First Baptist Church, Troy Salem-Troy Baptist Association Favorite Verses: 2 Corinthians 5:7; Psalm 31:3 Favorite Hymn: “Solid Rock” Hobbies: Reading, volunteering Family Status: Married to John for 58 years;
Longtime Alabama Baptist pastor Ira Cole Skelton died Feb. 10. He was 78. During his more than 30-year ministry, Skelton served as pastor of several
Cropwell Baptist Church, Cropwell St. Clair Baptist Association Favorite Bible Verse: John 3:16 Favorite Hymn/Christian Song: “I’ll Fly Away” Hobbies: Crocheting, visiting with the sick
Church: Union Hill Baptist Church, Bessemer, Mud Creek Association Favorite Verse: 2 Corinthians 5:8 Favorite Hymn: “Down at the Cross” Hobbies: Teaching and church work Family Status: Recently widowed after
Mabry Rhodes, retired pastor of First Baptist Church, Pratt City, was killed in an auto accident near Fultondale Jan. 5. He was 88. Rhodes and
Neil Shepherd, a longtime advocate of Christian higher education in Alabama, died Dec. 12, 2005. He was 82. At the time of his death, Shepherd
Retired Alabama Baptist pastor Taylor Bowers died Jan. 4 following a lengthy illness. He was 87. Bowers, who was living in Kingsport, Tenn., at the
Church: Center Point Baptist Church, Scottsboro Favorite Bible Verse: Philippians 4:13, 19 Favorite Hymn: “Because He Lives” Hobbies: Building and remodeling Family Status: Married to
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