Henry L. Lyon III, a retired Alabama Baptist pastor and state missionary, died April 30. He was 83.
After growing up in Birmingham and later Montgomery, Lyon was ordained to the ministry in 1952 and became pastor of Snowdoun Baptist Church, Montgomery. He later served as pastor of other Baptist churches, including Pike Road; Eastern Valley, Bessemer; First, Anniston; and First, Selma.
In 1986, after 21 years at First, Selma, he joined the staff of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions. He served there until he retired from his role as director of the office of discipleship/family ministries in 2001.
Lyon earned a bachelor’s degree from Samford University in Birmingham, and a master of divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Troy University also presented him with a doctor of humanities, and Judson College in Marion presented him with a doctor of divinity degree.
Through the years he served in various roles in state Baptist life, including chairman of the executive board of the Alabama Baptist State Convention. He also served on the board of trustees for Shocco Springs Baptist Conference Center, where he surrendered to the ministry at a Royal Ambassadors camp at age 14. At the time of his death Lyon was a member of First Baptist Church, Montgomery, where he taught the Poundstone Sunday School Class.
Lyon is survived by his wife of 59 years, Sara Jane; daughter, Jane Louise; son, David Louis; and three grandchildren. (Grace Thornton)
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