David Bryant Carpenter was born on May 29th, 1959, and was the only child of Charles Ray and Sara Lou Carpenter of Mobile, Alabama. He graduated from University Military School in Mobile in 1977, and proceeded to attend Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Alabama. Even while still receiving his education, he pastored the LaPlace circuit for the United Methodist Church. He met the love of his life, Angela Morgan, in 1978 and they were married in 1982. After completing his degree in Pastoral Theology, he began his professional life, which would consist entirely of service to God and others. He went on to earn a Master’s Degree and a Doctorate in Theology with a focus in Church History from Faith Baptist College.
David started Gulf Coast Baptist Church in Mobile, Alabama in 1993. After five years of pastoring, he and his young family moved to Pleasantville, Iowa, where he influenced many young people as a Christian school principal. From 2002 to 2013, he faithfully served as pastor of Gateway Baptist Church in Cahokia, Illinois, during which time he also served as commissioner of the Cahokia police board.
After returning to Mobile in 2013, he ministered to Pleasant Hill Baptist Church and Faith Independent Baptist Church, while also serving others as a member of his local BNI chapter, a board member of the Saraland Chamber of Commerce, and vice-chair of the board of Gulf Coast Dementia Services. David authored “Where Was There?”, a book exploring the evidence of the exact locations of Biblical events, and was the co-host of the popular podcast Gulf Coast Life. He found his final church home in Turnerville Baptist Church, where he pastored from 2019 until he was called home to Heaven.
On February 19th, 2022, David was joyfully reunited in Heaven with his loving parents and grandparents, many relatives, and untold numbers of earthly friends. He is survived by his beloved wife of nearly forty years, Angela Carpenter, his three children, Sara “Sadie” Carpenter (Jonathan Stradling), William Carpenter, and David (Kelsey) Carpenter, and his granddaughter Charlotte Stradling, and an innumerable host of family and dear friends.
David will be remembered by many for his love of knowledge and learning, his words of wisdom, and his sense of humor. He was a pastor, a theologian, a networker, a teacher, and a coach, but most of all, a friend.
Visitation will be held Thursday, March 10th at Radney Funeral Home on Dauphin Street from 5-8 p.m., and funeral services will be held at Luke 4:18 Fellowship on Friday, March 11th at 10:00 a.m. with Rev. David Lee Carpenter, Dr. Andy Wood, and Rev. Juaken Dumas presiding. Interment will be at Mobile Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Condolences may be offered at www.radneyfuneralhome-mobile.com.
