Born October 16, 1929, in Toccoa, Ga, and born again August 1942 at Liberty Hill Baptist Church in Eastanollee, Ga, Dr. John Mark Carpenter peacefully went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, January 19, 2022, at the age of 92.
He married his wife, Betty Sue (Hawkins) Carpenter from Gainesville in 1949 and this summer they would be celebrating their 73rd wedding anniversary. He leaves behind his beloved five children including Mark and his wife Marti Carpenter, Nancy and her husband Tommy Hulsey, Kim and her husband Steve Abrams, Barbara and her husband Jeff Clement and Chris and his wife Janice Carpenter in addition to their 16 grandchildren and their 9 spouses, 22 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandson. John Mark is predeceased by his parents Oscar Carpenter and Lina Burgess Carpenter along with his four siblings and survived by his sister-in-law Joanne Hawkins of Gainesville.
John Mark devoted his life to serving his Heavenly Father, his family, community and the many churches he had the honor of working with. After graduating from Mercer University in 1950 he served as pastor at Ellaville Baptist Church, First Baptist Church, Hogansville, Ga, First Baptist Church, Sylvania, Ga and Oakland Baptist Church, Oakland, KY. After graduating from seminary, he and Betty were then appointed to serve as missionaries in Liberia, West Africa where they spent seventy-six cumulative years serving alongside each other. Beginning their journey in Sinoe County, Liberia, John Mark began as church planter and director of pastor training. While they were on medical leave from Africa, he served as pastor of LaBelle Heights Baptist Church in Marietta, Georgia. After five years away, they were re-appointed to Liberia where he developed the Theological Education Extension program in conjunction with the Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary in Monrovia, Liberia. While simultaneously serving as church planter for the greater Monrovia area, President of the Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary and establishing twenty-five new churches. Since retirement from the Southern Baptist International Mission Board, he served as interim pastor/pastor at Sardis Rayle, Ga, First Baptist Washington, Ga, and Hoschton First Baptist Church and continued to be involved with his home church First Baptist Church in Gainesville, Ga.
Visitation will be held Friday, January 28th from 5:00 pm-7:00 pm at Ward’s Funeral Home, Gainesville & again Saturday, January 29th from 12:00 p.m. until 1:45 p.m. at the First Baptist Church Parlor. The memorial service will be held at Gainesville First Baptist Church on January 29th at 2:00 pm. Rev. Jeremy Shoulta, Rev. Bill Rorie and Dr. Olu Menjay will be officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Liberian Mission Front at First Baptist Church 751 Green St. N.W. Gainesville, Ga 770-534-7354.
Please share online condolences and memories with the family at www.wardsfh.com.
Ward’s Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Dr. John Mark Carpenter.
