Rev. Jimmie J. Townsend

Funeral services for the Rev. Jimmie J. Townsend were held April 1 at Calvary Baptist Church in Many, with the Reverends Cyle Clayton and C. M. Kelly officiating. Burial followed at Friendship Baptist Church Cemetery in Many.The Rev. Jimmie “Jim” J. Townsend was born in Many on Wednesday, July 24 1946. He passed away Sunday eve-ning March 29 at his home in Many.Jim proudly served in the United States Navy for 24 years, retiring as a Senior Chief Petty Officer. While in the Navy, he met and married the love of his life, Joyce Fitz-Simon on July 14, 1970. The Lord blessed Jim and Joyce with two children, a son, Jimmie Joe, and a daughter, Michelle. Upon retirement, they returned to Many and their family land. For several years Jim worked for Sabine State Bank, but his great desire was to serve the Lord and his family.He was a devout member and faithful deacon at Calvary Baptist Church in Many when he was called to the preaching ministry. Jim was ordained to the pastoral ministry on De-cember 13, 1998. He served as the pastor of Friendship Bap-tist Church from 1998-1999, and then as pastor of Cedar Grove Baptist Church where he has been the pastor since 2000 until his death. Jim loved his wife, his children and his grandchildren. He spent his days thinking about them, fixing whatever needed fixing, and caring for them however he could. He loved his church, always praying, preaching, and caring for their souls. He loved his pastor friends, especially a group that had met and prayed for revival in Sabine Parish almost every Monday morning for the past four years. He loved his Navy buddies, several life-long friends that were especially important to him, and he loved flying remote control airplanes. While he loved building, flying and fixing them when they crashed, what he really loved was helping other people learn to fly. More than anything, Jim loved the Lord and wanted everyone he knew to believe in Jesus.Jim was preceded in death by his son, Jimmie Joe Townsend, Jr.; half-brother, Charles Barry Hildebrand; moth-er, Rita McCormick Hildebrand; father, Thomas S. Townsend and his grandparents, Oscar and Inez McCormick.He is survived by his wife, Joyce Townsend, of Many; daughter and son-in-law, Michelle and Shannon Whitaker, of Many; granddaughters, Chelsea Whitaker, Haley Whitaker, and Ella Whitaker, of Many; future son-in-law, Jarret Bel, of Zwolle; half-sister, Sherry Hildebrand Jones of Shreveport and many other family members, friends, and church members.Pallbearers were Clauriste Byles, Buddy Veuleman, Ricky Rains, Shannon Whitaker, Don McClelland and Robert Stelle, Sr.Honorary Pallbearers were, Kenny Dale McCormick, Pat Gandy, Jerry Alford, Hoyt Mains, Dale Britt and Jarret Bell.Memorial gifts may be made to The Gideon’s International ministry.Online condolences may be made to the family at www.warrenmeadows.com