Luther Thomas "L.T." Gurganus Jr.

He was born March 16, 1935 in the Dovertown Community near Cordova, Alabama. He attended the Dovertown School (of which he bragged was “not just one of those one-room schoolhouses, but a TWO room schoolhouse!) and later Cordova High School, graduating in the class of 1953. He received a BA in Social Science with a certification in secondary education from Harding College in Searcy, Arkansas.

After graduation, he preached 1 ½ years in Alabama at the Aldridge Church of Christ near Parrish, Alabama. In 1958, he served as a missionary to Japan for 3 years. He then returned to the U.S. and received a Master’s Degree in New Testament from the Harding Graduate School in Memphis, TN, completing his Master’s Thesis on the book of I Peter. Afterward, he returned to Japan and worked 7 more years until 1971.

Back in the U.S., Gurganus was influential in the founding of Indian Creek Youth Camp in Oakman, Alabama, serving on the Board of Trustees as an active and later an honorary member until his death. He worked in almost every capacity at ICYC, particularly as one of the weekly session directors. During this time, he preached at the Oak Grove Church of Christ in Pumpkin Center/Quinton, Alabama for over 30 years. He also taught high school at Parrish, Dora, and West Birmingham Christian schools.

He returned to the mission field in 1994, serving the countries of Ukraine, Russia, Myanmar (Burma), Vietnam, Malaysia, Nigeria, Costa Rica, and the Philippine Islands.

He enjoyed traveling and was blessed to see much of the world including the Holy Lands and Europe. He loved the outdoors and was a skilled gardener (making sorghum syrup), trapper, and fisherman.

His love of people, history, and Bible permeated his conversations. He loved humor and telling good stories. His style of preaching and teaching was done mostly in the storytelling fashion. His love for God was followed closely by his love for his family whom he cared for dearly. His children and grandchildren loved to hear their “Grampy” tell them stories of long ago. He will be greatly missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lemon and Marietta (Dover) Gurganus; first wife: Joan Pounds Gurganus, and her parents James Garland and Lois Pounds, Sr.; his daughter: Quena Gurganus Mears, and through the years, 9 brothers and sisters and their spouses.

He was survived by his second wife: JoAn Wade Kimbrell Gurganus, and his children: Michael Benton, “Mike” Gurganus and his wife, Kate Gurganus and Robin Elton, “Rob” Gurganus and his wife, Emily Sherer Gurganus. Stepchildren: Jenny Jones (Jimmy); Janice Gosnell (Doug); and Rebecca Kimbrell (Andrew Parker). Grandchildren: Ashley Lee (Jimmy), Anna Laura Gurganus, Emily Rodgers Gurganus, and Drew Thomas Gurganus. Step-grandchildren Victoria Woods (Michael), Rob Gosnell (Athena), Chris Gosnell (Valerie), and a “slough of great-grandchildren”.

The funeral is scheduled for Thursday, November 7, at 1:00PM at the Cordova Church of Christ. Visitation will be from 10:30 to 1:00. Vance Hutton and David Courington will officiate. In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to Indian Creek Youth Camp, 7855 Pleasantfield Road, Oakman, Alabama 35579 or World Evangelism Missions P.O. Bo 72 Winona, MS 38967