John Dever

DEVER, JOHN PRESTON, 72, of Louisville passed away Friday, July 4,2008. John was born in Charleston, MO, graduated (BS 1957) from Missouri School of Mines in Rolla, University of Louisville (MA 1969) and (BD 1962, Ph.D. 1969) Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville. John served in the US Naval Reserve and was pastor of several churches in Kentucky and Alabama. He was a retired professor of church and community at SBTS where he taught for 13 years. He was chairperson of the Church and Community Department and held the Endowed Chair: William Walker Brookes Professor of Religion and Society until his retirement. Previously he was a professor of religion and sociology at Averett College, Danville, VA, for almost 20 years and Dean of Institutional Research and Records. In Danville, he served on the school board for many years. He supervised several PhD students and taught research methods to Doctor of Ministry students for over a decade. He was a popular guest lecturer at area academic institutions and churches. John was a member of St. Matthews Baptist Church, Louisville, where he served as a deacon, Adult Sunday School teacher, and founder and convener of the church's Post Graduate Seminar for Clergy. He was active in mission ministry in rural Kentucky and in inner city service projects at SMBC. He was a member of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, the Religious Research Association, and the Southern Baptist Research Fellowship. He also published numerous professional research articles and scholarly book reviews. John was preceded in death by his son, Barry H. Dever Sr., of Louisville; and his parents, Lucy Black Dever and Bany Mills Dever, of Charleston, MO. He is survived by his wife, Marcia Dever; daughter, Michelle Deaton (Todd), of Greenville, SC; daughter-in law, Wendy Dever (Barry), of Gainesville, FL; grandchildren, Laura and Caleb Deaton and Barry Dever Jr.; sister-in-law, Violet Thurmond of Edgewood; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Monday at St. Matthews Baptist Church, 3515 Grandview Ave. Visitation will be from 1-5 p.m. Sunday at Pearson's, 149 Breckenridge Lane. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Matthews Baptist Church Missions Ministries or American Diabetes Association.