Rev. Dr. Timothy Lamar Tooten, Sr.

Rev. Dr. Timothy Lamar Tooten, Sr., age 66, of Rosedale, MD, gained his Heavenly wings on February 8, 2025. He was the beloved husband of Charleen Dawson Tooten, for 40 years; devoted father of Fallon Cuthrell and her husband Brian Cuthrell, Jr., Taren Tooten, Timothy Tooten, Jr., and Charles Cuthrell and his wife Ashley Cuthrell; loving grandfather of Brian Keith Cuthrell, III, Elias Timothy Lee Cuthrell, Hudson Matthew Cuthrell, and his grand dog Willow Pumpkin; cherished son of the late James, Sr. and Doris Tooten; dear brother of Evelyn Williams, Pauline Tooten, and James Tooten; beloved uncle of James Williams, Michael Williams, Maleka Campbell, Sandara Williams, Vincent Williams, Frederick Tooten, Christopher Tooten, and Jamese Tooten and their families.

Dr. Tim Tooten Sr. has shared Maryland’s stories as a journalist for WBAL-TV 11 News since 1988. He held the title of Baltimore’s only full-time education reporter for over 30 years. He began his broadcasting career in 1976 as a high school disc jockey in his native Live Oak, Florida. From there, he gained reporting experience in Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. Among the highlights of his reporting assignments an Emmy award-winning half-hour documentary shot in Liberia, West Africa, called “Africa’s Maryland.” In 2024 he was inducted into the Emmy Silver Circle Hall of Fame.

In 2006, Pastor Tooten made a prayerful transition to start his evangelistic ministry. In the midst of his obedience, God led him to organize Harvest Christian Ministries where he serves as the pastor and founder. Harvest Christian Ministries is a non-denominational church located in Baltimore County. As God would lead, Dr. Tooten became a member of the historic Sharon Baptist Church under the leadership of Dr. Alfred C.D. Vaughn where he was also ordained into the gospel ministry. In 2007, he received his Master of Theology degree from Saint Mary’s Ecumenical Institute and three years later his Doctor of Ministry degree from Virginia University of Lynchburg.

A Man of Many Hats

Pastor Tooten committed himself to learn more about the word of God. In 2007, he received his Master of Theology degree from Saint Mary’s Ecumenical Institute and three years later his Doctor of Ministry degree from Virginia University of Lynchburg. Dr. Tooten graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in communications. His love of communications later resulted in being an affiliate faculty member at Loyola University Maryland in Broadcast Journalism for over 20 years.

Dr. Tooten is the published author of Leading by Example: A Parental Guide to Teaching and Modeling Christian Faith at Home, a nonfiction Christian parenting guide that equips Christian parents and educators to model their faith to their children. He also has a collection of daily devotionals titled, Seeds of Encouragement.

Dr. Tooten was also a member of the board for the Maryland Bible Society.

Family and friends are invited to gather at Central Christian, 7411 Rossville Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21237, on Friday, February 14, 2025, from 2-4 P.M. and 6-8 P.M. Further visitation will be held on Saturday, February 15, 2025, from 10-11 A.M. in church, followed by a Celebration of Life Service at 11 A.M. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Harvest Christian Ministries by mail at P.O. Box 43151, Baltimore, MD 21236, or online at https://come2harvest.org/give-online.