Dr. Jacob Oliver Malone

Dr. Jacob Oliver Malone

Augusta, GA – Jacob Oliver Malone completed his journey to paradise on August 27, 2013. He was born in Louisville, Kentucky, on April 2, 1948, to the late Dr. Harold Lee and Bessie Merriwether Malone. Jake spent his preschool years in Madisonville, TN. The family moved to Chattanooga, TN, where he attended The McCallie School. He served as athletic trainer for several sports at McCallie. Jake received the Contor Service Award from McCallie.

In his late teens, Jake was called to the ministry and was licensed by Crestwood Baptist Church in Des Moines, Iowa. He was ordained to the gospel ministry by the Crescent Hill Baptist Church of Louisville, KY, in 1976.

Jake graduated from Samford University where he was a member of the Howard College Ministerial Association and Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. While in college, he served on the staff of Dawson Memorial Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL, and Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Hamilton, AL. He led youth conferences throughout the southeast. While attending Samford, he met Delores Galloway. They were married in 1969.

After graduation from Samford, he entered Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. He served as Minister of Recreation and Youth at Ninth & O Baptist Church and later at Crescent Hill Baptist Church. He did post graduate work at Southern Seminary where he was a Garrett Fellow and taught religious education classes. Jake received the “Happy Hugger” award from his classmates and continued giving hugs for the remainder of his life. He was affectionately known as “Papa Jake” by many people.

In 1976, Jake was called to First Baptist Church Sandy Springs, GA, to serve as Minister of Activities. He also helped with the youth ministry and planning retreats for them. His passion for snow skiing was the result of taking youth on a ski retreat.

The First Baptist Church of Augusta, GA, called Jake to be Minister of Activities in 1980. Throughout his 33 years of ministry at FBC Augusta, he worked with preschoolers to senior adults teaching the Bible, planning and directing camps for children and youth, conducting retreats for adults, and organizing league sports for churches in the Augusta area. He and Delores led the travel ministry and toured the world, always amazed at God’s creation. One of the most memorable trips was to Park City, UT, to serve with a FBC mission team at the 2002 Winter Olympics. Other mission work included teaching at the Philippine Baptist Theological Seminary and doing disaster relief work in Biloxi and New Orleans Seminary after Katrina.

Jake started the bus and computer ministries at FBC. As church administrator, he supervised support staff, handled technology needs, supervised maintenance, and helped lead in the construction of the Storey Chapel and Fellowship Hall. After becoming administrator, he still wanted to be included in the ministerial duties of leading worship, conducting weddings and funerals, visitation, and preaching as needed. He sought to be a minister to all people. The senior pastor called him “the Swiss Army Knife” of First Baptist Church. His love for people and love for Jesus gave him his direction in life.

In 2005, Jake received his Doctor of Educational Ministry degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. His project was a model for ministering to baby boomers.

After receiving the diagnosis of cancer, Jake felt called by God to do one last project – “Journey to Paradise.” He believed that the church does a good job of teaching us how to live, but it does not teach us how to die. As a terminal cancer patient, he knew firsthand about traveling this road. He produced “Journey to Paradise,” a video series that will help others who may be traveling the same road. See journeytoparadise.org. He completed the worksheets for teaching these sessions the night before entering the hospital for the last time. This is the providence of God’s timing.

Jake served on the Human Rights Committee at Gracewood State School and Hospital. He received the Distinguished Service Award for his dedication and commitment to this cause. He also served as president of the Foxhall Homeowners’ Association.

The Malone Family would like to thank you for your expressions of love and kindness as we have journeyed with Jake.

Jacob is survived by his wife of 44 years, Delores Galloway Malone; his brother, Dr. Harold Lee Malone, Jr. (Mary Beth), Johnson City, TN; aunts, Louise Malone and Deleeta Goldsmith, Augusta, GA; nieces, Dr. Elizabeth Malone Chosa (Pete), Merritt Island, FL; Renee Waller McKay (Frank), Gainesville, GA; Celeste Waller Dirickson (Mark), Fayetteville, GA; nephews, Harold Lee Malone, III (Dr. Adriana), New York, NY; Wilson Malone (Wendy), Midlothian, VA; Eric Waller, Beijing, China; great nieces Alexa Malone, Cadence Malone, Mary Belle Chosa, Catherine McKay, Elizabeth McKay, Olivia Dirickson, and Aubrey Dirickson; great nephews Gregory Malone, Riley Malone, and Jacob Oliver Chosa; goddaughter, Malorie Varnell; godsons, Dan Freeman and Brad Freeman; extended family Brooks and Sara Varnell and their children, Brooklynn and Luke; and Bill and Karie Freeman.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 7, 2013, at high noon in the First Baptist Church of Augusta sanctuary with Dr. Greg DeLoach, Dr. Rodger Murchison, and Rev. Ron Gaynor officiating. Honorary pall bearers will be the First Baptist Church Body of Deacons, the Wednesday Men’s Prayer Group, and the Cason Bruker Sunday School Class.

Visitation will be Friday, September 6, 2013, from 6 – 8 pm in the Fellowship Hall/Storey Chapel building. Memorial donations may be made to First Baptist Church Building Contingency Fund or Chapel Fund; 3500 Walton Way Ext. 30909.

Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at www.thomaspoteet.com