Stroud, Charles

Charles Stroud, who served as the director of missions (DOM) for Shelby Baptist Association for more than 15 years, died Dec. 20, 2014. He was 78.

Stroud earned a bachelor’s degree from Howard College (now Samford University) in Birmingham and a master’s degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky.  

He served as pastor of First Baptist Church, Vincent; Meadowbrook Baptist Church, Oxford; First Baptist Church, Columbiana; and Ridgecrest Baptist Church, Montgomery. He also served as pastor in Ohio. 

After retiring as DOM in 2005, Stroud decided to “connect the churches” by training for a 240-mile walk — stopping at each church in the association (70 at the time). 

Stroud was preceded in death by his first wife, Betty. He is survived by his wife, Mildred; three sons; two stepdaughters; nine grandchildren; and four step-grandchildren.