James Hugh McDonald

October 6, 2018

The Reverend James “Hugh” McDonald, 93, of Pensacola, a tireless servant of the Lord for almost seven decades, died Monday, October 1, 2018, at Summer Vista Assisted Living Retirement Community.

Reverend McDonald led United Methodist Church congregations in Florida and Alabama for many years, retiring in 1989 after serving six years at Ensley (Fla) United Methodist Church. He previously served Florida congregations in Molino, Gonzalez and Jay, and pastored at a number of Alabama churches, including Mobile, Brewton, Selma and Robertsdale.

Reverend McDonald was born September 5, 1925, in Geneva County, AL, to John Barton and Clara Bell (McLaney) McDonald. A veteran of World War II, he began serving in the U. S. Army at age 17. He was a member of Company 1, 29th Infantry Regiment and discharged as a Sergeant First Class. After returning home from the war, McDonald graduated from Geneva County (Ala.) High School in 1947 and received his divinity degree from Asbury University (Wilmore, Ky.) in 1951. He also studied at Emory University.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Clay; and sisters, Miriam Berry, Mary Johnson and Mellijo Helms.

Reverend McDonald is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Margaret Lenora (Woodham) McDonald. She was his partner in Christ for 66 years. They married July 2, 1952.

Other survivors include his son, John Bentley McDonald of Pensacola; daughters, Margaret Ann (Keith) Pyron of Daphne, Ala., and Mary Elizabeth (Bill) Zimmerman of Ridgeland, Miss.; eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, all of whom he loved dearly. Grandchildren Michael (Kyna) McDonald of Atmore, Ala., Matt (Dara) McDonald of Cleveland, Tenn., Melanie McDonald of Birmingham, Ala., Jason (Stephanie) Zimmerman of Brandon, Miss., Michelle (Stephen) Fitzsimmons of Brookhaven, Miss., Jenny (Ross) Black of Gulf Breeze, Leah Pyron of Atlanta, Ga., and Laurel Pyron (Jay) Boulton of Palm Beach. Great-grandchildren Landon and Addison Zimmerman, Gigi Fitzsimmons, Draco and Maddox McDonald, Morgann McDonald and Emma, Allie and Isaac Black.

Pallbearers were grandsons, Michael and Matthew McDonald, Jason Zimmerman and grandsons-in-law, Ross Black of Gulf Breeze, Jay Boulton of Palm Beach and Stephen Fitzsimmons of Brookhaven, Miss.

Honorary pallbearers were retired Methodist ministers.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Reverend McDonald’s name to the Stegall Seminary Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 241661, Montgomery, Ala. 36124.

Throughout his ministry, Reverend McDonald strived to win souls for Jesus Christ, stressing family unity and answering a never-ending call to witness for the Lord. He served as Mission’s Secretary for the Pensacola District for more than 10 years, leading crews and building churches in Belize, Guatemala, Panama, Jamaica, Costa Rica and Mexico, helping to spread God’s word.

Funeral services were held Friday, October 5, 2018, at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Molino with the Rev. Jimmy Cook, pastor of Aldersgate Church and Rev. Alan Ganzhorn, superintendent of the Demopolis (Ala.) United Methodist District and former pastor of Aldersgate United Methodist Church, officiating.

Burial was in Aldersgate Cemetery.

Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with arrangements.

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Written by Jane · Filed Under Obituaries