Stokes, Reginal

Reginal Stokes, a retired Alabama Baptist pastor, died Sept. 23. He was 79.
A graduate of Mississippi College in Clinton and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Stokes served as pastor of churches in Mississippi before moving to Selma in 1963 to serve as pastor of Northside Baptist Church.
He served there until 1968, when he took on the pastorate of First Baptist Church, Pleasant Grove. Stokes served as pastor there for 25 years, helping the church grow from 500 to more than 3,000 members.

He retired in 1993 to the role of pastor emeritus but continued pastoral work in other churches.
Over the years, Stokes served in several statewide roles including president of the Alabama Baptist Pastors Conference and first vice president of the Alabama Baptist State Convention. He also served as a trustee of the Southern Baptist Convention Brotherhood Commission.
Stokes is survived by his wife, Judith; four children; and eight grandchildren. (TAB)