Obituaries

For 18 years beginning in 1988, Baggott wrote her Heart to Heart column about people, events in her life and current issues in ways that touched the hearts of readers. Countless letters testified to how people identified with her words.

Steve Gaines, former pastor of Bellevue Baptist in Cordova, Tennessee, and Gardendale First Baptist Church, died March 20. During his time at Gardendale FBC, Gaines led the congregation from a membership of 4,000 to 8,500.

Douglas Haynes, a longtime bivocational pastor in Randolph, Cleburne and Clay counties, died Feb. 2. The churches he served included Chulafinnee Baptist and Pine Grove Baptist, both in Heflin, and Ethelsville Baptist.

Ernest Tucker had a career as a schoolteacher but also felt the call to preach. Over the years, he served as pastor of Pleasant Hill Baptist in Millry and Howardtown Baptist Church in Tibbie.