Rev. Larry Alton Wilson, age 83, passed away on Sunday, October 27th, 2024 at Kennestone Hospital, surrounded by his loved ones.
Alton was born on August 15th, 1941, in Banks County, Georgia. He is preceded in death by parents, Hugh Lee and Donnie May Wilson, brothers Hugh Mitchell and Donald. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Nancy Jean, sisters: Barbara Childs and Suzanne Wilson, children: Jena Puckett (Jon), Corbett (Rachel), Cheryl Porambo (John) and Chara Parrott (Scottie), grandchildren: Dakota Callahan (Rachel), Brooke Parkey (Jonathan), Taylor Thompson (Jarod), Christopher Puckett, Charis Barnett (Andrew), Will Puckett, Macey Porambo, Preston Parrott, Jake Porambo and WesLee Parrott, Great grandchildren: Morgan, Travis, Drake, Dawson and Denver, and many nieces and nephews.
Alton felt called into the ministry at the age of 9. He told his daddy he “wanted to be a red-headed preacher like his pastor.” He graduated from Banks County High School in 1960, Truett-McConnell College with an Associates of Arts Degree in 1964, Belmont University in Nashville, TN with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1967, and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary with a Masters in Theology (Honors Program) in 1971.
Alton was ordained into the ministry at First Baptist Church in Fairview, TN in 1966. Over his many years in the ministry, he also pastored at Barataria Baptist in Lafitte LA, Parkview Baptist in Pascagoula MS, North Clarendon Baptist in Decatur GA, Bethany Baptist in Snellville GA, First Baptist in Dallas GA, and Legacy Baptist in Dallas, GA, retiring in 2010. Alton was a compassionate pastor and mentor to many. He was passionate about helping people get their education and helping them into the ministry if they felt called. When asked recently by one of his children about his ministry and if he had any regrets, he said, “I loved every minute of it!”.
Alton loved his family deeply and enjoyed playing golf, his morning workouts and coffee with his buddies, and cheering on the Atlanta Braves, Georgia Bulldogs and his grandkids in their sports and activities. He also enjoyed boating and water-skiing, hunting, and playing games with his family. He and Jean loved to travel sometimes for vacation, but he also loved a mission trip. They went on countless trips over the years. He will be missed by so many, until we see him again in Heaven.
Alton’s Celebration of Life Service will be held Saturday, November 9th at 2pm at Legacy Baptist Church (2976 Dallas Acworth Hwy, Dallas, GA). Visitation with the family will be from 12-1:30pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Legacy Baptist Church.