William (Bill) Caudle’s call to the ministry happened while he was sitting around a campfire as a high school student during a youth retreat Bible study at Shocco Springs Baptist Conference Center in Talladega.
Following that call, Caudle went on to serve in Baptist churches spanning Oklahoma, Florida, Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee and Alabama.
After more than 40 years in the ministry — youth work, educational ministry and pastoral ministry — Caudle retired Dec. 31, 2012, from full-time service after more than seven years as pastor of West Side Baptist Church, Jacksonville.
Caudle earned his bachelor of arts degree from Jacksonville State University and his master’s degree in religious education from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo. He was licensed and ordained at First Baptist Church, Huntsville.
Reflecting on his years of ministry, Caudle said he and his wife, Linda, both recognize they have had the privilege of meeting “a lot of different people in a lot of different places” and that many of those people have continued to be “great friends and prayer partners through the years.”
He added that during his years at West Side, the church built a new facility and “we had the privilege of celebrating … their 90th anniversary [with them]. It was just a good church, and we enjoyed it very much,” he said.
Tom Holland, West Side’s minister of music, said Caudle is a good friend.
“He was … one of the best I ever saw of comforting the bereaved,” Holland said. “He had a real gift at that.”
West Side held a retirement tea for the Caudles on Dec. 30. Holland said many people were in attendance for the event to bring cards and well wishes.
Caudle said he is available for fill-in preaching and serving as an interim, bivocational or part-time pastor. Caudle can be reached at 256-435-1888 or mined@juno.com.
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