Bob Pruitt spent more than 50 years of his life serving Alabama Baptist churches. He died Dec. 18, 2012, at the age of 79.
Pruitt, who was born in Gadsden, served two terms in the Navy in the 1950s. He married his wife, Millie, and they became members of Bethel Baptist Church, Geraldine.
It was at Bethel Baptist that Pruitt felt God call him to become a pastor. Three days after announcing his desire in 1959 to preach, Bethel asked Pruitt to do just that during a Sunday service. And Bethel later called Pruitt to be its pastor.
He earned his bachelor of arts degree from Samford University in Birmingham in 1971 and served in the pastoral role at nine other Alabama Baptist churches. He served as the pastor of First Baptist Church, Rainsville, and later as minister to senior adults at First, Rainsville, and First Baptist Church, Crossville, where he was serving at the time of his death.
Greg Corbin, associate pastor of pastoral ministries at Whitesburg Baptist Church, Huntsville, who served under Pruitt when he was senior pastor at First, Rainsville, said Pruitt was a “very gracious (and) humble man and had a great sense of humor.”
Pruitt is survived by his wife of 57 years; three children; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
(Neisha Fuson)
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