John William “Bill” Carner, a longtime music minister at churches in Alabama and other states, died Sept. 11. He was 88.
Carner served as music minister of Central Baptist Church, Decatur; Eastern Hills Baptist Church, Montgomery; and Ruhama Baptist Church, Birmingham; as well as churches in Oklahoma, Texas and Kentucky.
A native of Mississippi, he served in the U.S. Navy before earning a bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma Baptist University and a master’s degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.
After retirement Carner was an active member of Dawson Memorial Baptist Church, Birmingham, and later First Baptist Church, Montgomery.
Carner is preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Shirlie Leslie. He is survived by two daughters, Sheryl and Shan; four grandchildren; and one great-grandson. (Grace Thornton)
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