Carl P. Wells

TUSCALOOSA - Reverend Carl P. Wells, age 86, passed away on December 23, 2020. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Tuscaloosa. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Memory Chapel Funeral Home, a Dignity Memorial provider, is honored to be serving the Wells family.

Rev. Wells was preceded in death by his parents, Mattie and Carl Wells, Sr.; and sister, Martha Haley.

He is survived by his wife, Eleanor Walden Wells of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; daughter, Carla Lyn Wells Holt (Greg) of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; son, Steven Ray Wells of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; grandchildren, Bradley Holt, Rachel Holt Sellers (Will), Kellie Holt Blount (Andrew), Lauren Wells, and Caroline Wells; and great-grands, Holt Blount, Hensley Blount, and Lynley Sellers.

Carl was born and raised in Mississippi (put your hand over your heart). He graduated from New Hebron High School in 1952 and entered Mississippi College, in Clinton, Mississippi, that fall. It was there he began his ministry for the Lord. He served churches while attending school. He also met Eleanor, the love of his life, and they married after graduation in Aberdeen, Mississippi.

He joined the Army and served two years during the Korean conflict. A daughter, Lyn, was born during that time.

After his time in the service, he entered the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, in Louisville, Kentucky, and received his Master of Religious Education degree. Before leaving Kentucky, Carl answered the call to serve at Campbellsville, Kentucky. Steve, his son, was born there. From there, the call came from First Baptist Church Tuscaloosa in 1963. He began his long tenured work here and endeared himself to all who knew him. His leadership in the field of Sunday School was known locally and state wide. He began a Special Education Sunday School that ministered to the whole city. He started a Senior group, LLL, that is still very active today. He began a jail ministry and a ministry for international students of Tuscaloosa.

Carl never met a stranger. He was such a people person. As much as he loved his church work, he also loved the outdoors. He was a man’s man. He loved hunting, fishing with friends, Alabama football, and even working in the yard. There was nothing he liked better than taking his son or grandson into the woods or on the fishing bank. His family was everything to him.

He lived a rich, full and fruitful life, touched the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of people, and I’m sure the Lord welcomed him with, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”

Pallbearers will be Bob Bostick, Grady Friday, Joe Kines, Bill Miller, John Moore, and Billy Sharp.

Honorary pallbearers are the Agape Sunday School Class.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Special Education Department, Second-Hand Rose, or Martha Ministries of First Baptist Church Tuscaloosa.