Wayne W. Upton, retired pastor, missionary and professor, died Aug. 14. He was 82.
Upton was born in Centre and graduated from Centre High School in 1948.
He served in the Navy during the Korean War, where he received his call to ministry.
Upton received a bachelor of science degree in horticulture from Auburn University in 1956, a master of divinity degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 1959 and a doctor of ministry degree from Luther Rice Seminary in Lithonia, Ga., in the early 1970s, where he later served on the faculty.
Upton was the first person to ask for and take a correspondence course from the Southern Baptist Convention Seminary Extension, beginning in 1951 when he was serving in the Navy.
Upton’s service as pastor included First Baptist Church, Atmore; Martinville Baptist Church, Atmore; and Calvary Baptist Church, Eufaula, as well as churches in Ohio and Florida.
He also served as director of missions for Tennessee River Baptist Association and as pastor of Poarch Indian Mission, Atmore, under the leadership of First, Atmore.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Barbara, and two children.
(TAB)
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