Retired pastor Arendall dies

Edgar Mullins Arendall, former pastor of Dawson Memorial Baptist Church, Birmingham, died Oct. 20. He was 89.

A native of Mobile, Arendall graduated from the University of Richmond in Virginia and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. He also received honorary doctor of divinity degrees from Richmond and Samford University in Birmingham. He served as pastor of First Baptist Church, Atmore, for three years before going to Dawson Memorial Baptist in 1948. Arendall was at Dawson Memorial for 36 years until his retirement in 1984.

Arendall served on both the state and national convention levels. He served on the executive board (now the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions) from 1959 to 1965, 1969 to 1975 and 1978 to 1984 and administration committee (now executive committee) from 1959 to 1964 and 1972 to 1973. He also delivered the sermon at the state convention annual meeting in 1974.

Arendall served as president of the Home Mission Board (now the North American Mission Board), as chairman of the Radio and Television Commission and on the Stewardship Commission. After his retirement, Arendall served as interim pastor of several churches and was most recently a member of Vestavia Hills Baptist Church.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Sara; three children; 10 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. (TAB)