John D. Bolton

John Bolton was born in 1916 near Evergreen, AL. He attended Antioch Primitive Baptist Church and graduated from Lyeffion High School. Early on he worked as a surveyor and map maker and as a store manager with V. J. Elmore Stores. During the war, he was a fireman on steam locomotives for L& N Railroad. He joined the Army, but because of an injury did not see combat, was discharged, and returned to the railroad where he continued to serve the war efforts as a civilian.

At age 31, while a member of First Baptist Church in Evergreen, Alabama, and having felt the call of God to enter full-time ministry, he felt a strong leading and need to go to prepare to for ministry. It was on faith, he enrolled in New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and earned a two-year diploma, then knowing he needed more education, he enrolled at Howard College, now Samford University. He served part-time churches in South Alabama while completing his degree.

In 1950, he married Nellie Ruth Tallant who was already serving the Lord in full-time ministry. Together they returned to New Orleans Seminary for graduate work and began a ministry and marriage together that extended 66 years.

He served churches in Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia. He followed faithfully where the Lord led, working in rural areas, small towns, and suburbs. Wherever he was, he always encouraged young ministers to pursue studies—he taught some in extension courses through Howard College and the seminaries and helped them make connections for further school. In 1962, he began serving as Associational Director of Missions in Salem Association and later in Lawrence County Association, both in Tennessee, helping churches to work together in service to God and the Kingdom.

In 1981, John Bolton retired from full-time ministry but not from the service of the Lord. Inspired by needs he had seen and his experience of God’s grace during the times he had waited outside an intensive care unit following his son’s serious accident, he began a volunteer chaplaincy program at the local hospital in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. He served as volunteer hospital chaplain for several years. After moving to Springfield Tennessee, he led a chaplaincy program there. In total, He spent close to 20 years in this service following his retirement.

In 2002, John and his wife Nellie moved to Birmingham and became active members of Dawson Memorial Baptist Church. Both served as Sunday School teachers and volunteer visitors.

The living legacy of John Bolton is in his family. He is loved and missed by three children: Rebecca (Eddie) Dobelstein, John David Bolton, Jr. (Karen), and Deborah (Frank) Mize; eight adult grandchildren: Amy Dobelstein, Jayson (Jerri) Dobelstein, Chad (Courtney) Mize, Matthew (Brittney) Bolton, Justin (Sarah Beth) Mize, Andrew (Jenni) Bolton, Laurie Mize (Luke) Cooper, and Michael Bolton; and great-grandchildren: Jonathan Mize, Isaiah Dobelstein, Elijah Mize, Easton Bolton, Maylee Mize, Francie Dobelstein, Blaze Bolton, Micah Dobelstein, John David Mize (Davey), Lanie Bolton, John Asher Bolton, Levi Cooper, Samuel Mize, Casen Bolton, Ransey Dobelstein, Moriah Ruth Cooper.

He will also be missed by his many nieces and nephews who were close to his heart.

Memorial gifts may be made to

Samford University “Christian Ministries Fund” in memory of John David Bolton.

www.samford.edu/giving. Type “Christian Ministries Fund” in the support area box.