Pastor James O. Dorriety’s ready smile and firm handshake tell of years spent greeting and ministering to those around him. As the interim pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church, Huntsville, tells his latest joke or funniest story from his past, his twinkling eyes and the hint of laughter invite you in on the joke.
Before you realize it, you have come to know the 81-year-old pastor in front of you better than you may know the church member you sit next to every Sunday and he knows you, too.
The son of a sharecropper in south Alabama, Dorriety’s wit and humor, combined with a lifelong faith, grit and determination have served him well during his 60 years getting to know church members and nonmembers as a pastor and interim pastor in the South.
Dorriety grew up in First Baptist Church, Slocomb. He would gather as many of his 10 siblings as he could muster to attend “church” — a square drawn in the dirt — to listen as he preached from his wooden block “pulpit.”
And during a revival at Banks Baptist Church in Salem-Troy Baptist Association, Dorriety walked down the aisle to announce his decision to give his life to Christ.
Saved and wandering
But Dorriety did not launch into an active church life. In fact, the church played no part in his life for the next two years.
Dorriety had dropped out of school in sixth grade to work the family farm when his father fell ill. Because he had never returned to school, Dorriety found himself at the age of 17 working as a “soda jerk” handing out ice cream and sodas in Columbus, Ga.
A deacon at the local church got to know Dorriety and repeatedly invited him to visit the church. After several refusals, Dorriety decided to go. It was during that first visit to Porter Memorial Baptist Church in Columbus, that he met his first wife, Vonzeal Davis, whom he began courting. During their courtship, which Dorriety calls a “love triangle” with him, Vonzeal and God, Dorriety rededicated his life to God.
Dorriety and Vonzeal’s relationship also grew, and the two were married when she was 16 and he was 18. Their marriage lasted for almost 51 years until her death from cancer in 1993.
At the time of their marriage, World War II had begun and Dorriety was serving in the Army. Based in Georgia the whole time, he achieved the rank of corporal.
During his military service, the Dorrietys began teaching the 12 to 14 year olds in the church. Through working with them and the influence of Pastor E.R. Broadwell, Dorriety realized God’s call to the ministry.
Recalling the nervousness of preaching his first sermon in 1945, Dorriety said with a laugh, “That was when I preached my first wonderful, terrible sermon.” He had prepared an hour’s worth of sermon on the Great Commission in Mark 16:15, but within 10 minutes, was finished and spent the rest of the time telling the congregation of his and Vonzeal’s call to full-time Christian ministry.
There was one obstacle to overcome, however, and that was Dorriety’s need for formal education. With the war over, Dorriety enlisted in the Reserves and enrolled at Mercer University in Macon, Ga., in 1945. But with a sixth grade education as his only foundation, the attempt ended in frustration.
Dorriety continued to preach, however, speaking at revivals and special services. He made his way back to Alabama and was pastor of First Baptist Church, Cottonwood, in Columbia Baptist Association from 1945 until 1946. Then in late 1946, he returned home to First, Slocomb, to serve as pastor.
Both churches, aware of Dorriety’s education, let him study at home. But First, Slocomb, went the extra mile.
Striking a deal
When Dorriety met with the search committee at First, Slocomb, he told them the story of his education. He said, “If you’ll let me go to high school, I’ll be your pastor.”
So the church arranged with the principal of Slocomb High School for Dorriety to complete his high school education. Two years later, he preached the baccalaureate service for his graduating class, the class of 1948.
Immediately Dorriety returned to Mercer and enrolled. He managed to get a few classes under his belt before being reactivated by the Army to serve in Korea. Although a second lieutenant without chaplain status, Dorriety wound up filling in for a chaplain based in Seoul, Korea, and also preached to several units. “I just tried to live my Christian life before (the other soldiers),” he said. “I ministered to [them].”
Returning to Georgia in 1952, Dorriety finally earned his bachelor of arts degree from Mercer in 1953.“I thought I was on top of the world; it was so unbelievable,” Dorriety said. “I [had been] so embarrassed to tell people, yet God was blessing my ministry all along.”
Dorriety has served as pastor of several Georgia and Alabama churches, including Jackson Way Baptist Church, Huntsville.
During his time in Georgia, he served in the Georgia Baptist Convention’s stewardship and annuity department and as vice president of the convention.
He also served as an industrial chaplain commissioned by the Home Mission Board (now North American Mission Board).
While working for the stewardship department, the Dorrietys met Roger and Sue Miller. The four became fast friends, and when Dorriety and Sue Miller found themselves a widower and widow in 1994, the two married.
“She’s wonderful,” Dorriety said. “Without her, I’d be worthless.”
Throughout his career, Dorriety has made note of his experiences. These have become fodder for his “fun ministry” — his speaking engagements, albums of humor and the book, “If It’s in the Bible, It’s True,” which he co-wrote with his daughter-in-law, Montez B. Dorriety.
“To God be the glory,” Dorriety said. “He has been so good to me. It’s been a wonderful, glorious ministry.”
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