Billy Hunt, who served as director of missions for St. Clair Baptist Association for more than 20 years, died Sept. 3.
At age 10, Hunt gave his life to Jesus. He felt a call to preach when he was a senior in high school. He studied at Howard College (now Samford University), then did graduate work at Jacksonville State University.
In the early years of his ministry, Hunt served as pastor of a mission of First Baptist Church Fairfield; Mulberry Springs Baptist in Sulligent; Artesia Baptist in Artesia, Mississippi; First Baptist Church Gurley; and Tates Chapel Baptist in Centre. He left a six-and-a-half-year pastorate at Pepperell Baptist Church in Opelika to become St. Clair Association’s DOM.
Seeing growth in St. Clair Association
Hunt served in that role from 1983 until he retired in 2003. When he first became DOM, there were about 12,000 members in the churches of St. Clair Association. That number had grown to 23,000 by the time he retired. In that time frame, a few churches and one mission began. In addition, Camp Sonshine near Pell City was acquired.
While serving as DOM, Hunt was also pastor of a mission in Leeds for several years and for more than a decade had a weekly radio program broadcast on WURL (760 AM) in Brompton.
After retiring, Hunt served the association again as interim associational mission strategist in 2019. He also served as interim pastor of churches in Etowah, Cherokee and St. Clair counties.
Hunt is preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Shirley, and his son, John. He is survived by his daughter, Lynn; son, Scott; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
