James Head

James William Head was born on November 9, 1926 in Cincinnati, Ohio to James T. and Gertrude Tankersley Head. He was born again in June of 1933 at the First Baptist church of Albany, Georgia under the ministry of Dr. Walter Raleigh White.

After his early years in South Georgia, the family returned to Cincinnati.

He graduated from Walnut Hills High School in Cincinnati in June of 1944 and served two years 1944 – 1946 as a Navy Corpsman in WW II at the Naval Hospital in Dublin, Georgia. He was stationed in the Pacific in Okinawa, Guam, and Saipan.

After the War, he graduated from the University of Cincinnati in June of 1949 with a B.A. in Chemistry.

He married Anna Lorraine Dendler on June 17, 1950 at the Lockland Baptist church in Cincinnati and from this union came two daughters – Sheila Ann and Kathy Lynn.

While employed in Asphalt Emulsion Research at Philip Carey Company in Cincinnati, he surrendered to preach on October 2, 1955 at the Central Baptist Church of Cincinnati under the ministry of Norman Wells. He then enrolled in the newly formed Cincinnati Baptist Bible School in November of 1955. He graduated with the first class in June 1958 then continued as a Faculty member for nine years. During his years of pastoring, he continued his studies and earned a Th. M. and Th. D. from the Baptist University of the USA in Rossville, Georgia and a Ph. D from the Great Commission Seminary of Rossville. He served as Pastor of the Liberty Baptist Church of Liberty, Indiana from 1959 to 1966; pastor of the Bible Baptist Church of Wilmington, Ohio from 1966 to 1971; pastor of the Coulter Road Baptist Church in McKeesport, Pennsylvania from 1971 to 1987; and pastor of the Central Baptist Church of Mt. Vernon, Kentucky from 1987 to 1999. In July of 1999, he became the Dean of the Grace Baptist Bible Institute and served on staff at Grace Baptist Church, Middletown, Ohio until June 1, 2013.

He was preceded in death by his parents James T. and Gertrude and his brother Bob.

He graduated to glory Saturday, August 2, 2014 and is survived by his wife of 64 years Anna Lorraine; daughter, Sheila Christian of Memphis, Tennessee; daughter Kathy Michael O'Bradovic of Franklin, Ohio; seven grandchildren: Kevin Lee Christian and Brian William Christian Shannon both of Nashville, Tennessee; Jennifer O'Bradovic of Cincinnati, Ohio; Rev. Paul O'Bradovic, Youth Pastor of Monclova Road Baptist Church of Monclova, Ohio Tatianne; Sgt. 1/C Joel O'Bradovic, U. S. Army Brandi Las Vegas, Nevada; Rachel Steven Hucks Cincinnati, Ohio; Leah Joshua Beekman, Wharton, New Jersey.

Three great-grandchildren, Emily Claire Christian, Aidan Joseph Christian and Liana Noelle O'Bradovic.

Visitation will be on Thursday, August 7 from 5 to 8 p.m. and Friday, August 8 from noon to 1 p.m at Grace Baptist Church in Middletown, Ohio with services following at 1:00 p.m. Rev. Roger Green, Rev. Bruce Turner, and Dr. Spears will officiate. Interment will be at Grace Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, donations can be designated to the Mission Fund at Grace Baptist Church.