion at Tift College, Forsyth, Ga. He also served as pastor of FBC Barnesville, Ga., Rocky Creek BC, Ga., and Russellville BC, Ga.

1950s

Rev. Lester Rexford Whiddon, Sr. (‘50) died Oct. 1, 2008.

Rev. William Lawson Reynolds (‘52) died Aug. 1, 1987, and his wife, Betty Jo, died July 30, 2008.

Mr. Howard L. Long’s (‘53) wife, Frances, died Nov. 1, 2007.  They were married for 63 years.

Dr. Homer D. Carter’s (‘54) wife, Mary Martha, died June 9, 2008.

Rev. Grady Harding Summer (‘54) died Aug. 20, 2008 at the age of 86. He pastored many churches throughout his ministry including Crossroads BC, and Townville BC.

Mr. James C. D. McDaniel (‘54) died Feb. 2005.

Rev. Kenneth S. Clendaniel (‘55) died June 19, 2006.

Rev. Victor Morgan Dukes (‘56) died May 2 at the Brian Center of Waynesville, NC.  He was the Dir. of Religious Activities at Furman Univ. from 1958-1965. He pastored churches in S.C., MD., and Washington, D.C. His most recent ministry was at the Star Gospel Mission, Charleston, S.C.

Louetta P. Chester (’56) passed away on Jan. 26, 2008.

Robert N. Soloman (’56) passed away on June 24, 2008.

Rev. John R. Siems (‘57) died Aug. 30, 2008.

Robert B. Troutman (’57) passed away on March 24, 2009, from pancreatic cancer.

Mr. Charles Max Corbin (‘58) died Feb. 17, 2008.

Rev. Edward E. St. John (‘59) died Aug. 29, 2008.

1960s

Josephine A. Ansell’s (’60) husband, Howard, went to be with the Lord on  Feb. 29, 2007.

Rev. Harley C. Dixon’s (‘62) wife, Rebecah, died Apr. 7, 2005.  He now has 4 great-grandchildren.

Rev. F. Eugene Milby’s (‘62) wife, Reva, died June 21, 2005.

Dr. Leonard King (‘63) died May 15, 2008. He was the former area missionary for the North Central Area Missions Program. He also served in Germany with the International Baptist Church in Berlin.

Dr. Russel A. Jones (‘64) died June 27, 2008 in St. Joseph, Mo.

Dr. Russel A. Jones (‘64) died June 27, 2008.  He pastored many churches in Ohio, Calif., Hawaii, Ariz., and Nev.  He also served as the Academic Dean of Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City before he retired in 1998.

Eugene L. Leftwich (’64) passed away on Feb. 8, 2009.

Dr. Billy G. Hurt (‘66) died Feb. 17, 2008 at the age of 76. He pastored several churches in Tenn., Ky., and Mo. throughout his ministry.

1970s

Mr. Walter J. Bennet (‘70) died Nov. 25, 2008 in the hospital after surgery on Nov. 11.

Dr. James William Hammock (‘75) died Nov. 14, 2008.

Mr. Richard Bryan Stokes (‘79) died Mar. 12.

1990s

Dr. Robert W. Bell’s (‘90) wife, Karen, died March 23, 2008. He was appointed as the Dean of Erskine Theological Seminary in July 2006.

Michael W. Perkins (’90) passed away on May 11, 2009.

MISSIONS

2000s

Mr. Michael Douglas “Mike” Powell (‘08) has been appointed with the International Mission Board as the strategy coordinator in Brazil.

Mr. Joel Davis Whitenton (‘09) is doing evangelism/church planting in Brazil with the International Mission Board.

Mr. Philip “Reid” Karr IV (‘09) is serving with the International Mission Board working with university students in Rome, Italy.

Mr. Kenneth Douglas “Doug” Hess (‘09) is doing theological education in Argentina with the International Mission Board.

MARRIAGES

Ted M. Miller (’59) married Carolyn Propst Gale on Jan. 31, 2009. Ted is a retired Baptist minister living in Salisbury, N.C.