Bivocational pastor of five decades, three counties dies at 98

Calvin Jackson Crocker, 98, a bivocational minister, died Nov. 18.

He was born in Perry County and was a veteran of World War II, having served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946. Upon his return, he moved to Birmingham where he met and married his wife, Ida Made, and made a public profession of faith.

In December 1955, they moved to Chilton County, settling in “Dry Valley” where they began to farm. They were active members of Providence Baptist Church, where Crocker made public his call to preach and was ordained Nov. 30, 1958, at the request of Friendship Baptist Church, Lawley, his first pastorate.

For the next five decades, Crocker was active as a bivocational pastor in Chilton, Shelby and Bibb counties. In addition to farming, he worked a variety of jobs to support his family.

He earned certificates in Christian training from Howard Extension (now Samford University) in 1968 and 1975. He never retired from the call to preach, but he retired from pastoral ministry in 2004. His last pastorate was Blocton Third Baptist Church, West Blocton.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Ida Mae Bamberg Crocker. He is survived by five children, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.