A. Earl Potts
Dr. A. Earl Potts died Christmas morning, Dec. 25, 2013, at the age of 93.
A memorial service celebrating his life will be Friday, Jan. 3, at 2 p.m. at McElwain Baptist Church in Birmingham.
He is predeceased by his wife of 38 years, Louise Green Potts. He is survived by his son, David Earl Potts (wife, Beth); his daughter, Elizabeth “Libby” Louise Potts (Dale Peterson); two granddaughters and four great-grandchildren.
Born on Oct. 7, 1920, in Roanoke, Dr. Potts attended the public schools of Randolph and Chambers counties. He graduated from high school in Lanett, earned his A.B. degree from Howard College (now Samford University), and received his B.D. degree from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He was later awarded honorary doctoral degrees from Samford University and Judson College.
Potts began his ministry in Alabama as pastor of New Hope Baptist Church in Fredonia. He served as assistant to Dr. D.J. Purser Jr. at Woodlawn Baptist Church in Birmingham. He later pastored Union Grove Baptist Church in Crossville and Mt. Hebron Baptist Church in Collinsville. While earning his divinity degree, he pastored Youngers Creek Baptist Church in Elizabethtown, Ky. The following 21 years, he was pastor of McElwain Baptist Church in Birmingham.
In 1970, he accepted the assignment as director of church ministries for the State Board of Missions of the Alabama Baptist State Convention. He was named assistant to the executive secretary in 1983 and in 1984 was appointed executive secretary-treasurer.
After his election to the office of executive secretary, Potts’ servant leadership found new ways to encourage ministry to those in need. These ministries included establishing disaster relief, fostering of a significantly strengthened Alabama Baptist Historical Commission (including the appointment of the first woman to serve as an agency head), substantially improving funding the retirements of Baptist ministers, strengthening human relationships across previous boundaries, and the reorganization of ministries at the State Board of Missions to more effectively serve the “Great Commission” purposes.
In his retirement years, Dr. Potts taught and mentored divinity students at Beeson Divinity School of Samford University. He encouraged the students through the lessons that he learned during his career as pastor, administrator and denominational leader.
Potts was called by God to serve others through his faith in Christ as savior, redeemer, healer and companion. His gentle spirit and gracious love ministered to many throughout his life.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Alabama Baptist ministries, the Louise Green Potts Scholarship at the Baptist Foundation of Alabama, or the A. Earl Potts Scholarship at Judson College.
