Gerald Lee “Jerry” Swimmer, pastor of First Baptist Church, Vina, died July 24. He was 79.
Swimmer served the Franklin Baptist Association church for three years, and this was the only church he served as pastor.
Swimmer previously served as music minister, senior adult minister and education director of Red Bay Baptist Church; music minister of West End Baptist Church, Mobile; and music minister of four Mississippi churches. He also served as interim pastor of Concord Baptist Church and Belgreen Baptist Church, both in Russellville.
In his 50 years in ministry, Swimmer conducted more than 800 revivals and sang at three Southern Baptist conventions.
“The Lord has done some miraculous things through him,” said Larry Dover, Franklin Association director of missions. “The Lord gave him a special gift of ‘closing the net’ evangelism.”
A native of Chester, Pa., Swimmer was raised Jewish and became a Christian at the age of 30. He attended Temple University in Philadelphia and graduated from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Immanuel Baptist Theological Seminary and Bible College in Sharpsburg, Ga. He also spent 10 years in the U.S. Air Force.
Swimmer was preceded in death by his wife, Betty.
He is survived by one son, one grandchild and one great-grandchild. (TAB)
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