Carl F. Whirley, retired Southern Baptist missionary to Nigeria, died Jan. 8 in Florence after an extended illness.
Whirley, 85, was born July 28, 1914, in Southport, Fla., and grew up in Bagdad, Fla. He received a bachelor of arts degree from Howard College, now Samford University in Birmingham in 1943. He eared his master of theology from Southern Seminary in Louisville, Ky., in 1947 and 1957, respectively.
Whirley and his wife, the former Enid Pate of Birmingham, served for 33 years as missionaries to Nigeria for the Southern Baptist Convention.
Following his retirement in 1980, Whirley served as a professor in the Religion Department of Samford University until 1987. He taught for the Samford Extension Division in pastor education for several more years. Whirley also served as interim pastor of First Baptist Church of Vernon, First Baptist Church of Sulligent and The Baptist Church of the Covenant in Birmingham.
Whirley taught Sunday School at Mountain Brook Baptist Church in Birmingham, before moving to Florence, where he was a member of Woodmont Baptist Church.
In addition to his wife, Whirley is survived by his children, John Wirley of Memphis, Charlotte Cramer of Florence, Brenda Carr of Opp, and Phillip Whirley of Houston, Texas; his brother, Robert Whirley of Panama City; 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were Jan. 11 at Mountain Brook Baptist Church with John Ridout’s Roebuck East officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to the International Missions Board of the Southern Baptist Convention or to Global Missions of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.
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