Joseph Andrew Jimmerson

June 6, 1926 -December 27, 2014

Columbus, Georgia- Joseph Andrew Jimmerson 88 of Columbus, Georgia died on Saturday, December 27, 2014 at St. Francis Hospital of amyloidosis.

Funeral services will be Wednesday, December 31, 2014 at 10:00 am at the First Baptist of Columbus. Visitation will be from 5:00 until 7:00 Tuesday evening at the funeral home.

Joseph Andrew (Joe) Jimmerson was born on June 6, 1926 in Thomaston, Georgia to the late Mable Godfrey Jimmerson Turner and Joseph Albert Jimmerson. During World War II, Joe enlisted in the US Navy. He served as an electrician's mate in the Pacific Theater. In his locker, he kept fruitcake made by his Aunt Pearl and a photo of his sweetheart, Iris LaRose Salter.

After the war, he returned to Thomaston. On September 21, 1947 he and Iris married. Throughout their 67 years of marriage, he knew he had married the most beautiful woman on the planet.

Answering the call to the gospel ministry, the young couple moved to Fort Worth, Texas where Joe entered the SBC's Southwestern Theological Seminary. They had four children -- Joseph Albert, Andrew Allen, Jonathan Scott, and JoAnna Iris.

After graduating from seminary, Joe entered ministry. Moving to Columbus, he pastored Eastern Heights Baptist Church ushering in a period of unprecedented growth. In 1961, "Brother Joe" and "Miss Iris" answered the call to foreign missions. With their children, they moved to Indonesia where they lived for 10 years. They were in Jakarta during the Communist Coup and subsequent anti-communist purge which cost approximately 500,000 people their lives. Living in imminent danger, they kept suitcases packed at the Hotel Indonesia so they could flee at a moment's notice. However, they never lost faith in the Indonesian people and lived there without serious incident. In 1966, they transferred to Hong Kong where for five years they survived periods of political upheaval and water rationing, yet never lost their appreciation of Asia. They passed on to their children and grandchildren their lifelong love of Asia, its peoples, and its cultures.

Returning to Columbus, Joe served as interim pastor for 12 churches in and around Columbus. He was past president of the Executive Club and a member of the Exchange Club of Columbus.

Joe Jimmerson was truly larger than life. Never meeting a stranger, he enjoyed swapping stories, winning at cribbage, and entertaining old "Asia Hands" who might be passing through.

In addition to his parents, Joe Jimmerson is preceded in death by his son, Andrew, and his granddaughter, Leigh Anna Jimmerson. In addition to his wife and three of his children, he is survived by his sister, Ruth Jimmerson Harris, three daughters-in-law, a son-in-law, six surviving grandchildren, and three great grandchildren.

Condolences may be offered to the family online at www.shcolumbus.com