Sunday, January 6, 2002
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Sunday, January 6, 2002 |
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Beloved Baptist preacher dies By CAROLYN CARY
The Rev. Jack H. Overton has died at the age of 82, having served the Fayetteville First Baptist Church for just over 40 years. The Raleigh, N.C. native died Dec. 30, 2001. The youngest of five siblings, his father was a carpenter. When Overton was 5 years old, his father became seriously ill, and was advised to move to a much warmer climate. Consequently, the family moved to south Georgia. He was graduated from high school at 14 and at the age of 16 realized the Lord was calling him into church work. Working for several years, he set off for Norman Park Junior College in south Georgia, with $2.59 in his pocket. After graduating from Norman Park and then Mercer University, he headed to Southern Seminary in Louisville, Ky. In 1945 he left with a degree in theology. While at the seminary he met and married Evelyn Keeling, a Kentucky native also attending the school. They served in churches in Kentucky, Florida and Georgia, coming to Fayetteville First Baptist just over 40 years ago. He served as pastor for 24 years and as pastor emeritus for the past 16 years. He has served in a number of capacities in the area: as moderator for South Metro Baptist Association, on the Board of Directors for the Georgia Baptist Convention, as past president of the Fayette Ministerial Association, as chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Georgia Baptist Homes and was also a past board member for the Fayette County Friday Home. Services were conducted at the Fayetteville First Baptist Church with the Rev. Frank Ellis and the Rev. Glenn Stringham officiating. Interment was at Westminster Memorial Gardens, Peachtree City. Survivors include his wife of over 50 years, Evelyn K. Overton, Fayetteville; a daughter, Patricia and Don Oberg, Fayetteville, and a sister, Eloise Howell, Pelham, Ga. Memorial donations may be made to the Fayetteville First Baptist Church building fund. Carl J. Mowell & Son Funeral Home, Fayetteville, was in charge.
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