Kendrick, James Donald (Rock Spring)

  • Friday, August 21, 2020
James Donald (Don) Kendrick of Rock Spring, Georgia, a man devoted to serving the Lord and preaching His Word was born on January 18, 1933.  He was 87 ½ years old.  He left this earth to receive the beauties of heaven and the reward for which he lived on August 19, 2020, at his home.  

Donald was born in a small area of rural Sand Mountain in Northeast Alabama, Marshall county, close to the DeKalb County line. His proud and surprised parents were James Willie and Bonnie (Pack) Kendrick.  The surprise was that he was the second-born of twin boys.  

Donald attended Blessing School, Beulah School, and Crossville High School for one year.  As most boys during the time of the Great Depression, he grew up working in the fields with his family in order to help provide a living.  Because of the workload interfering in his schoolwork, during his high school years he became a high school dropout.  After staying out for a year, he returned and graduated from Albertville High in 1953. He began attending Snead State Junior College, but his college aspirations were cut short when he was drafted into the United States Army during the Korean War.

Donald married his childhood sweetheart Betty Davis, on June 23, 1954, and just one week later reported for boot camp at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, on June 30, 1954.  He trained at Fort Gordon, in Augusta, Georgia and served active duty in Fort Bragg, Franklin, North Carolina.  He received an honorable discharge in 1956.

After his service in the Army, he, his wife and newborn son resumed civilian life in Albertville where he worked various jobs as a milkman, exterminator, and insurance salesman. He filled in preaching at different small churches of Christ in the area. 

From Albertville, he and his family moved to Oxford, Alabama where their second child was born. He worked as a milkman for Mellow Dairy, still preaching for small congregations. 

The preaching bug bit him badly and he, Betty, and now two children moved to Henderson, Tennessee where he attended Freed Hardeman College.  While there, he continued preaching for area congregations, and completed his AA degree in Bible, in 1958. 

After graduating from Freed Hardeman, Donald and his family moved back to Jacksonville, Alabama where he resumed his studies in Biology at Jacksonville State Teacher’s College.  His full-time preaching job at Oliver’s Chapel church of Christ in Sand Rock, Alabama, kept him remarkably busy. 

In 1963, he and his growing family with three children moved to Albertville where he began teaching math and science at Albertville Junior High, while serving as a full-time minister at the church of Christ in Geraldine, Alabama. He taught school for four years until he was offered a full-time minister’s position in 1967 at the church of Christ in Ider, Alabama.

While living in Ider, he drove a school bus and was a substitute teacher, all while helping the small congregation of saints grow from around 80 members to approximately 150 over the course of 14 years.  He was well respected in the community and served as PTA president, and he excelled at teaching God’s Word, bringing people to Christ.  He was a regular speaker on a weekly radio show, broadcast from Rainsville, Alabama.  He, along with a few friends, were instrumental in planting a new congregation, Central church of Christ, in Rainsville. 

Donald “lived his preaching” and instilled it into his family and friends by putting into action the scripture in Matthew 25:36, “I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.” He along with his helpmate Betty, visited the sick, shut-ins, and the elderly, and headed up a drive to take supplies and clothing to Childhaven Children’s Home in Cullman, Alabama.  He and Betty showed Jule Miller filmstrips and taught the way of salvation to many who are still faithful members of The Lord’s church. 

In 1981, he accepted a minister’s position at The Falls church of Christ in Gadsden, Alabama, where he remained until his retirement in 2003.  While in Gadsden, he was a regular contributor on the Know Your Bible television program, and taught a satellite class for Faulkner University in Fort Payne, Alabama in the late 1990’s. While in Gadsden, he and three other friends saw a need for offering acapella singing services, free of charge, to families who were experiencing difficult times, such as funerals.  They traveled all around the Gadsden and Sand Mountain area to give solace to hurting families.  He also returned to college at Southern Christian University in Montgomery, Alabama, to complete his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Bible, in 1990. 

Upon retirement, he and Betty moved to Rock Spring, Georgia, where they have attended the LaFayette church of Christ for 17 years.  He served as an elder there for several years and sometimes filled in as preacher when needed.  He also filled in preaching in several different congregations in the area. 

Donald was an avid vegetable gardener throughout his life, growing some of the most beautiful gardens.  To the dismay of his growing children, they were also extremely large.  He was also an experienced woodworker, building sofa and occasional tables, decorative knick-knacks, Christmas and other holiday decorations, many pieces of which are owned by grateful relatives.  He restored his family’s 1949 GMC truck, which was purchased in full with cash by his parents.  The truck was a joy to him, and he entered it into antique car shows in Alabama and Georgia, often winning prizes.

Donald is survived by his devoted wife Betty, who attended to his every need for 66 years and especially for the past year in which his health declined.

His living children include Tony (Susan Wade) Kendrick of Rock Spring, Georgia, Rhonda Kendrick (Randy) Fowler of Owens Cross Roads, Alabama, and Beverly Kendrick (Mack) Roberts, of Rock Spring, Georgia.

Grandchildren are Rebecca Fowler (Scott) Burton, Joshua Kendrick, Jonathan (Caley) Fowler, Joshua (Corey) Roberts, Caleb (Leslie) Kendrick, Jake (Shelby) Roberts, and Jarrod Roberts.

Great-grandchildren are Abby Kendrick, Kaden Kendrick, Emersyn Roberts, Ryder Roberts, Cece Fowler, Elliott Roberts, Lynleigh Roberts, Lucy Fowler, and Hayes Burton.

Donald is survived by his twin brother, Ronald Kendrick of Florence, Alabama, and Gayel (Kendrick) Owens, of Waycross, Georgia, brother-in-law Max (Carolyn/Dot) Davis of Boaz, Alabama, and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and cousins.

Donald was preceded in death by his grandparents, James Eli and Prudie (Tyson) Kendrick, and Jake R. and Cora (Stone) Pack, all of Marshall County, Alabama, his Baby Boy Kendrick, born/died August 16, 1965, his parents, JW and Bonnie Kendrick of Boaz, Alabama, and mother and father-in law, Odis and Sarah (Ferguson) Davis of Albertville, Alabama. 

The family would like to express their appreciation for prayers, food, and calls from the numerous friends, family, and church members over the past couple of weeks.  Sincere thanks go to the doctors, nurses, and CNAs of Hospice of Dalton, Georgia. 

There will be a private family viewing.

Graveside services will be open to anyone who wishes to attend at Blessing Cemetery, Blessing church of Christ, Albertville, Alabama on, August 21, 2020 at 1 O’clock in the afternoon, Central Standard Time.  Please try to adhere to the social distancing protocols in effect for the state of Alabama.

Arrangements are by Wallis-Wilbanks Funeral Home, LaFayette.
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