Mickey Dalrymple, the former longtime pastor of Fairview Baptist Church, passed away Wednesday morning after a 20-month battle with T-cell leukemia.
He was 71.
Dalrymple was beloved by his church community and under his leadership, the church grew tremendously, according to former associate pastor Sammy Crawford. His 27-year tenure as pastor is rare in the Baptist church, where pastors typically stay at a church for two to four years.
“It was a good relationship between him and the church,” Crawford said. “That’s where the Lord brought him to, and he had no desire to go anywhere else.”
Dalrymple was born in Geraldine, Alabama, a town of 900 in the northeast corner of the state. After graduating from Geraldine High School and earning a college degree, he worked as a quality control lab technician for Monsanto Chemicals.
He felt called into the ministry in his late 20s, according to Crawford. He received a Master of Divinity from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, and became the associate pastor of the First Baptist Church in Decatur, Alabama, in 1971. In 1975, he left to serve as lead pastor of the Moulton Baptist Church in Alabama. After nine years there, he came to Columbus and served at Fairview for 27 years, retiring in 2011.
Dalrymple served two terms as president of the Mississippi Baptist Convention (2008-2009) and preached at the State Evangelism Conference in 1989 and 1995, among other conferences and conventions. Even after retirement, he stayed busy on weekends preaching at revivals and speaking at banquets. His obituary states that he spoke at banquets in 38 states and 4 foreign countries.
“People knew him everywhere,” Crawford said. “Fairview has a television ministry that a lot of people tune in for, so he would be out in public and strangers would walk up to him and say, ‘hey, I listen to you every Sunday morning!'”
Dalrymple led the church in the development of two buildings, including the current sanctuary. He attended many mission trips and initiated a foreign mission trip program for the congregation.
“No doubt he heard the words “Well done my good and faithful servant” as he entered into His presence,” the church’s website reads in a tribute to him.
Dalrymple is survived by his wife, Carol, and his children Clint and Julie. Clint said his father will be remembered for his ministry and the way he loved the Lord.
“He loved everybody,” Clint said. “He didn’t care who you were, he would do whatever he could to help.”
Crawford also remembered Dalrymple’s service for others. When there was something like a death or illness in the congregation, the pastor always reached out to the family or found a way to show his love.
“His goal was to serve the Lord with all his heart, and he certainly did that,” Crawford said.
There will be a visitation at Fairview Baptist Church Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. The memorial service will be 10 a.m. Saturday.
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