Although James Wallis Cohorn serves as pastor of First Baptist Church, Ohatchee, he’s actually retired — sort of.
Cohorn retired from full-time ministry in 1998 but continued supply preaching, teaching Sunday School and singing in the choir. Gradually that steady stream of service grew to serving as interim pastor of several churches for the next 16 or so years before he once again served full-time as a pastor — for First Baptist, Ohatchee.
This year marks Cohorn’s 60th anniversary in ministry.
Cohorn’s ministry began in 1957 when he accepted the call God put on his life and preached his first sermon at Leatherwood Baptist Church, Anniston. From there, he served as pastor of the following churches: East Centre Baptist Church, Centre; Fort Bayou Baptist Church, Ocean Springs, Mississippi; Wagarville Baptist Church; Gladeview Baptist Church, Anniston; James Memorial Baptist Church, Gadsden; West Point Baptist Church, Jacksonville; Blue Mountain Baptist Church, Anniston; Blue Springs Baptist Church, Oxford; and Oak Grove Baptist Church, Glencoe.
In local and state denominational life, Cohorn has served as moderator of Calhoun Baptist Association, on the advisory committee of Jacksonville State University’s Baptist Campus Ministries and on the board of directors for the Alabama Baptist Retirement Centers.
Cohorn holds a bachelor’s degree from Howard College (now Samford University) in Birmingham and a master of divinity degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He is married to Evelyn. (Maggie Walsh)
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