Dr. A. Earl Potts

Dr. A. Earl Potts passed away on Christmas morning, December 25, 2013, at the age of 93. A memorial service celebrating his life will be held on Friday, January 3, at 2:00 pm at McElwain Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL. He will be missed by his family, friends and Alabama Baptists. He is predeceased by his wife of 38 years, Louise Green Potts. He is survived by his son, David Earl Potts (Beth), his daughter, Elizabeth “Libby” Louise Potts (Dale Peterson), granddaughters Kristin Elizabeth Potts and Shannon Louise Potts (Phil Mattson), and four great-grandchildren.

Born on October 7, 1920, in Roanoke, Randolph County, Earl Potts attended the public schools of Randolph and Chambers counties. He graduated from high school in Lanett, Alabama, 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 the 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, Kentucky. The following twenty-one years, he was pastor of the 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 on September 13, 1983, and on April 19, 1984, was appointed Executive Secretary-Treasurer. When his wife, Louise, died on May 5, 1984, Potts faced his new duties without his spouse, but moved forward with courage and faithfulness to his calling.

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 the 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.