Rev. CJ Townsend

Rev. CJ Townsend passed away Sunday, February 23, 2020. Services will be Thursday, February 27, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. at Bethel Baptist Church with Bro. Don Graham, Bro. Bill Sullivan, Bro. Rick Cargile, and Rev. Billy Carl Sullivan officiating. Visitation will be Wednesday, February 26, 2020 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Norwood-Wyatt Chapel Funeral Home. Burial will follow the service Thursday in the church cemetery. He was preceded in death by his father, Charlie Townsend and mother, Nancy Belle Adams Townsend; sister, Esther Townsend McFarland Grice. Mr. Townsend is survived by his wife of sixty-seven years, Dorothy M. Bellotte of Fayette, AL; daughters, Sharon R. Townsend of Pell City and Cecilia C. Benton (Curtis) of Fayette; sons, Harold E. Townsend (Nancy) of Jackson, AL and John M. Townsend; seven grandchildren, fourteen great grandchildren, and a host of nieces and nephews. Rev. Townsend was born in Sykes, LA on September 10, 1929. Rev. Townsend made his profession of faith in the Spring of 1940. He became a licensed minister in August of 1946. Rev. Townsend graduated from Acadia Baptist Academy in 1947, attended East Texas Baptist College (now East Texas Baptist University) and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1952. It was also at ETBC that he met his wife of over sixty-seven years, Dorothy Marie Bellotte Townsend. Rev. Townsend attended New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and graduated with a Master of Divinity degree in May of 1959. In May of 1980, Rev. Townsend received his Master of Education degree from Mississippi State University. Rev. Townsend was first a servant of the Lord. He served as a bi-vocational pastor of churches in Ohio, Georgia, Mississippi and several churches in southern and northern Alabama. He also was an educator who taught math in several school systems. After retirement, Rev. Townsend continued to serve in interim positions with different churches and spoke as opportunities arose. His desire was to serve the Lord and point individuals to the Lord so long as possible and minister to people so long as possible. Pallbearers will be Mr. Townsends grandsons, Keith Townsend, Scott Townsend, Jeremy Benton, Cody Benton, Chris Segraves, and Brandon Nichols. And a special thanks to Jerry Elliott, Jerry Trimm, Gary Trimm, and W.C. Reese.