Obituaries

Wayne W. Upton, retired pastor, missionary and professor, died Aug. 14. He was 82. Upton was born in Centre and graduated from Centre High School

Elizabeth Young “Betty” Evans died Aug. 6. She was 89.  Evans was born in Balkan, Ky. She graduated from Black Star High School in Alva,

William “Bill” Hacker died Aug. 12. He was 89.  Hacker grew up in Birmingham and during World War II served as a radio operator in

John Roberts, the longest-serving editor in the history of The Baptist Courier, died Aug. 15. He was 85. Roberts, of Shelby, N.C., graduated from Gardner-Webb

Chester H. Jernigan, former Alabama Baptist pastor, died July 21. He was 81. A native of Brewton, Jernigan graduated from Howard College (now Samford University),

Charles Philip Neel, creator of Auburn University’s mascot, Aubie, and a member of Deerfoot Baptist Church, Trussville, for 32 years died July 25. He was 84.

Robert Lee “Bob” Franklin Jr., former director of missions for Montgomery Baptist Association, died July 8. He was 78. A native of Center Point, Franklin

George Jerrell Blakney, interim pastor of Concord Baptist Church, Fayette, died June 3. He was 73. A Carrollton native, Blakney received a bachelor’s degree from