Former Chairman of State Board, Jack Snell, dies

Oct. 4, 2007

ATLANTA, GA (FBC)—Former Florida pastor Jack Snell died Oct. 2 in Atlanta, Ga., after a nine-month battle with pancreatic cancer.

Snell, 66, served as a long-time pastor of Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church in Jacksonville from 1980 to 2000. During that time he was a respected Florida Baptist leader, serving as chairman of the State Board of Missions in 1988-1989. He served on the State Board for two consecutive terms, 1986-1989 and 1989-1992; the Stetson Nominating Committee from 1981-1982; and the Committee on Resolutions from 1985-1986.

The Graceville native was “always a gentleman,” said Jerry Windsor, secretary-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Historical Society, who traveled with Snell to preaching assignments while the two were both students at Howard College (now Samford University).

Snell often preached during chapel when Windsor was a professor at The Baptist College of Florida. “He was the only person I knew who I could introduce in chapel as having been born in Graceville,” Windsor recalled.

“He was dependable,” Windsor added, “You could count on him to be thoughtful about issues and consistent in his Christian faith.”

In addition to the Jacksonville pastorate, Snell served as pastor of Central Baptist Church in Newnan, Ga., and Long Run Baptist Church in Anchorage, Ky.

Snell completed his undergraduate degree at Samford University, two master’s degrees at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a doctorate at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

He is survived by his wife, Anita; his son, Charles, of Atlanta; his daughter, Stephanie, and son-in-law, Henry Kahler, of Jacksonville.

A funeral service was held Oct. 6 at Hendricks Avenue Church. A memorial service will be held Saturday, Oct. 13 at Second Ponce de Leon Baptist Church in Atlanta. A reception will begin at 10 a.m. with a service to follow.