McCalla pastorate transition complete; Mayfield retires

Dewey Mayfield, 78, retired many moons ago, but he did it again in June after 55 years in the ministry.
   
He said he believes his last assignment as a pastor was one for which the various experiences through the years had prepared him. Mayfield spent the 18 months leading up to his second retirement as co-pastor of a church that was going through a merger that is now complete.
   
Mayfield retired June 1 from The Baptist Church at McAdory, McCalla, in Bessemer Baptist Association, a congregation that is a melding of the Bessemer churches Westside Baptist and First Baptist. 
   
Another Bessemer church — South Highland Baptist — already had become part of Westside prior to the merger.
   
Mayfield shared the pulpit of The Baptist Church at McAdory with Bill McCall, a member of Westside serving as “pulpit supply” when the merger began.
   
One would preach on Sunday morning and the other on Sunday night. The next week, they would alternate.
   
Now the church has called McCall as pastor. He said Mayfield is “just a wonderful, wonderful individual” who “exudes grace. I felt endeared to him during this whole time.”
   
McCall describes Mayfield and Mayfield’s wife of 58 years, Phyllis, as kind, gentle and encouraging.
   
McCall noted that Mayfield was instrumental in the merger, moderating the steering committee and was fair and impartial in all that he did.
   
Mayfield believes his 15 years of serving as director of missions for Columbia Baptist Association and his other ministerial experiences prepared him for the merger and co-pastorate.
   
He retired in 1996 from Columbia Association and later, became pastor of First, Bessemer. When Mayfield accepted the call to First, Bessemer, it was the first time in 29 years that he had been in a pastorate.
   
After high school graduation, Mayfield went to work at the U.S. Steel coke plant in Fairfield. During a revival in 1947, he felt called into the ministry. He left his job and went to Howard College (now Samford University) in Birmingham, where he earned an undergraduate degree.
   
Mayfield received a master’s degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 1958 and his doctorate from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., in 1984. Through the years, he served churches in East Liberty Baptist Association, St. Clair Baptist Association, Bessemer Association and Birmingham Baptist Association, as well as churches in Mississippi. 
   
Mayfield also was director of Christian social ministries for Madison Baptist Association.
   
He and his wife have four sons (one of whom has passed away), 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
   
Mayfield is available for interims and other preaching opportunities. To contact him, call 205-822-0803 or e-mail deweymayfield@bellsouth.net.