Longtime New Bethel Baptist pastor Elwood Sims dies

November 6, 2024

Elwood Sims — who served in pastoral ministry for 70 years, including 40 years at New Bethel Baptist Church in Braggs — died Oct. 15. He was 92.

Retired pastor Ron Butler dies at 79

November 1, 2024

Ron Butler – who died Oct. 29 – retired in May after 44 years of serving churches in Alabama, Florida and Mississippi. He served as pastor of Pine Level Baptist in Chatom and Spice Pond Baptist in Eight Mile.

Ladell Blanton – former Bethlehem, Pine Barren DOM – dies at 85

October 7, 2024

Ladell Blanton, who served as director of missions for Bethlehem and Pine Barren Baptist associations from 1999 to 2003, died Oct. 3. He also served for years as a pastor in Mississippi.

Longtime minister Earnest Ted Elrod Sr. dies

October 3, 2024

Earnest Ted Elrod Sr., a minister for 52 years, died Oct. 1 at Cherokee Floyd Medical Center. He was 85.

Retired Heflin pastor Ray Clevenger dies at 83

September 27, 2024

Ray Clevenger, a retired pastor and former hospice and prison ministry volunteer, died Sept. 25. He was 83.

Former York Baptist pastor Walker dies

September 6, 2024

Johnny Walker, who served as pastor of York Baptist Church in the 1970s, died Aug. 28. He was 77.

Longtime worship minister Gerald Sims dies at 86

September 4, 2024

Gerald Max Sims, who served as a bivocational music minister for his entire adult life — most recently at Central Baptist Church in Florence — died Aug. 8.